Honk n’ Hurdle
Honk n’ Hurdle
You're a goose on the University of Waterloo campus and it's up to you to chase the students!
You're a goose on the University of Waterloo campus and it's up to you to chase the students!
PROJECT SCOPE
Course project completed as part of a Game Design Course.
PROJECT SCOPE
Course project completed as part of a Game Design Course.
DURATION
1 Month
DURATION
1 Month
ROLE
Lead Game Designer
Games User Researcher
UX/UI Designer
ROLE
Lead Game Designer
Games User Researcher
UX/UI Designer
TOOLS
Figma,
Unity
Pixel Studio
TOOLS
Figma,
Unity
Pixel Studio
PROJECT OVERVIEW
A "One Rule” themed video game employed through both the game mechanics and story of the game as the player embarks on an endless chase filled with excitement. Collaborated with a close-knit team of developers and artists, as the lead UX/UI designer, we harnessed Unity to bring this captivating game to life.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
A "One Rule” themed video game employed through both the game mechanics and story of the game as the player embarks on an endless chase filled with excitement. Collaborated with a close-knit team of developers and artists, as the lead UX/UI designer, we harnessed Unity to bring this captivating game to life.
PROCESS OVERVIEW
Define the Challenge
“One Rule” challenge
Identifying constraints
Ideation
Concept development
Gamification
Games User Research (GUR)
User interviews
Secondary research
Analyzing insights
Design and Development
Gameplay mechanics
Visual design
Audio Design
UX design
Unity development
Publish and Release
Publish on itch.io
WHAT IS HONK N’ HURDLE?
WHAT IS HONK N’ HURDLE?
A Unity based game that engages players in a fun minimal game
A Unity based game that engages players in a fun minimal game
Honk n’ Hurdle is a Unity based game designed for players of all ages, offering a captivating gaming experience centered around a single intuitive rule. With its minimalist design and straightforward mechanics, Honk n’ Hurdle delivers an immersive gameplay experience that challenges players skills.
Honk n’ Hurdle is a Unity based game designed for players of all ages, offering a captivating gaming experience centered around a single intuitive rule. With its minimalist design and straightforward mechanics, Honk n’ Hurdle delivers an immersive gameplay experience that challenges players skills.
DESIGN CHALLENGE
DESIGN CHALLENGE
How might a “one rule” video game create an immersive gaming experience that remains compelling and enjoyable while adhering to this minimalist approach?
How might a “one rule” video game create an immersive gaming experience that remains compelling and enjoyable while adhering to this minimalist approach?
IDEATION
IDEATION
Utilized our knowledge drawn from interviews and research
Utilized our knowledge drawn from interviews & research
Using the findings above, we brainstormed and explored potential features for our game that addressed the key problems. Our goal was to take a comprehensive approach to create a game engaging to all.
Using the findings above, we brainstormed and explored potential features for our game that addressed the key problems. Our goal was to take a comprehensive approach to create a game engaging to all.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Local Lore
Local Lore
The game’s core mechanic is inspired by the campus tradition of avoiding geese, making the gameplay instantly relatable to UW students.
Highlighting this rule as the central theme enhances the narrative and strengthens the connection between players and the game.
The game’s core mechanic is inspired by the campus tradition of avoiding geese, making the gameplay instantly relatable to UW students.
Highlighting this rule as the central theme enhances the narrative and strengthens the connection between players and the game.
Fostering Nostalgia
Fostering Nostalgia
Incorporates recognizable campus landmarks to evoke a sense of pride and familiarity for UW students and alumni.
Creates a shared experience that celebrates the quirky aspects of university life.
Incorporates recognizable campus landmarks to evoke a sense of pride and familiarity for UW students and alumni.
Creates a shared experience that celebrates the quirky aspects of university life.
Engagement and Enjoyment
Engagement and Enjoyment
The humor and relatability of the goose chase deepen the emotional connection, increasing players' excitement and motivation to play.
Appeals to both current students and alumni by celebrating a recognized part of campus culture.
The humour and relatability of the goose chase deepen the emotional connection, increasing players' excitement and motivation to play.
Appeals to both current students and alumni by celebrating a recognized part of campus culture.
GAMIFICATION
GAMIFICATION
Engagement Strategies
Engagement Strategies
Simplified mechanics focusing on a single input—jumping over hurdles.
Visual progression as players advance through iconic campus landmarks.
Simplified mechanics focusing on a single input—jumping over hurdles.
Visual progression as players advance through iconic campus landmarks.
Player Motivation
Player Motivation
Designed to balance challenge and reward, fostering a "just one more try" mentality.
Designed to balance challenge and reward, fostering a "just one more try" mentality.
SYMPLICITY
SYMPLICITY
Core Design Philosophy
Core Design Philosophy
Focused on creating an intuitive experience with a single-action input (jump), enabling players to quickly grasp the controls and start playing without a learning curve.
