Email: eengland@smu.edu
Phone: 214.264.0457
Finders Keepers
2D Puzzle-Platformer

Engine: 2D
Development Time: 3 Months
Date Completed: September 2006

Download
Trailer (23M .avi)
Concept Document (7.4M .PDF)

Resume Masters Thesis Level Design

My first challenge was to design levels where players could instinctively solve the puzzles without referring back to a manual or asking for hints. I also wanted the puzzles to never be too difficult to solve, yet still rewarding. By starting the player with very simple levels before advancing to larger more complex levels, they became increasingly accustomed to the gameplay as the difficulty increased.

Above is the second level in the game. Coins draw the player's attention to certain locations. Previously, the player learned a large stone block would open the door if placed on the discolored floor tile. Now the player needed to pick up three smaller blocks in order to have the same effect.  On top of that, the players had to place one block in front of them and use it to get high enough to reach the blocks on the upper part of the screen.