How tweaking Sound and Sight refines Player’s Journey

Polishing Depths: Designing User Experiences, Environment and Sound

A game about global consequences, intentional design, and learning to say “no”

Recently, I managed a game development project focused on a historical event, raising awareness of the ethical, environmental, and humanitarian impacts of missile launchers and military technology. The goal was to spark discussions on the responsibility of such technologies, their long-term consequences, and the importance of global disarmament.

Working with a skilled team of programmers, designers, artists, and a musician, I saw how each person’s strengths came together. The programmer brought our concepts to life, the designers immersed players in the world, the artist refined the visual identity, and the musician enhanced the emotional depth, bringing the situation to life.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming up:

1. Vision and Execution
2. The Polishing Goal
3. Balancing Creation and Testing
4. Scope Creep
5. The Art of Refinement
6. Designing with Intent
7. Restructuring Code
8. Project Management Insights
9. Reflection and Gratitude

The Vision and Execution

As a producer, project manager, game, sound and art designer, I guided the team through the timeline, ensuring each phase aligned with our cause. We shifted from collaborative sessions to a more structured approach with clear tasks and deadlines. By considering my teammates’ experiences and concerns, we refined our planning and production approach.

In my role as producer, I had the opportunity to bring together a musician, programmer, and artist, creating a space for their talents to emerge. Throughout, open communication and flexibility helped us move forward and grow with each phase discussing with the team about the game’s direction and elements that created the immersion of Till Midnight.

As the game, Till Midnight was inspired by the real-life story of Soviet naval officer Vasili Arkhipov, whose actions during the Cuban Missile Crisis helped prevent the launch of a nuclear torpedo. His story inspired the game’s themes of pressure, uncertainty, responsibility, and the difficult decisions made when the consequences can be far greater than expected.

After co-designing the concept with our Game Director, Till Midnight became an exploration of our belief in creating meaningful games rather than experiences that are simply played and quickly forgotten. We focused on achieving a sense of immersion and depth within educational gameplay, allowing players to learn about Arkhipov’s story through an interactive experience rather than through information alone. By combining historical context with narrative, decision-making, and player agency, the game encourages players to engage with the subject on a deeper level and leave with something meaningful to reflect on.

The polishing goal

In game development, every decision is an intended action aimed at achieving a specific result. Transforming these intentions into a polished product is challenging, as creativity meets scrutiny and every detail is tested for quality. Polishing a game isn’t just about adding finishing touches but about refining every aspect — mechanics, visuals, and narrative — into a cohesive experience.

How Intended Actions Lead to Results: The Journey of Polishing a Game

In the intricate world of game development, every decision — no matter how small — is an intended action aimed at achieving a specific result. Yet, as simple as this formula might seem, the process of transforming intentions into polished realities is often fraught with challenges. Polishing a game isn’t just about adding finishing touches; it’s a crucible where creativity meets scrutiny, and every pixel, mechanic, and narrative thread is tested for quality.

The Hardest Balancing Act: Creating and Testing Simultaneously

One of the hardest aspects of game development is creating while simultaneously testing for quality and troubleshooting. It’s a demanding process where each new feature or artistic flourish has the potential to introduce bugs or design inconsistencies. The emotional rollercoaster of seeing something you’ve created come to life, only to realize it doesn’t work as intended, can be both rewarding and stressful. There’s hesitation in taking steps forward because every addition feels like a risk to the stability of the entire game. Yet, this is also where the magic of game development happens — the persistence to test and refine until the game not only works but shines.

Where The article “High Quality Work” by Cuadraman emphasizes the value of delivering exceptional work for growth and success. It stresses dedication, attention to detail, and continuous improvement, advocating for a mindset focused on excellence and long-term benefits.

The Struggle with Scope Creep

Ah, scope creep — the silent antagonist of every game developer. It begins innocently enough with an idea to make a feature “just a little better,” but it quickly spirals into an unmanageable list of additions. Each new idea felt essential in the moment, but over time, it became clear that some of these “essentials” were diluting the focus of the game rather than enhancing it. Learning to say “no” or defer ideas to a future project became a critical skill. It’s a humbling reminder that not all intended actions lead to desired results, especially when those actions stem from overambition rather than necessity.

The Polishing Process: Refining the Game

Thinking about it, I believe that polishing a game is where craftsmanship shines. Every detail is scrutinized — mechanics, story, visuals — and sometimes, features must be removed or refined. It’s a test of patience and perseverance, but seeing the game transform into something enjoyable makes it worth it.

Designing with Intent

Through my years of experience in game design, I’ve come to understand that creating a game is about building the experience first, before focusing on its aesthetics or mechanics. Every element should serve a purpose, which requires constant iteration, refinement, and a strong understanding of the foundations behind the experience. Learning to identify these foundations, however, comes from understanding how each element contributes to the player’s journey. Recognising the different stages at which players are introduced to new information, mechanics, and story elements has shaped how I approach design, and has made me look forward to creating more cohesive experiences in future.

The Art of Refinement

The smallest details can make a meaningful difference in shaping a game’s overall experience. From visual consistency to subtle touches that bring the world together, polishing is where a game begins to feel complete. A special thank you to our artist for the care, creativity, and attention to detail they brought throughout the process, helping transform our ideas into a more cohesive and immersive experience.

Restructuring Code: The Backbone of Polishing

Also learning from our coder that a well-structured codebase is essential for smooth gameplay. What starts as a patchwork of scripts evolves into an organized system, making debugging and future updates easier. Restructuring code reinforces the need to return to foundations for better results.

The Cornerstones of Project Management

Through reading The Cheat Sheet to Producing Better Content, I learned the importance of consistency in content creation, understanding the audience, and delivering with purpose. Project Focus: On the Far Side of Project Management helped me reflect on the balance between managing tasks and fostering a creative environment, teaching me that adaptability and clear communication are key in driving a project forward.

Reflection and Gratitude:

Polishing a game has been a challenging yet rewarding experience, and I’m deeply thankful for my team’s dedication and hard work. Their unwavering commitment has been key to shaping this project, and I’m excited to continue refining and presenting our work. Stay tuned for the next update — there’s much more to come!

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all our playtesters who took the time to experience being in a submarine as a navy officer, sharing their thoughts, and be part of our journey throughout the development of the game. The feedback, perspectives, and support has helped us grow the experience beyond what we could have created on our own. We are grateful to everyone who played, contributed, and helped bring the game to life.

For those reading who have yet to experience the game, we invite you to play Till Midnight through the links below.

Play Till Midnight

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4808270/Till_Midnight/
itch.io: https://tmo-dev.itch.io/till-midnight

How tweaking Sound and Sight refines Player’s Journey was originally published in Bootcamp on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.