THOMAS WHITELEGG
Gameplay & System Designer
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Project Overview
Disc-Go! has been my most recent game design project which I have led, I was hired by Staffordshire University to lead a 20-person team in developing a very basic prototype into a Multiplayer Party Game which would be used at Exhibitions and Events. I led the design team using a Top-Down Design philosophy by abstracting the game into its core elements and smaller designs then having designers Research, Design and Prototype each element.
Key Contributions
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Multiplayer Game Design
Me and my team designed two game modes are enjoyable in both 1v1 and 2v2 modes. We addressed key Multiplayer Design Issues such as Clear Player Assignment and No Sensory Overload.
Pick-Up Gameplay
I iterated and tested different types of player possession schemes so players could easily join a game of Disc-Go! I also ensured all design choices were suitable for the Pick-Up and Play design pillar.
User Interface & User Experience Design
I used the Common UI Plugin in Unreal Engine and worked with a UI Artist to design and implement the UI of Disc-Go! This UI had a very comic-book, Pop Aesthetic which was mirrored in the Designs and Animations.
KanBan Framework Management
I managed Daily Sprints at the start and end of each work day to keep my team on track. This gave everyone an understanding of each department's progress. I also assigned tasks in a well-managed KanBan Framework board.
Game Design
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Gameplay Design
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Abstracted the game's concept and prototype into different gameplay elements which were then researched & iterated on by myself and the design team
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Outlined the High Concept for the game and the key Game Design Pillars which had to be met for most design decisions moving forward
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- Collaborated with my Design Team to construct a character which was satisfying and comical to control while also ensuring each player would know exactly what character they are.
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Created a Design Wiki Site which all departments could access to quickly review the design documentation for specific mechanics and game modes.
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Technical Design
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Prototyped two different PvP game modes to showcase the strengths of each concept for the team before one was chosen. I then iterated on and documented the chosen concept.
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Developed different Character Mechanics with my Design Team, Iterated on the character movement values to balance player satisfaction and in-game practicality.
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- Designed and Implemented a subtle Camera System which focused on & moved depending on key gameplay points (Where the primary objective is, where players have gathered, etc).
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User Interface Design
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Worked with a UI Artist to create UI Paint-Overs for each of the menus that I outlined in a IA Diagram.
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Implemented UI Assets into Common Activatable Widgets, ensuring that the Widget Anchoring would make each screen readable on all reasonable resolutions.
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Created widget animations in Unreal's UMG Editor to accentuate the bounciness and Pop-Style of the UI.
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Skills Used
