Mobile iOS Puzzle Match (Shipped)
Context:
SEGA aimed to create a Western counterpart to Puyo Puyo!! Quest but needed to adapt the game’s style and theme to appeal to a larger Western audience. This involved extensive testing and a complete reskin of the game.
Key Challenges:
- Developing a new visual style that resonates with Western players.
- Overcoming language barriers with a proprietary Japanese program.
- Ensuring precise reskinning to avoid functional errors.
Style & Thematic Testing
Challenge:
- The original art and style of Puyo Puyo!! Quest weren’t considered suitable for the Western market, requiring a fresh take on character design and thematics.
Solution:
- Conducted large-scale testing of different character designs, themes, and visual styles to find the best fit for the Western audience.
My Role:
- Contributed to the design and testing process by exploring various styles and themes, ensuring the final look would appeal to a broad player base.
Outcome:
- Successfully developed a new visual direction that aligned with SEGA’s goal of attracting a Western audience.
Navigating the Proprietary Japanese Program
Challenge:
- The game had to be built using a proprietary Japanese program, with all buttons and instructions in Japanese, creating significant challenges for non-Japanese speakers.
Solution:
- Collaborated with a co-worker to systematically test and document the functionality of the program’s buttons and features.
- Created a comprehensive user manual in English to make the program accessible for the team.
My Role:
- Worked closely with a colleague to decode the Japanese interface, documenting each function and building a new English-language manual for the team to use.
Outcome:
- Overcame the language barrier, allowing the team to use the Japanese program effectively to build the game.
Reskinning the Game
Challenge:
- Every asset from the original game needed to be replaced with new, equivalent assets. Mistakes, even at the pixel level, could cause major visual and functional issues.
Solution:
- Carefully replaced all assets while ensuring pixel-perfect accuracy to maintain the game’s functionality.
My Role:
- Led the reskinning process, paying meticulous attention to detail to prevent any technical or visual breakdowns in the system.
Outcome:
- Completed the reskinning with precision, ensuring the game ran smoothly and met SEGA’s high standards for visual quality.
