HomeHomeThe game was developed for a compulsory game jam for newcomers at Tencent Games and won a gold award.
It was created by 6 members, including a product manager, two game designers, a FX artist, and two programmers. My responsibilities included designing mechanics and puzzles, producing art assets, writing the script, and programming.
It's a narrative puzzle game based on a Chinese folklore, with "paper" as a pillar. Collage was the dominant art style, levels were designed to fold like paper, and paper items were used to convey a story.
At narrative levels, the story is developed through interaction with key elements.
At puzzle levels, the player folds levels like pieces of paper in order to find an accessible path.
Compatible features are introduced as the puzzles get tougher. For example, there are holes through which the character can pass.
We planned the difficulty curve by extending the existing mechanism or adding more mechanisms.
In the levels, environmental narratives are used to convey the plot and guide the player.
Painted Skin was created under relatively high pressure. The development of the project was hindered by a variety of constraints, including experienced competitors, evaluation methods, and limited resources. Thus, I have honed my resilience and improvisation skills.
In creating this project, I was able to appreciate the differences in narrative between a 2D and 3D format. Levels in 3D are better for creating atmosphere and explaining background information. It is possible for the player to connect with reality and instantly become aware of the situation. In 2D levels, the designer has full control over the player's visual focus while evoking a similar reading experience.