Overview
I led a multidisciplinary team of 17 developers to bring this game to life, balancing creative vision with technical execution. The game launched successfully on iOS and Android in April 2018, showcasing at major events like PAX East and Boston Festival of Indie Games.
Key Contributions
1. Product Vision and Strategy
I spearheaded the design overhaul for the UI, creating a cohesive and visually engaging experience inspired by Mayan and Aztec aesthetics. Iterative playtesting guided my approach, aligning player feedback with product goals to enhance usability and immersion.
2. Feature Design and User-Centric Development
- Introduced a new “screen wrap” mechanic in World 5, conceptualizing and developing 8 levels that creatively leveraged existing gameplay skills.
- Designed tutorials to address player confusion, integrating visual cues and mascot-led guidance to boost engagement and retention, resulting in increased average playtime per user.
3. Technical Leadership and Optimization
- Revamped the world map system, simplifying code structure and enabling debugging options to streamline team workflows.
- Built visual tools for level design, improving team efficiency in creating precise and polished player experiences.
4. Agile Team Management
Utilized Kanban to prioritize tasks and balance team workload, ensuring weekly iterations for rapid prototyping and bug resolution. Coordinated the release pipeline for iOS and Android, enabling smooth deployment of updates.
5. Data-Driven Decision-Making
Leveraged playtesting and analytics to identify pain points and refine mechanics, ensuring the game met user expectations and stood out in a competitive market.
Impact & Learnings
- Launched a polished, user-focused product within an accelerated timeline, garnering recognition at key industry events.
- Increased team efficiency by introducing streamlined tools and processes, allowing for faster iteration and reduced development overhead.
- Elevated player satisfaction and engagement through user-focused design, resulting in measurable improvements in playtime and retention.
Through this experience, I honed my ability to define product vision, lead cross-functional teams, and deliver user-centered solutions—all critical skills I now apply to drive impact in the tech product space.
