DAIJYA ROBINSON
Game Design and Development For The Future
The Witch's Brew
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The Witch's Brew is a drag-and-drop, web-based video game where players step into the shoes of Aurora, a student eager to follow in her parent's footsteps and become a skilled potion maker. However, Aurora faces the challenge of not being particularly adept at potion making. Undeterred by this, she embarks on a mission to achieve greatness in the art, just like her parents.
The Game's Development
I. High Concept
Who knew that being a witch in training could be so challenging? Join Aurora, a student witch in training, as she navigates the complexities of potion mixing to impress her teachers. I designed this game as a blend of Little Alchemy and a race against the clock, where the player must craft as many combinations as possible to get the high score.
The Witch's Brew Gameplay
II. Genre
The Witch's Brew is a puzzle game at its core. I defined the objective: merge specific potions to brew new ones. As the player progresses through the game, the difficulty increases, requiring them to create even more combinations.
Protoype
Final Version
III. Aesthetics
The Witch's Brew is designed with a charming cartoonish art style, accompanied by whimsical background music that enriches the fantasy aesthetic of the game. I implemented the audio design so that every time the player combines a potion, there is a pop bubble sound effect. Aurora also makes sound effects depending on if the player gets the correct combination; I programmed her to sigh if the player gets the wrong combination and laugh if they get the right combination.
IV. Gameplay
Mechanics
Players will have the ability to click and drag potions together in order to create new ones. The primary gameplay mechanics revolve around the drag-and-drop interaction with potions. I built this entirely using JavaScript with PIXIJS, applying back-end web development principles to support the game's logic.
Instruction Page
Control
To play the game, the player will use their mouse. To pick up potions and move them around, the player needs to use the left mouse button while dragging the mouse. Releasing the left mouse button will drop the potion. I implemented these controls to ensure intuitive, responsive feedback.
Onboarding
Before beginning the game, players will have the opportunity to explore the instruction page. There, they can learn about our character and all the possible potion combinations that can be brewed. I built this instruction page to reduce friction for new players. During the game, I programmed prompts about what to combine, as these combinations pop up randomly. The ultimate objective I set is to achieve the highest possible score.
The Witch's Brew Gameplay
V. Goal of Game
To get the highest score possible, the player should remember each combination. When the player remembers which potions are which, the combinations will be easy to make and will allow them to advance faster. I designed this progression system to reward mastery and memory over time.
Game Over Page
Credit Page