My challenge was to provide a quick and intuitive introduction to the game's theme and teach the player the primary mechanics and locomotion abilities.

 

After collaborating with the creative director, I envisioned the pier while the city was being evacuated as the setting. The arrival of the Beast on the scene triggers the overall destruction sequence of the environment forcing the player to move quickly and observe what the beast is doing while learning basic mechanics and movement skills.

 

The narrow pier allows the player to focus on moving forward. The players forward progress triggers mechanics, effects and scripted events that encourage the playe'r to move more and more quickly to avoid danger and obstacles. The local events teach the player the mechanics but are also thematically tied to the narrative backdrop to provide context and telegraphing of the incoming damage.

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I provided a block mesh of the fully functional layout with scripted modular objects and components. After testing and iterating, the block mesh and objects went into full production with art and code while the layout was integrated into the narrative and FX passes using the modular components to quickly iterate on mechanics and to easily tune the dramaticprogression arc.