Surbeeval

Goals

• Expand my portfolio as a versatile UX/UI designer and developer.
• Learn and apply Unity with C# and its interface requirements for future projects.
• Raise awareness about the issues faced by pollinators, encouraging a positive response to environmental conservation.

Target Audience

Surbeeval targets players who enjoy simple management games and are looking for a meaningful gaming experience without a financial barrier. These players are typically budget-conscious but appreciate engaging and educational content.

Persona Example

• Name: Alex Thompson
• Age: 19
• Occupation: Student
• Interests: Environmental science, mobile gaming, casual strategy games
• Gaming Habits: Prefers free-to-play games with a purpose, enjoys games that can be played in short sessions, and appreciates games with educational elements.

User Flow

The game employs a day/night cycle to structure user interaction:

New Day Screen: This is the starting point of each play session. Here, players can:

• Begin a new in-game day.
• View collected items from previous days.
• Access the game's settings menu.

In-Game Day (10 Minutes): Players assume the role of managing a beehive. The core gameplay loop revolves around collecting pollen within a 10-minute in-game day:

• Players strategically send bees to collect pollen from nearby flowers.
• A timer counts down the remaining time.
• When one minute remains, a warning message prompts players to gather as much pollen as possible.

End of Day Evaluation: The game evaluates the player's performance:

• Success: If enough pollen is collected to feed the hive, a score screen appears. Players progress to the upgrade screen where they can choose an upgrade for their hive or bees.
• Failure: If insufficient pollen is collected, players enter a nighttime "penalty mode" with harsher conditions and no upgrade opportunity.

New Day Begins: After completing the day/night cycle, a new day commences, restarting the gameplay loop.

Design Principles

The game prioritizes a user-friendly experience through:

• UX Design Heuristics: The core mechanics adhere to established principles for intuitive gameplay.
• Accessibility: The game strives to meet AAA video game accessibility guidelines concerning color contrast ratios, ensuring a comfortable experience for players with visual impairments.
• Simplicity: The design employs a clean and uncluttered aesthetic for easy comprehension.
• Reductive Graphics: The game uses a streamlined art style that prioritizes clarity and performance over intricate details.
• Screen Adaptability: The game scales seamlessly across various screen sizes for a consistent experience on different devices.

Color Palette & Seasons

The game adopts a dynamic color scheme that reflects the changing seasons:

• Seasonal Colors: The primary color palette adapts throughout the year, mirroring the natural world's seasonal transitions.

• Highlight & Secondary Colors: A white tone is used for highlighting crucial elements, while a dark blue serves as a secondary color to complement the seasonal palette.

• Sprite Transparency: Sprites leverage transparency to enable variations in the color scheme with minimal code modifications. This allows the game's visual aesthetic to seamlessly adapt to the seasonal color changes.

Gameplay

The game offers a hands-on approach to beehive management:

• Individual Bee Control: Players directly control bees by tapping on them and then selecting their destination.

• Flower Gathering: Tapping on a flower after selecting a bee instructs it to make repeated trips between the flower and the hive, collecting pollen.
• Pollen Meter: A pie chart appears on top of a flower to indicate the remaining pollen. Once depleted, the flower becomes unavailable to bees until it regenerates.

Interface Elements

The game uses various on-screen elements to communicate information and facilitate gameplay:

• In-Game Messages: Brief messages appear to update players on the game's status and provide relevant information.

• Modals: Pop-up windows emerge at crucial moments, prompting players to make choices that influence the game's progression.

• Items Menu: Bees can collect various items during the day. Players can access and use these items through the dedicated menu to temporarily enhance the hive's capabilities.
• Upgrade Menu: Players can spend leftover pollen at the end of a successful day to upgrade their bees or the beehive itself.

• Day's Recap Screen: This screen offers a summary of the day's performance, including the number of bees that returned, the total number of bees, and the number of flowers that bloomed or wilted.

• Score Screen: Based on the day's achievements, players receive a gold, bronze, or fail score, reflecting their performance across three tiers.

User Experience

• Accessibility: The game is designed to be intuitive, with straightforward controls and clear visual feedback. This ensures players of all ages and skill levels can enjoy the game.
• Engagement: The day/night and seasonal cycles keep the gameplay dynamic, requiring players to adapt their strategies continuously.
• Education: By integrating real-world issues into the gameplay, the game educates players about environmental challenges in an engaging manner.

Current State of the Project

Surbeeval is currently in development. A working prototype has been created and is undergoing testing. The initial feedback from testers will inform further refinements and adjustments to enhance gameplay and user experience. Development will continue as time permits, with the goal of creating a polished and impactful game that meets both educational and entertainment objectives.

Conclusion

Surbeeval represents a unique blend of management and survival gameplay with an educational twist. The game is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing both entertainment and awareness about critical environmental issues. As development progresses, the game aims to offer a compelling experience that resonates with players and contributes to their understanding of the importance of pollinators in our ecosystem.