Dash.

─Dash your way to victory in this fast-paced, coin-collecting adventure!

By Bowen Shi

Table of Contents

INTRO

I. OVERVIEW

II. PLATFORM

III. AUDIENCE

IIII. GENRE

V. REFERENCES

GAME DESIGN

I. CORE GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

II. GAMEPLAY FLOWCHART

III. DEMO

IIII. USER INTERFACE DESIGN

V. INTERACTION DESIGN

PLAYER EXPERIENCE DESIGN

I. BACKGROUND STORY AND SETTINGS

II. LEVEL DESIGN

III. MUSIC AND SOUND DESIGN

INTRO

OVERVIEW

  "Dash." is a fast-paced, 2D game in which the player must collect coins while avoiding a giant wall that is closing in from behind. The game consists of three stages, each lasting 30 seconds, and the player must accumulate as many points as possible by collecting coins. However, colliding with the wall will cause the player to lose points, making it a challenging and exciting gameplay experience.

PLATFORM

  Dash. is made with Unity Engine and is currently published as alpha test early access on Itch.io, the link is provided down below in the DEMO section.

AUDIENCE

  The audience for Dash. is likely to be gamers who enjoy fast-paced, action-packed gameplay experiences with a competitive edge. The game's emphasis on collecting coins and beating high scores is likely to appeal to casual gamers who enjoy arcade-style games. Additionally, the challenge of avoiding the closing wall while collecting coins will likely appeal to more hardcore gamers looking for a challenging gameplay experience. Overall, Dash. has the potential to attract a wide range of players who enjoy 2D platformer games with a competitive twist.

GENRE

 The genre of Dash. would be considered a 2D platformer game with elements of arcade-style gameplay. The game involves a player-controlled character moving through a side-scrolling environment, jumping over obstacles, and collecting coins to achieve a high score. The focus on fast-paced gameplay and quick reflexes is a hallmark of the platformer genre, while the emphasis on collecting coins and competing for high scores is characteristic of arcade-style games. Overall, Dash. is a combination of these two genres, offering players a challenging, fast-paced gameplay experience with an arcade-like focus on score competition.

Game Design

CORE GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

  The core gameplay mechanics for this project revolve around the following principles:

• The player-controlled character moves through a 2D side-scrolling environment.
• The player must collect coins to gain points.
• The game is divided into three stages, each lasting 30 seconds.
• A giant wall is constantly closing in from behind the player, and collision with it causes the player to lose points.
• The game is over when the player reaches the end of the third stage or when the player's score reaches zero.
• The player must use quick reflexes and timing to jump over obstacles and avoid colliding with the wall.
• The objective is to achieve the highest possible score across all three stages by collecting as many coins as possible while avoiding collisions with the wall.

GAMEPLAY FLOWCHART

USER INTERFACE DESIGN

   In the Dash.,  the user interface is designed in a way that can be easily understood by players. The whole UI does not need an extra tutorial to explain to players what the element on the HUD means, it’s very much self-explainable.

INTERACTION DESIGN

The interaction design of this project focuses on providing an intuitive and engaging experience for players for 100 seconds. Key elements include:

Simple and responsive controls: Players interact with the game using straightforward touch or click-based inputs, minimizing the learning curve and ensuring the games are easy to pick up and play.

Visual feedback: Dash. provides clear visual cues and feedback, such as updating scores in real time to help players understand the game mechanics and their progress.

Time indicator: A visible countdown timer is displayed during the game, ensuring players are aware of the time constraint and can adjust their strategy accordingly.

Immediate scoring: Players receive instant feedback on their performance through an on-screen score that updates in real-time, motivating them to improve their skills and compete for higher scores.

Smooth transitions: Each stage of Dash. are designed to transition seamlessly from one to another, maintaining a fast-paced and engaging gaming experience.

Clear instructions: Dash. starts with brief, easy-to-understand instructions to ensure players know what to do right away. The interaction design of this project aims to create an enjoyable and accessible gaming experience that keeps players engaged and encourages them to improve their skills while competing for high scores.

PLAYER EXPERIENCE DESIGN

The player experience design of this project aims to deliver an engaging, accessible, and enjoyable gaming experience by focusing on the following aspects:

• The game starts with a main menu screen, allowing players to start a new game, view the high scores, or quit the game.
• The gameplay is fast-paced and requires quick reflexes and timing.
• The player must collect coins while avoiding obstacles and the closing wall.
• The game is divided into three stages, each lasting 30 seconds, providing a sense of progression and achievement.
• The player's score is prominently displayed on the screen, encouraging competition and replayability.
• Sound effects and music enhance the gameplay experience and create a sense of urgency.
• Upon completing a game, the player is presented with a game over screen, displaying their final score and allowing them to restart the game or return to the main menu.
• The game keeps track of high scores, providing a sense of competition and motivation to improve.
• The controls are simple and easy to learn, allowing players of all skill levels to enjoy the game.

By focusing on these aspects, the player experience design of this project ensures a fun, engaging, and satisfying gaming experience that appeals to casual gamers and keeps them coming back for more.

Assets Used:

MOCAPOT-Circular Timer

SUPANTHA PAUL-2D Platformer Controller

MARIAMAM-Animated pixel button set

BALTIC CORTEX-Jungle Platformer Tile Set

EREMID-2D industrial.