Early Game Sketches and User Stories

This already my third post. At this stage the game already starts to get some shape by some early sketches. I decided to make some high level sketches to get a better feeling of all the elements which should be developed and how the game and different screens should look like. With user stories I tried to specify the most important user requirements, they are not complete in terms of specifying the complete functionality but provide a fairly good overview over the different features of the game.

We are currently in Pokhara, Nepal, which is compared to Kathmandu a very chilled out location close to the Himalayan mountains. Many people come to this place to enjoy the lake called Phewa Lake or hike the Annapurna Circuit. I you read my previous post, we had to escape from Kathmandu due to the elections. It became quite dangerous in Kathmandu with the Army being deployed all over the city and some gas bombs being thrown on busses and cars. In Pokhara, it seems that the country has no elections at all, making this place an excellent alternative for Kathmandu. Besides some hiking and mountain biking I hope to make some progress on Rolly Bear World.

 

The sketches below are the different screens of the game: title screen, settings, credits, level selection, actual game, pause screen and level completed. For each screen I defined the user stories so I have a better view on all the features I need to code in the next months :) Exciting !

1. Game Title Screen

1.0 As a player, I can start the game, so that I can play.
1.1 As a player, I can select options, so that I can manage my game settings.
1.2 As a player, I can select game Credits, so that I can read about the Credits of the game.
1.3 As a player, I want to have a nice and adventurous title screen, so that I get excited by the game.

 

2. Settings Screen

2.0 As a player, I can switch on/off the music, so that I can manage my preferences.
2.1 As a player, I can switch on/off the SFX, so that I can manage my preferences.
2.2 As a player, my preferences are saved, so that next time I don’t need to change my preferences.
2.3 As a player, it should be clear if my preferences are switched on/off.
2.4 As a plater, I should be able to navigate back to the title screen.

 

3. Level Selection Screen

3.0 As a player, I can select a level, so that I can start to play a level
3.1 As a player, I can view my completed levels, so I can view my game progress
3.2 As a player, I can view the Locked levels, so I can view my game progress
3.3 As a player, I can view my Non Locked levels, so I can view which levels I can start to play
3.4 As a player, I can replay my completed levels, so I can improve my score
3.5 As a player, I can only play the levels which are non locked or completed
3.6 As a player, my game will be saved after level completion, so I don’t need to start over
3.7 As a player, I can navigate back to the title screen.


4. Game Play Screen

4.0 As a player, I can view the different available platforms which I can use, so that I can plan my game strategy
4.1 As a player, I can drag the platforms to any place on the screen, so that I can plan the correct path
4.2 As a player, I can rotate the platforms 360 degrees, so that I can position the platforms to my needs
4.3 As a player, I cannot place multiple platforms on eachother, so that it clear where each platform is.
4.4 As a player, I can start the game by “freezing” the postions of the plaftorms, so that Rolly bear can enter the world
4.5 As a player, I cannot touch Rolly Bear, to steer him in certain directions.
4.6 As a player, I can use different types of platforms, each with different gravity characteristics
4.7 As a player, I know always where the chest is positioned on the screen, so that I know what my goal is.
4.8 As Rolly Bear, falls on the ground, the game is over, and the user can restart the level
4.9 As Rolly Bear, bounces into obstacle platforms, the game is over, and the user can restart the level
4.10 As Rolly Bear, reaches the treasure chest, the level is completed
4.11 As the player, completes the level, a dialog windows is shown.
4.15 As a player, I can pause the game

5. Pause Screen

5.1 As a player, I can restart the current level
5.2 As a player, I can end the pause state of the game by pressing the play button, and return to the game
5.3 As a player, I can end the pause state of the game by pressing the pause button, and return to the game
5.4 As a player, I can stop the current level, so that the player is directed to the level selection screen

 

 

5. Level Complete Screen

5.0 As Rolly Bear, reaches the treasure chest, a completion dialog is displayed
5.1 As Rolly Bear, reaches the treasure chest the completion time is used to determine the score
5.2 As the completion time is within 10 seconds the user gets rewarded with a 3-star score
5.3 As the completion time is between 11 seconds and – 30 second the user gets rewarded with a 2-star score
5.4 As the completion time is larger than 31 seconds the user gets rewarded with a 1-star score.
5.5 As a Player, I can start the next level, so that I can continue playing the game
5.6 As a Player, I can stop the game, so that I get navigates back to the level selection screen.

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