Game Jam
Bloodline Quest
Year :
2023
Duration :
3 Days
Platform :
PC
Role :
Game Designer / Developer
Collaborators :
4
Core Loop :
Battle through Sardon's minions using melee combat, solve digital-root logic puzzles to unlock new areas, and progress the narrative across multiple generations.
My Contribution :
Designed and implemented the core "digital root" puzzle mechanic, integrating mathematical logic seamlessly into level progression.
Conceptualized and balanced the multi-generational narrative system, ensuring gameplay mechanics evolved alongside the story timeline.
Created level layouts that alternated between high-intensity combat encounters and thoughtful puzzle-solving segments to maintain pacing.
Scripted enemy behaviors and boss encounter phases for the final confrontation with Sardon.
Design Challenge :
The primary challenge was to blend a fast-paced action platformer with a mathematical puzzle mechanic without breaking the game's flow. Early playtests showed that players felt the "digital root" puzzles slowed down the action too abruptly, causing frustration and disengagement. We needed a way to make the math puzzles feel like a natural part of the hero's journey, not a homework assignment.
My Solution :
I integrated the puzzles directly into the environment and combat. Instead of pausing the game for a static puzzle screen, I designed "combat puzzles" where players had to defeat enemies in a specific order or hit switches that corresponded to the digital root of a number displayed on a locked door. This kept the player active and moving. I also introduced the mechanic gradually—starting with simple 1-digit roots in the tutorial generation and evolving to complex multi-step equations in later generations, paralleling the hero's growing power and knowledge.
Results & Impact :
Award Winner: "Most Innovative Game Award" at Global Game Jam Chennai 2023.
Player Engagement: Judges & Playtesters praised the unique blend of math and melee, citing the "aha!" moments during combat puzzles as a highlight.
Narrative Cohesion: successfully delivered a complete generational story arc within the short Game Jam timeframe.
More Projects
Game Jam
Bloodline Quest
Year :
2023
Duration :
3 Days
Platform :
PC
Role :
Game Designer / Developer
Collaborators :
4
Core Loop :
Battle through Sardon's minions using melee combat, solve digital-root logic puzzles to unlock new areas, and progress the narrative across multiple generations.
My Contribution :
Designed and implemented the core "digital root" puzzle mechanic, integrating mathematical logic seamlessly into level progression.
Conceptualized and balanced the multi-generational narrative system, ensuring gameplay mechanics evolved alongside the story timeline.
Created level layouts that alternated between high-intensity combat encounters and thoughtful puzzle-solving segments to maintain pacing.
Scripted enemy behaviors and boss encounter phases for the final confrontation with Sardon.
Design Challenge :
The primary challenge was to blend a fast-paced action platformer with a mathematical puzzle mechanic without breaking the game's flow. Early playtests showed that players felt the "digital root" puzzles slowed down the action too abruptly, causing frustration and disengagement. We needed a way to make the math puzzles feel like a natural part of the hero's journey, not a homework assignment.
My Solution :
I integrated the puzzles directly into the environment and combat. Instead of pausing the game for a static puzzle screen, I designed "combat puzzles" where players had to defeat enemies in a specific order or hit switches that corresponded to the digital root of a number displayed on a locked door. This kept the player active and moving. I also introduced the mechanic gradually—starting with simple 1-digit roots in the tutorial generation and evolving to complex multi-step equations in later generations, paralleling the hero's growing power and knowledge.
Results & Impact :
Award Winner: "Most Innovative Game Award" at Global Game Jam Chennai 2023.
Player Engagement: Judges & Playtesters praised the unique blend of math and melee, citing the "aha!" moments during combat puzzles as a highlight.
Narrative Cohesion: successfully delivered a complete generational story arc within the short Game Jam timeframe.
More Projects
Game Jam
Bloodline Quest
Year :
2023
Duration :
3 Days
Platform :
PC
Role :
Game Designer / Developer
Collaborators :
4
Core Loop :
Battle through Sardon's minions using melee combat, solve digital-root logic puzzles to unlock new areas, and progress the narrative across multiple generations.
My Contribution :
Designed and implemented the core "digital root" puzzle mechanic, integrating mathematical logic seamlessly into level progression.
Conceptualized and balanced the multi-generational narrative system, ensuring gameplay mechanics evolved alongside the story timeline.
Created level layouts that alternated between high-intensity combat encounters and thoughtful puzzle-solving segments to maintain pacing.
Scripted enemy behaviors and boss encounter phases for the final confrontation with Sardon.
Design Challenge :
The primary challenge was to blend a fast-paced action platformer with a mathematical puzzle mechanic without breaking the game's flow. Early playtests showed that players felt the "digital root" puzzles slowed down the action too abruptly, causing frustration and disengagement. We needed a way to make the math puzzles feel like a natural part of the hero's journey, not a homework assignment.
My Solution :
I integrated the puzzles directly into the environment and combat. Instead of pausing the game for a static puzzle screen, I designed "combat puzzles" where players had to defeat enemies in a specific order or hit switches that corresponded to the digital root of a number displayed on a locked door. This kept the player active and moving. I also introduced the mechanic gradually—starting with simple 1-digit roots in the tutorial generation and evolving to complex multi-step equations in later generations, paralleling the hero's growing power and knowledge.
Results & Impact :
Award Winner: "Most Innovative Game Award" at Global Game Jam Chennai 2023.
Player Engagement: Judges & Playtesters praised the unique blend of math and melee, citing the "aha!" moments during combat puzzles as a highlight.
Narrative Cohesion: successfully delivered a complete generational story arc within the short Game Jam timeframe.