The "One Rule" design ensures a direct connection between player input and success or failure.
Focused on creating an intuitive experience with a single-action input (jump), enabling players to quickly grasp the controls and start playing without a learning curve.
The "One Rule" design ensures a direct connection between player input and success or failure.
Player Experience
Player Experience
Immediate gameplay understanding with no need for complex tutorials.
Developed a straightforward premise—chase the student, avoid obstacles—making the game instantly understandable.
The game features the absence of difficulty levels, as it is designed to be a simple continuous loop without progression or scaling.
Immediate gameplay understanding with no need for complex tutorials.
Developed a straightforward premise—chase the student, avoid obstacles—making the game instantly understandable.
The game features the absence of difficulty levels, as it is designed to be a simple continuous loop without progression or scaling.
GAMES USER RESEARCH
GAMES USER RESEARCH
We asked ourselves, how can we create a game that is both simple yet challenging for the player? What can we do to have them replay the game? What elements contribute to the allure of a game for players?
We asked ourselves, how can we create a game that is both simple yet challenging for the player? What can we do to have them replay the game? What elements contribute to the allure of a game for players?
Replayability Factors
Replayability Factors
Accessibility and Inclusivity:*
Accessibility and Inclusivity:
Incorporating elements such as leaderboards, achievements, and rewards can significantly enhance replayability.
Randomized obstacle placement and varying difficulty levels keep the gameplay experience fresh and challenging.
Incorporating elements such as leaderboards, achievements, and rewards can significantly enhance replayability.
Randomized obstacle placement and varying difficulty levels keep the gameplay experience fresh and challenging.
Ensuring the game is accessible to players with different abilities by providing customizable control options and difficulty settings.
Including language options and simple, clear instructions make the game more approachable for a diverse audience.
Ensuring the game is accessible to players with different abilities by providing customizable control options and difficulty settings.
Including language options and simple, clear instructions make the game more approachable for a diverse audience.
“One Rule” Mechanism
“One Rule” Mechanism
User feedback highlights mixed perceptions of "one rule" games, with some finding them repetitive or overly similar, while others appreciate their simplicity and engaging nature.
User feedback highlights mixed perceptions of "one rule" games, with some finding them repetitive or overly similar, while others appreciate their simplicity and engaging nature.
Simplicity
Simplicity
Revealed a preference for simplicity in game design to reduce the learning curve, though some emphasize the need for engaging gameplay, while others feel simplicity limits skill development.
Revealed a preference for simplicity in game design to reduce the learning curve, though some emphasize the need for engaging gameplay, while others feel simplicity limits skill development.
Graphics & Aesthetics
Graphics & Aesthetics
There are mixed opinions on graphics and aesthetics, with some valuing them as a marker of quality, others prioritizing gameplay mechanics, and one considering them secondary but still important.
There are mixed opinions on graphics and aesthetics, with some valuing them as a marker of quality, others prioritizing gameplay mechanics, and one considering them secondary but still important.
Empathizing through user interviews
Empathizing through user interviews
USER INTERVIEW RESULTS
USER INTERVIEW RESULTS
DESIGN
DESIGN
Thoughtfully developed the game’s mechanics, visuals, and user experience
Thoughtfully developed the game’s mechanics, visuals, and user experience
This stage involved multiple iterations, from conceptual sketches to finalized assets, with a clear focus on simplicity, cultural relevance, and playful aesthetics.
This stage involved multiple iterations, from conceptual sketches to finalized assets, with a clear focus on simplicity, cultural relevance, and playful aesthetics.
Game Mechanic
Game Mechanic
Core Gameplay
Core Gameplay
The “One Rule” of jumping over obstacles to reflect the campus rule of avoiding geese.
Prioritized accessibility while providing room for challenge through increasing speed and tighter timing windows.
The “One Rule” of jumping over obstacles to reflect the campus rule of avoiding geese.
Prioritized accessibility while providing room for challenge through increasing speed and tighter timing windows.
Visual Design
Visual Design
Character Design
Character Design
Character Design
Incorporated animations, such as the goose jumping and pecking at the ground, to add a touch of realism and enhance the game's whimsical tone.
Introduced a person at the beginning to reinforce the idea of chasing a student through the university,
Incorporated animations, such as the goose jumping and pecking at the ground, to add a touch of realism and enhance the game's whimsical tone.
Introduced a person at the beginning to reinforce the idea of chasing a student through the university,
Campus Landmarks
Campus Landmarks
Utilized a pixelated art style with vibrant, bold colours and iconic campus landmarks to create an immersive sense of place.
The playful atmosphere allows University of Waterloo students and alumni to feel like they are on campus and for those who aren’t students of the university to get a glimpse of what it feels like to on campus.
Utilized a pixelated art style with vibrant, bold colours and iconic campus landmarks to create an immersive sense of place.
