Tropical Trouble is an arcade racing game. Race through a lush environment inspired by Sri Lanka. From concept to release, I worked as a technical and UI/UX designer, but also didn't shy away to fill in other roles when needed.
Unreal Engine - 6 months (2021)
As a Technical UI/UX Designer ( 2 months)
Tasks:
Concepted the complete menu flow in flowcharts and screen mock-ups.
Created a data-driven menu system that uses currently available vehicles and tracks to generate the menu screens.
Concepted and developed the HUD functionality including minimap, player standing and lap times.
Developed the high score system for all game modes on all tracks.
Added juice and polish to the UI.
UI Flowcharts and Mock-ups
Menu flow
Menu screen mock-ups
I created flowcharts and screen mock-ups for the menus in the game. I researched competitor games and focused on how to make the interaction with the menus fun.
My goal was to make a smooth and fun experience for the player, as they have to go through a couple of menus before each race.
Data driven menu system
Video showing the generated menus using data.
I created a data system for the UI. That data is picked up by the UI system and generated the menus. I used blueprints and Datatables to set this up.
My goal was to make te UI easily extendable for the future. Whether we want 2 or 5 tracks or cars in the final game, the UI won't have to be recreated as it automatically adjusts to the data in the table.
HUD Functionality
I created the functionaltiy of the HUD. It includes the minimap, player standing, speed and boost meters and lap times.
I researched what info is desired to know while racing the track by looking at competitor games. I then used blueprints to implement the systems.
High score system
I created the highscore system that supports multiple game modes on multiple tracks. It records the play time, medals earned and vehicle chosen. I set up a save system that save the highscores to a local file.
My goal was to add some rewards and replayability to the final product. By giving the player some target times, they are more inclined to retry the track to beat them. They can challenge friends by showing their own best times.
Juice and Polish
To make the game stand out, I created animated effects to the buttons. I researched how this is possible and found a way using Unreal Engine's UMG Retainer Boxes with an animated material.
I composed and arranged the soundtrack for the game. Below is the racing piece.
You can play Tropical Trouble here!
