Game Over Screen (Lose Condition)
This feature of the game is referred to the "Lose Condition/Game Over Screen", which is triggered and displays when two conditions are satisfied: The player has reached 0 health, and the round of gameplay is under 1 minute. These conditions exists due to the fact that if the player keeps their health above 0 and survives for <= 1 minute then they have satisfied the Win Condition (Game Completion), which is explained in more detail here: Win Condition. The player may reach zero health during this timeframe for a variety of reasons (i.e. enemy attacks, harmful obstacles, specific power-ups, etc), hence the Game Over Screen (Lose Condition) screen exists as a consequence of player death, as the game cannot continue and must either be restarted or exited.
The rationale for the Game Over Screen (Lose Condition) is that after completing sprint 1 the team realised that the game lacked a game over function, and failed to end the game when the player reached zero health. This allowed the player to continue playing the game even when their health was completely deteriorated (at zero), this was considered a major flaw in the game as logically the game should not be able to continue if the player is considered dead. Additionally, in creating a Game Over Screen (Lose Condition), players would now be provided with options, if they would like to attempt the game again or if they would like to exit. If these features were incorporated into the main game screen players would likely just hit restart/exit once the game became too difficult, opting to take the easy way out of the game. This does not achieve the emotional goals anticipated by the team as players would not fully experience the feelings of suspense, pressure, stress, frustration, excitement and accomplishment, as continued failure and eventual succession through repeated efforts would not really occurring this way, compared to a "proper playthrough" of the game.
First draft of armour system design
From the first sprint the team had implemented an unfinished armour system, it was not intended to be utilised in sprint 1 as the armour system was regarded as a "Nice To Have" feature rather than a "Must Have" feature. In this sprint, the team designed and implemented the visuals for the armour system, and enhanced its functionality so it is now functional within the game.
Code for the implementation of the Armour designs into the pre-existing armour system from sprint 1:
The Game Over Screen (Lose Condition) contains a number of specific elements and functions, for the elements, the "Game Over" visual text, the character death image, the restart and exit buttons, and the screen background. All of these elements have undergone design iterations before reaching their final form.
As a team we initially discussed the elements that would be included in the Game Over Screen and drew a very rough draft of the features that would be included and where they would situate on the screen, the first iteration was as follows:
Following this first draft, elements were divided up between the design team members to professionally design and implement, below are the detailed processes of each of these elements.
After some discussion wit team 4 who are responsible for the win screen (win condition), we agreed that the screens should maintain the same colour theme from the main game (i.e. the shades of purple used on the bridge). Using lighter shades of purple in the win screen and darker shades of purple in the lose condition/game over screen (correlating with positive and negative game outcomes).
The first draft of the lose condition/game over screen background:
The plain purple background was consistent with the theme of the game and was also consistent with the win screens lighter shade of purple in contrast, the screen was slightly improved to what is now the final and implemented screen background (below):
Final Iteration of the screen background:
Win Condition Screen for Reference:
Completed Lose Condition/Game Over Screen
First draft of Game Over Visual Text
From the first design iteration of the game over visual text, the overall feedback from team members and users in user testing explained that it was satisfactory.
Second Iteration of Game Over Visual Text
For the second iteration of the game over visual text, the feedback from team members and user testing explained that the purple 3D colouring did not blend well and was difficult to see, hence for the final iteration, the 3D effects have been lightened.
Final Iteration of Game Over Visual Text
For the final iteration of the game over visual text, the 3D effects have been lightened to make it easier to see, as well as changing the colour from purple to grey, this was because the background of the death screen was to be purple, and this clashed with the colour chosen for the 3D effect on the visual text. Additionally, light grey seemed to be the most suitable colour for all background colours.
Initial ideas for image design and animations
First draft of possible image
From these possible designs the feedback from team members and our users showed that the majority preferred the idea of a skull for the death image, so further refinements and improvements to the skull were made in the final iteration.
Final Iteration of Character Death Image
the final iteration of the character death image was a refinement of the skull from the initial drafts, as well as introducing a small animation where the eyes were flashing red.
Designs for the restart and exit buttons
The team and users both agreed that these buttons suited the theme of the death screen and were well designed, not much change was required before the implementation of the buttons into the game.
Implementation of elements to the Game Over Screen
For the functions, there is the function that triggers the Game Over Screen (lose condition) as it will only display when the two conditions listed above are satisfied, there are also the functions for the restart and exit buttons, which take the player either back to the main game to recommence the game, or back to the main menu where the player may exit the game. Below is the code for these three main functions:
- Undertake interviews with participants in order to gain insights about the designs and functionality of the death screen
- Present all design elements and the death screen in action to participants to gain feedback
- Does the functionality of the death screen work as expected?
- Do the functions of the buttons work as expected?
- Do you clearly understand the way forward (what to do) when this screen pops up?
- What are your thoughts on the design of the death screen?
- What are your thoughts on the individual elements of the death screen?
- What improvements would you recommend to improve the aesthetics/functionality of the death screen?
- Overall, majority of participants were happy with the functionality of the screen, getting to the game over screen in game was rather difficult due to bugs in game but for the screen specifically there were no reported issues for functionality.
- For the design elements the feedback was positive, participants liked the aesthetics of the background and grey consistency with the buttons, game over text and the skull. Additionally, the pixel art art style used in most of the elements of the game over screen were suitable as they were consistent with the art style of the main game.
- One participant commented that the screen could have potentially been improved by making a character animation of the character dying, but overall the design elements complemented each other as well as the aesthetics and theme of the game and were aesthetically pleasing.
- One participant commented on the difference between the win screen text and the game over screen text, saying that the game over text colour should also have a two colour gradient for consistency. As well as commenting that there should be a confirmation before exiting/restarting.