Drift Up
OVERVIEW
Motion-controlled puzzle game where players must safeguard a delicate balloon from numerous obstacles using a protector shield.
TRAILER
CONTRIBUTIONS
TOOLS USED
KEY DESIGN DECISIONS
Built upon a proven game structure rather than reinventing the core experience.
Leaning on an existing foundation reduced systemic novelty, but allowed focus on expanding variety, challenge, and moment-to-moment gameplay.
Expanded playstyles through power-ups.
Power-ups added variety and moment-to-moment decision-making, at the cost of additional balance considerations during high-intensity sections.
Prioritized gameplay over interface complexity.
UI was intentionally kept minimal to reduce visual noise, trusting gameplay readability over explicit on-screen guidance.
DESIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
Prototyped and contributed 20+ obstacle sets, collaborating with the design team to expand gameplay variety while respecting the constraints of an established core structure.
Contributed to LiveOps iteration by supporting event tuning decisions and reviewing player feedback and analytics with the design team.
Documented designs for meta progression and intentional friction points to support long-term engagement and monetization, which were later deprioritized due to a shift in project focus.
Actively kept the design tightly scoped, favoring depth and polish over additional mechanics.
Collaborated with the UI designer to define the game's UI structure and color theme, ensuring clarity, simplicity, and visual appeal without distracting from gameplay.
SCREENSHOTS
Prototyping and contributing 20+ obstacle sets, collaborating alongside the design team to expand gameplay variety.
Collaborating with the UI designer to define the game's UI and color theme, ensuring clarity, simplicity, and visual appeal.