LifeLab+ App

• Languages used: C#

• Role:

  • Lead implementation for different aspects of the app.

  • Support and develop core aspects of the app.

    • From working on core gameplay mechanics​, mission description systems and analytics for the app.

• Platforms: Android & IOS.

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I was originally brought into the project to work on a mini game in July-August 2019. The mini game's aim was to help promote eating healthy food in a fun manner and was intended to fit within a much larger food challenge system with a story aimed at pushing teenagers to experiment and try new types of food. The game features a variation of match 3 gameplay and I was in charge of developing all the mechanics, UI, mission description system as well as working closely with the artist integrating the artwork. I was also closely collaborating with a Games Design Student who balanced and design the mini game and all of it's levels.

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We were on a tight schedule (roughly around 8 weeks) and had to quickly iterate the design over the course of 8 weeks. In addition to implementing the core gameplay, I was very focused on making the most out of my limited time, taking care to make the game feel good and satisfying to play and put effort in elements like how food tiles move around the board, using different forms of non-linear interpolation like when tiles move into Gutsy's (the character at the top of the screen in the video above) stomach. I wanted to ensure that the artist-defined animations would pop as tiles shake around when selected by the player cleverly using Perlin noise to my advantage. 

I also had to keep performance in mind as we targeted Android and IOS devices which led to heavy tweaking for when and where certain animation systems are in use. For example, Unity's then experimental sprite bone animation system was being used which would cause spikes in frame times if there where too many active at one time. I also used certain optimisation patterns like object pools for tiles and effects as they were getting destroyed and instantiated on a regular basis. All of these elements came together to make for a very satisfying game to play despite the limited time we had to work with.

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