Ice Cream Disaster

Key features

• Availability on both Android and iOS.
• Player-determined session lengths.
• Randomly generated levels for replayability.
• Hidden content for completionists.
• Completely free with no ads.
• Early Development (MVP)

Gameplay

The initial idea revolved around catching and balancing ice cream scoops. A draft prototype was created within a week to test the game's core mechanics. The MVP included a character object that could be dragged along the X-axis to catch falling scoops, which would stack and increase the score.

• The player controls a character that moves horizontally.
• Ice cream scoops fall from the sky at intervals.
• Scoops attach to the character upon collision, adding to the score.

First Game Session User Journey

The user journey begins with the loading screen, followed by language selection, an introductory sequence, and a tutorial.

1. Language Choice Screen: Select preferred language.
2. Intro Sequence: Optional to watch or skip.
3. Tutorial: Step-by-step guide with character interaction.
4. Gameplay: Catch scoops and earn points.
5. Score Screen: Shows the session's results with options to replay or return to the main menu.

Players then engage in the main gameplay loop, catching and stacking scoops to earn points. Levels are progressively unlocked, introducing new challenges and rewards.

Main Menu User Flow

After a very simple splash screen animation, the main screen can direct the user to the settings screen, the unlockable items screen or the Flavourpedia.

• Main Screen: Shows the current settings of the game, allows to start a new game and access any other section of the main menu. It can be understood at a glance and highlights the most important features.
• Unlockables Screens: These three screens allow choosing between the different characters, levels and cones, as well as unlocking new items if the user has enough currency.
• Flavourpedia Screen: A collection screen showing the flavours the user has already tasted.
• Settings Screen: A set of options for a more personalized experience.

Prototypes and Development Process

Prototyping involved iterative testing and feedback to refine gameplay mechanics and UI elements. Early versions included a basic cone and scoop interaction with a score counter. Over time, additional features like action buttons, life counters, and flavor indicators were added based on player feedback.

Demo Release

The demo version, featuring four levels, was released to gather feedback and spot bugs. Promotional material included a trailer and social media posts, attracting over 1K testers and providing valuable insights for further development.

Visual Design

Game Assets

Characters: Avatars which play a key role in the game's backstory, as well as locating the player in-game. Unlockable, each of them has different animations depending on the current number of scoops the user has collected.

Cones: Different types with special abilities, some of them are necessary to complete the game. Ice cream cones can be unlocked using game points.

Levels: There's nine unlockable stages with increasing difficulty and new obstacles and flavours each.

Flavors: There's more than 60 different ones, they're collectible and have diverse point values. Some of them behave in particular ways that make them harder to catch.

Introduction sequence and tutorial: A short and fast animation explaining the game's premise followed by a simple tutorial.

UI Design

The UI design focused on simplicity and accessibility. From the main menu, the player can access all game features and settings. In the Flavourpedia it is posible to see all collected flavours and keep track of how many haven't been found yet.

In-Game Interface: Includes a score counter, the action button to save the collected cones, life indicators and a pause button that allows restarting the game or going back to the main menu.

Left-handed Option: It is possible to switch the position of the action button if the player prefers it.

Unlockables and Settings Screens: Visual representation of available items and levels, and adjustments for audio, language, and control preferences.

Thumbnail Icons: Each unlockable item (characters, cones and levels) has a thumbnail icon used in the score screen to easily show the setup of the last played game.

Design Principles

The design choices were driven by the goal of creating a smooth and enjoyable user experience. The minimalist UI ensured easy navigation, while vibrant and playful visual elements enhanced engagement. Iterative testing and feedback helped fine-tune the interface and gameplay mechanics, ensuring they were intuitive and accessible.

Social Media and Current State of the Game

Social media played a crucial role in promoting the game and engaging with the player community. Regular updates and interactions helped build anticipation and gather feedback. As of now, Ice Cream Disaster has over 30K downloads and an average rating of 4.9. The game also received positive reviews from PocketGamer, MaxiApple, Soft&Apps, and Phenogames.

Two years later, the game continues to attract new players daily and maintains a strong presence in search results, demonstrating the success of the development and marketing efforts.

Conclusion

Developing Ice Cream Disaster was a valuable learning experience, combining UX/UI design with game development. The project highlighted the importance of user feedback, iterative design, and effective promotion. The game's success encourages further exploration and development in the field of mobile gaming.