2023-12-06 22-10-57 - frame at 4m19sc.jpg

SLASH AND GO

ROLE

DESIGNER

DESCRIPTION

"Slash and Go" is a single-player custom map quest for Dying Light, in which the Player plays as Kyle Crane, who Jade asks to retrieve a supply of Antizin stored in a small tower dubbed The Medical Tower. On the way, he must also retrieve papers for Dr. Zere that can aid with his research in the same building. The first part of the quest takes place in an off-shoot of The Slums, surrounded by compact yet tall buildings occupied by Biters, Spitters, and Virals roaming in a dusk-lit cityscape. Meanwhile, the second part occurs in a medical facility, navigating multiple floors to reach the goals. Armed with bladed melee weapons and ninja stars, the Player must guide Crane through the environment by using the surrounding buildings or slash and hack his way through to reach his goal.

DEVELOPMENT TIME

Oct 2023 - Dec 2023

GENRE

Explore, Combat, Parkour

PLATFORM

DESIGN GOALS

SUPPORT OF DIFFERENT PLAY STYLES

LIGHT & MOTION CONVEYANCE

HOSPITAL INTERIOR & URBAN ENVIRONMENT

GOAL 1: SUPPORT OF DIFFERENT PLAY STYLES

Parkour Path Example

Gif showing an example of one of the parkour routes to get to the keycard for the front doors.

Slash and Hack Example

A still of combat in the lower levels of the exterior. Showing other path of interaction with the environment.

Exploring Example

A still of the main lab inside the Medical Tower. This area is aimed for those who like to explore, as the area contains both combat and pickups.

Parkour Path Example

Gif showing an example of one of the parkour routes to get to the keycard for the front doors.

1/3

Use of urban environment to aid in the use of parkour and creating areas for different play styles
- The lower the player goes, the more combat heavy the gameplay becomes
- The higher the player goes, the more parkour heavy the gameplay gets

Use of multiple pickup items to reward explorers with resources

Use of the camouflage skill to avoid combat

Use of different interior paths to create more ways to explore the area
- Paths to explore and pick up items
- Paths to engage or dodge combat

GOAL 2: LIGHT & MOTION CONVEYANCE

Using yellow blinking lights to illuminate quest objectives
- Keycards
- Doors

Using blinking overhead lights in hallways and interior areas as bread crumbs

Using enemies placed near objectives to have them come towards the player

Yellow Light Flashing over keycard

Gif of a yellow flashing light over the keycard to the stairs. A prime example of the conveyance being used; with a sitting torn corpse close to further signal a keycard nearby.

Flares and Yellow light still

A still of one of the flares leading to the keycard, with the entrance to the Medical tower visible behind it.

ER Hallway (In Game)

A gif showing the flickering lights in action. Each light placed in front of a door; signaling where the player can exit, and where to go next.

Yellow Light Flashing over keycard

Gif of a yellow flashing light over the keycard to the stairs. A prime example of the conveyance being used; with a sitting torn corpse close to further signal a keycard nearby.

1/5

GOAL 3: HOSPITAL INTERIOR & UBRAN ENVIRONMENT

ER Rooms

Showing the clutter of someone who was moving boxes before they were killed.

Wide shot of Lab A1

Shot taken from editor showing the keycard and the desks within the room and the decorated wall.

Slum Shack on the Roof

An image of a shack placed on top of the roof where a previous occupant possessing the keycard had lived before being mauled by the Infected. Showing a place that had been lived in before the quest took place.

ER Rooms

Showing the clutter of someone who was moving boxes before they were killed.

1/7

Setting up the Medical Tower like a hospital with multiple paths housing distinct rooms
- With 2 additional distinct levels

Using labeling system similar to real-life hospitals
- And referring to said labels in the quest objectives

Creating areas of clutter and disarray to make the area feel lived in

Using graffiti and foliage to give the exterior more character

WHAT WENT WELL:

The multiple levels of buildings and multiple interior paths gave players a chance to try different play styles

I was able to change and iterate on the exterior and interior to adjust the flow accordingly without having to start over

Was able to illuminate the interior so the players could see the enemies and cover without using flat lighting

WHAT NEEDS WORK:

Would’ve helped having more variance in the lower terrain

Having a more obvious teaching moment for the camouflage skill

Would’ve helped having lights that were placed in a way that projected the enemy’s shadow on far walls to create wow moments

Lighting at night was still dark
- Would’ve helped plan out the placement of light posts and other light sources more to help it feel natural in an urban environment