Kwartz
July 2019
Level selection screen
About Project
Kwartz is a captivating 2D side-scrolling game that began as an academic project before garnering a fanbase. Its narrative simplicity and intuitive gameplay have resonated with its few fans, fulfilling the project's original aim: to craft a straightforward yet engaging experience. Developed with a strong focus on user experience and optimized code performance, the team meticulously refined every aspect of the game. This commitment to quality ensures smooth, responsive gameplay while establishing Kwartz as both technically sound and artistically charming. On its release, Kwartz enjoyed an impressive debut—being featured on the store home page for over a week and attracting a peak of 190+ downloads during that period.
Project Info
Role
Project Manager
Team Size
5 people
Time Frame
Project Management
Trello
Version Control
Git/GitHub
My Contributions
- Core gameplay mechanics.
- UI / AI programming.
- Upgrade system.
- Shader programming for textures and UI.
- Performance optimization.
What I Learned
During this project, I had the opportunity to lead a dedicated team of four as the project manager, which not only honed my leadership and organizational skills but also immersed me in the intricacies of gameplay, UI, and AI programming. I was deeply involved in designing and implementing our game's core features, providing a hands-on understanding of the development process from concept to execution.
One of the most valuable experiences was working with Unity's save system. I developed a custom solution for our upgrade system and player data management, which taught me how to balance functionality with performance—a challenge that pushed me to optimize various aspects of our game, including addressing Unity performance shenanigans.
In addition to technical development, I delved into UI programming. I focused on creating interfaces that were not only visually appealing but also intuitive and user-friendly, ensuring that the end-user experience remained at the forefront of our design decisions.
Moreover, I was actively involved in game balancing, particularly focusing on minion attributes and upgrade progression. This experience taught me the importance of fine-tuning game mechanics to create a rewarding and engaging experience for players.
Overall, this project was an enriching experience that allowed me to grow as both a leader and a developer. I blended technical challenges with creative problem-solving to deliver a compelling game experience.