Jonathan Umar-Khitab

Game Designer

Man Or Beast

Role: Designer

Team Size: 3

Players: 1

Engine: Spritelib

Tools

Visual Studio | C++ | Adobe Photoshop | Audacity | Bitbucket

Overview

Man or Beast is a Isometric Horror Game where players navigate through a proceduarlly generated labrynth. Along the way they can rescue npcs and gain items which they can use to help them escape or even turn the tides against the minotaur chasing after them.

This project was developed during my first year in university along with other first year students. At the end of the year, we showcased our projects to the public where they were available to play.

My main responsiblities in this role was in the design space, where I handled items, abilities, game feel, atmosphere, characters and similar features. This also included communicating between different disiplines to ensure consistency and tasks were being completed on time.

Project Goals

  • Build a 2D game using c++ and a c++ opengl framework/wrapper called Spritelib.
  • Create an environment for players to feel isolated and afraid, like they are exploring a dangerous area all alone.
  • Covey information using a minimalistic approach to reduce clutter.
  • Create the feeling of action and intensity without utilizing combat.
  • Build features, and ideas centered around a theme of how a person can be described as Man or Beast.

Responsibilities

  • All game design related responsiblities
  • Developing a Horror-esq Isolated atmosphere
  • Designing in game interactions, abilities, item and similar features.
  • Sound design and VO for NPCs
  • World Building and Writing Dialogue for NPCs
  • Opening and Ending Cutscene storyboarding and rendering
  • Animations for props, animation assistance for characters.
  • Concepting levels, and a portion of items, characters and UI elements.
  • Work and coordinate with Programmer and Artist to develop a workflow to create, implement and tune assets and features.

Additional Details

  • Genre: Horror
  • Language: C++
  • Duration: September 2013 – April 2014
  • Platform: PC
  • Controls: Keyboard

Detailed Work

  • Characters
    • Jon the Skull (Concept Art, Production Asset, Narrative, Barks, VA)
    • Serena the Taylor (Concept Art, Writing, Animation)
    • Minotaur (Animation, VA, Barks and SFX)
    • Main Character (Sound Effects)
  • Labrynth Main Level
    • Concept Layout
    • Atmosphere
    • Obstacles
    • Coordinate with Artists to develop environment visual style.
    • Audio Design
  • Items / Abilities
    • 6 Items for each NPC the player can find. (Mechanics, Unique Abilites, Production Art, Animations)
  • Cutscenes
    • Script, layout, and rendering for opening and ending cutscenes.
  • Gameplay
    • gamefeel, balancing, UX, tutorialization