The playful atmosphere allows University of Waterloo students and alumni to feel like they are on campus and for those who aren’t students of the university to get a glimpse of what it feels like to on campus.
Audio Design
Audio Design
Music Style
Music Style
The soundtrack features upbeat and playful music that enhances the player’s experience, creating a lively and immersive atmosphere.
The soundtrack features upbeat and playful music that enhances the player’s experience, creating a lively and immersive atmosphere.
User Experience (UX) Design
User Experience (UX) Design
Menu and Navigation
Menu and Navigation
The simple instruction "JUMP" was designed to align with the "One Rule" theme, allowing players to quickly grasp the game mechanics with minimal explanation.
The simple instruction "JUMP" was designed to align with the "One Rule" theme, allowing players to quickly grasp the game mechanics with minimal explanation.
Onboarding
Onboarding
Simple instruction of “JUMP” designed to ensure that the player can quickly understand the game, following the “One Rule” theme.
Simple instruction of “JUMP” designed to ensure that the player can quickly understand the game, following the “One Rule” theme.
Feedback and Accessibility
Feedback and Accessibility
Players receive visual feedback for every action, such as the goose visibly jumping in response to the player’s input.
The minimalist control scheme, using only the space bar to jump, ensures accessibility for players of all skill levels.
Players receive visual feedback for every action, such as the goose visibly jumping in response to the player’s input.
The minimalist control scheme, using only the space bar to jump, ensures accessibility for players of all skill levels.
A versatile game engine that enabled rapid prototyping and seamless integration of the game’s components.
A versatile game engine that enabled rapid prototyping and seamless integration of the game’s components.
DEVELOPMENT IN UNITY
DEVELOPMENT IN UNITY
Unity was chosen for its flexibility, support for 2D pixel art, and compatibility with multiple platforms, making it an ideal tool for creating a lightweight, web-accessible game.
Unity was chosen for its flexibility, support for 2D pixel art, and compatibility with multiple platforms, making it an ideal tool for creating a lightweight, web-accessible game.
The “One Rule” gameplay—jumping over obstacles—was implemented as the core mechanic using Unity’s physics and collision systems.
Prototypes focused on refining the jump timing, hit boxes, and obstacle interactions to ensure smooth and responsive gameplay.
The “One Rule” gameplay—jumping over obstacles—was implemented as the core mechanic using Unity’s physics and collision systems.
Prototypes focused on refining the jump timing, hit boxes, and obstacle interactions to ensure smooth and responsive gameplay.
Visual Assets:
Pixel art assets, including the goose, traffic cones, and campus landmarks, were imported and animated in Unity using sprite sheets.
Audio Assets:
Original music tracks and sound effects were added to enhance immersion. Unity’s audio tools were used to synchronize sound effects with the gameplay.
Visual Assets:
Pixel art assets, including the goose, traffic cones, and campus landmarks, were imported and animated in Unity using sprite sheets.
Audio Assets:
Original music tracks and sound effects were added to enhance immersion. Unity’s audio tools were used to synchronize sound effects with the gameplay.
The development of Honk n' Hurdle involved writing efficient and modular code to bring the game’s mechanics, animations.
Using C#, the primary gameplay mechanic—jumping—was implemented using a physics-based approach.
The development of Honk n' Hurdle involved writing efficient and modular code to bring the game’s mechanics, animations.
Using C#, the primary gameplay mechanic—jumping—was implemented using a physics-based approach.
Prototyping the Core Mechanics
Prototyping the Core Mechanics
Asset Integration
Asset Integration
Coding in Unity
Coding in Unity
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Balancing Simplicity and Challenge: Simplifying mechanics while maintaining an engaging level of challenge is key to creating a game that appeals to a wide range of players.
Iterative Development is Essential: Regular playtesting and incorporating user feedback were crucial in refining the game’s mechanics, visuals, and overall experience. This iterative process ensured that the game met both its design goals and player expectations.
Replayability Enhancements: Adding features like leaderboards, collectible achievements, or time-based challenges could increase replay value and foster friendly competition.
Balancing Simplicity and Challenge: Simplifying mechanics while maintaining an engaging level of challenge is key to creating a game that appeals to a wide range of players.
Iterative Development is Essential: Regular playtesting and incorporating user feedback were crucial in refining the game’s mechanics, visuals, and overall experience. This iterative process ensured that the game met both its design goals and player expectations.
Replayability Enhancements: Adding features like leaderboards, collectible achievements, or time-based challenges could increase replay value and foster friendly competition.
The finished game was published on itch.io for web browsers.
The finished game was published on itch.io for web browsers.
The finished game was published on itch.io for web browsers.
PUBLISH & RELEASE
PUBLISH & RELEASE
Shared the game with the University of Waterloo community to celebrate its playful connection to campus culture.
Shared the game with the University of Waterloo community to celebrate its playful connection to campus culture.
