We’re Tethered Together
Type of Project: Non-Academic Team (Bun Bun Games Studio) | Role: Level Designer | Size: 9 | Duration: 6 Weeks | Year Released: Late 2023 | Software: Unity
Overview
Collaborated with DigiPen peers on a puzzle platformer submitted to Brackey’s game jam in 2023.
The game follows two bunnies navigating a spooky dungeon filled with horrors.
Invited to join the project for 6 weeks to refine puzzle design and create four levels.
Worked on a team with a focus on level design, as no one else was dedicated to it.
The project aimed for release on Steam, and I contributed in a non-academic environment.
The experience provided insight into indie game development and working without academic pressures.
Focused on crafting engaging puzzle gameplay for the bunnies' escape from the dungeon.
Role & Process
Joined a team of 3 programmers, 2 artists, and 1 audio designer to help refine level design and puzzles.
Core systems and mechanics were already in place; my focus was on adjusting the difficulty curve and puzzle design.
The team had established levels and key narrative moments, so my challenge was to align with their vision and pacing.
Reviewed the Game Design Document (GDD) to ensure my design choices were in line with the team's goals.
Collaborated with the team, playing through the game to understand their narrative and pacing vision.
Provided feedback on the difficulty curve, suggesting it ramped up too quickly for a short, fun puzzle game.
Planned and proposed level designs, sharing ideas with the team for feedback.
Conducted playtesting on the levels and made iterative adjustments based on feedback.
Play on Steam!
User Testimonials!
“A short but sweet gem of a game! The art style is adorably spooky, and the music is just frightening enough. The platforming's unique timing challenge is fun without being too difficult for players who aren't experts at 2d platformers. I would definitely recommend it to play!”
“This is a fantastic short plat former. It's a great mix of cute and terrifying, and i got so invested in these adorable bunnies.”
“This game was a great play! Short and sweet but still has you tensed up. It had me on the edge of my seat…”
Presenting to the Public!
My team and I had the fantastic opportunity to work with Seattle Indies to show our game at the Washington State Gaming Expo!
Ending Notes
Learning Outcomes
We’re Tethered Together was my first project outside of school, working with a team to refine a game.
Learned how to join a project late in development and help refine it while respecting the original vision.
Realized I enjoy every step of the development process, from preproduction to execution.
Gained insight into indie development, experiencing it without the pressures of school.
One of my favorite game development experiences, proud to contribute to the team and see positive player feedback on the puzzles I created.
Complications/Issues
Joining a project midway through development was an adjustment and a learning experience for me.
Focused on retaining the team's vision while refining existing designs rather than overhauling them.
The team asked me to reevaluate and reformat the level progression and puzzle design, which was challenging as they already had a programmer handling level design.
My goal was to provide constructive feedback without changing the core vision of the game.
The game was reorganized in its level structure, but the narrative beats and progression stayed the same.
Collaborating with another programmer-level designer was challenging at times, as we had to align our puzzles and levels.
Despite working independently at times, we managed to make the puzzles and levels cohesive through team collaboration and user feedback.