Sophie’s Feedback

Team Members:

• Lotta: Design, writing, sound
• Koyin: UI/UX, project management, programming
• Anna: Art

Project Overview:

Our group project is a visual novel where players assume the role of a fan striving to secure tickets to their favorite idol’s concert. Players must balance earning money for tickets with fulfilling idol-related obligations, reflecting on the escapism and obsessiveness often found in fan culture.

This project focuses heavily on:

• Narrative
• UI
• Art

General Impressions

Sophie commended the team for designing a game that plays to our individual strengths. She highlighted that:

• The project is an excellent opportunity for Koyin to build a UX/UI-focused portfolio and praised their proactive research into tools like the Games UI Database. Sophie suggested following notable UX/UI designers such as Aashrey Sharma to deepen their understanding of the field.
• Lotta’s interest in game design will be well-supported by this project, especially in crafting a satisfying gameplay loop that ties into the obsessive nature of fan culture.
• The integration of fail states could enhance the narrative experience, provided they align with the emotional stakes of the story, such as the consequences of "failing your idol" or becoming ostracized from the fan community.

Key Suggestions

1. Narrative Integration Across Design Elements

   Sophie emphasized that all aspects of the game—UI, art, and gameplay—should support the narrative arc of the fan experience. For instance:

   • How do success or failure influence the design?
   • Can changes in UI or art reflect the emotional state of the player’s character?
   • She referenced Doki Doki Literature Club, where narrative decisions impact the game’s files and interface, as an example of effectively integrating story into gameplay mechanics.

2. Narrative Beats

   • Sophie recommended creating a list of key narrative beats to align design decisions with the overall story.
   • She suggested playing Yuppie Psycho for inspiration, as it effectively conveys the emotional weight of player choices.