My Roles
Project Manager
Lead Designer
Lead Programmer (C#)
Developed in
Unity Engine
Duration
72 Hours
Platform
PC
Release
Student Project
November 2023
Intro
For the Alberta Propel Game Jam 2023, the challenge was to design a 2D platformer that combined fun gameplay with an educational or thematic message.
Our team wanted to create a game that would:
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Be accessible and engaging for children and families.
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Teach, in a playful way, the importance of water and its different states of matter.
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Deliver a cohesive experience under strict time constraints.
Design Approach
Puzzle & Platform Design
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Water Form: Environmental interaction → grow trees to create new paths.
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Ice Form: Classic platformer jumping + hazard management (fragility).
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Cloud Form: Movement freedom but limited control → used sparingly for gaps and high spaces.
By tying mechanics to scientific concepts (solid/liquid/gas), the game doubled as an intuitive learning tool.
Core Concept
We designed Hugh, a droplet of water who can transform into three elemental forms, each tied to a season:
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Summer – Water Droplet: Can fall safely, grow trees into platforms, but cannot jump.
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Winter – Ice Cube: Can walk and jump, cross water, but breaks if falling from high places.
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Spring – Cloud: Can float/fly over large gaps but is more vulnerable.
Narrative Context: Hugh is a child of nature, sent to nurture life by watering plants and ensuring the forest thrives. Each level ends with Hugh reaching and watering a sprout to make the world greener.
Iteration and Feedback
The Problem
During playtests, we noticed:
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Some players (especially kids) didn’t immediately connect each form’s limitations and advantages.
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Levels with mixed mechanics sometimes overwhelmed players.
The Solution
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Clear Visual Feedback: Seasonal transitions were emphasized with strong visual/audio cues (snowfall, sunshine, blooming).
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Gradual Onboarding: Levels were restructured so each form’s rules were reinforced before being combined.
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Narrative Reinforcement: The goal of “watering the plant” remained consistent, keeping objectives simple and intuitive.
Result: Players of all ages could understand the transformations quickly and enjoyed discovering creative solutions to puzzles.
Skills Applied
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System & Puzzle Design: Balanced three distinct player states and designed levels that progressively layered mechanics.
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Educational Design: Embedded the science of states of matter (solid/liquid/gas) into mechanics for intuitive learning.
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Player Experience: Applied feedback loops (visual/auditory cues, level pacing) to ensure clarity for children and casual players.
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Team Collaboration: Coordinated closely under jam constraints, rapidly prototyping mechanics and iterating based on quick playtests.
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Narrative Integration: Crafted a simple but thematic story to tie mechanics to ecological awareness.
Outcome
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Winner of Alberta Propel Game Jam 2023.
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Delivered a complete platformer prototype in under 72 hours.
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Successfully merged educational content with fun, accessible gameplay.
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Positive feedback highlighted both the charm of the character and the clever seasonal mechanics.