Team Elimination
Role:
Gameplay Designer
Year:
2025
Overview
A science-themed target shooting game set in a microscopic environment where players eliminate bacteria viewed through a microscope. The game features a Red Team vs. Blue Team format in which players must accurately identify and shoot only the bacteria belonging to the opposing team. This mechanic encourages quick visual recognition and precision. The game combines fast-paced target shooting gameplay with a theme inspired by microbiology and laboratory research.
Early versions of the game caused confusion among players about the core objective. Players on the Red Team often assumed they should shoot red bacteria, while players on the Blue Team believed they should shoot blue bacteria. This misunderstanding led to frequent mistakes and disrupted the intended competitive gameplay.
Incorrect Hit
Correct Hit
The improved visual and audio feedback helped players quickly understand that they should target the opposing team’s targets. As a result, gameplay became more intuitive, reducing player confusion and allowing participants to focus on accuracy during the match.
‣ Clear visual communication is critical for gameplay clarity. Even when rules seem simple from a design perspective, players may interpret them differently. Strong visual cues and UI elements are essential to communicate the intended objective quickly.
‣ Player behavior during testing reveals design assumptions. Observing players misunderstand the core rule highlighted that our initial design relied too heavily on explanation rather than intuitive visual guidance.
‣ Feedback systems reinforce correct player actions. Adding visual and auditory feedback helped players immediately understand whether they had made the correct choice, improving the learning curve and overall flow of gameplay.
‣ Iterative testing improves usability. Small adjustments to UI, color readability, and feedback cues significantly reduced confusion and made the competitive mechanics easier for players to understand.
