Plenty of Fish in the City

Plenty of Fish in the City is a 3D isometric adventure game where a lost heron searches for fish in city fountains. The game was built in response to a prompt to evoke a specific emotion in the player. We chose longing.

Project Info

  • Tools: Unity 3D, Perforce

  • Team Size: 2

  • Duration: October - November 2023

Role: Primary Game Designer

  • Designed and developed scripts for interactive gameplay systems, including dynamic triggers for UI elements and sound effects when approaching key objects

  • Implemented progression cues, such as hover outlines, to guide player exploration and reduce navigational issues

  • Complemented my level design to ensure gameplay mechanics supported environmental layouts and the overall narrative flow

  • Integrated environmental audio to enrich atmosphere, carefully balancing soundscapes to reflect both bustling urban and serene park settings

288510c0_original.jpg
001ed69d_original.jpg
8c1e6c9f_original.jpg

Developmental Process

Plenty of Fish in the City was built by me and Julian Avrith using a rapid two-week development pipeline, emphasizing prototyping and player feedback. I created small test scenes to trial interaction systems, refined progression cues based on playtesting, and ensured all systems were optimized for the isometric perspective.

Processes Used

  • Prototyping: Built small-scale interaction tests before integrating into full levels

  • Iterative Design: Made quick adjustments based on peer playtests during development

Results

This project strengthened my ability to design and implement gameplay systems under tight deadlines while balancing technical scripting and creative design. It gave me valuable experience in integrating environmental storytelling with interactive mechanics, a skill I now bring to larger-scale projects.

Player - item interaction test

Player - item interaction test

Ui trigger and sound effect on interactable fountain

Ui trigger and sound effect on interactable fountain