Cindy Vu - Game Design Portfolio

"Tamato" is a mobile game where users can take care of their own little friend! They can also serve as a user's personal assistant, making reminders, chatting, and even provide some feedback if needed!

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Genre: ???

Engine: Unity

Time: In Development

Platform: Mobile (iOS, Android)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: Game Designer/Director

• Created game design documents specifying game mechanics, UI, and future monetization strategies.

• Facilitated collaborative brainstorming sessions among members to generate innovative game concepts and mechanics.

• Networking with other individuals to gain feedback and potentially hire in the future.

"Skyweaver" is a dynamic digital trading card game set the world of Sky. Players construct decks and engage in strategic battles, enjoying fast-paced gameplay and even actual tradable cards.

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Genre: Strategy TCG

Time: ~10 months until EoD

Platform: PC (Browser), Mobile (iOS, Android)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: Junior Game Designer

• Developed conceptual designs for various in-game elements including card designs, collectibles, and UI enhancements.

• Designed gameplay mechanics and UX for card designs, collectibles for F2P, and UI enhancements, ensuring a cohesive visual experience for 200+ cards.

• Enhanced narrative design for over 20 of Skyweaver's factions, refining lore and proposing innovative mechanics for new cards and game modes.

• Evaluated and proposed innovative mechanics for upcoming cards, game modes, and other features to enrich gameplay experiences.

• Conducted playtesting and QA on prototype modes, resolving bugs, optimizing flow, and enhancing gameplay balance.

Made as the capstone project for my degree, "Choco" is an exploration game. Playing as the bird himself, the player must explore the island and its various biomes to collect the missing eggs. Beware the puzzles and enemies that bar your way!

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Genre: Third Person Puzzle-Platformer

Engine: Unity3D

Team Size: 3

Time: 8 months

Platform: PC (Windows)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: Game/Level Designer

• Created and iterated on environment concepts, level flow, and puzzles to ensure coherence and player engagement, utilizing Clip Studio Paint.

• Utilized experimental Unity packages to hand-sculpt 3D Tileset systems, shaping five unique areas for enhanced player immersion.

• Designed a player-guidance collectible system for enhanced engagement.

• Designed block textures for 3D blocks using Clip Studio Paint to meet lead designer’s requirements and ensure consistency with game’s aesthetic.

• Coordinated with team members to maintain up-to-date design documentation for efficient workflow and future reference.

Locked up in a disco, in "♡ Beef Daddy ♡" players have to try and find clues around the place to unlock the front door. Beef Daddy himself will be chasing after you, however, so use what you can to survive.

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Genre: Third Person Survival Horror

Engine: Unity3D

Team Size: 6

Time: 1 month

Platform: PC (Windows/MacOS)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: 3D Modeler / Texture Artist / 2D Animator

• Created several 3D furniture models using Autodesk Maya, optimized for smooth animation and performance.

• Produced an animated trailer for game introduction and textures for objects using Clip Studio Paint.

• Solicited feedback from 7 volunteers to refine gameplay mechanics and improve player experience.

Players play as a mother duck in "Quack" who is looking for her missing ducklings. Explore around the pond and find as many ducklings as you can! Ducklings can get lost, so make sure to check up on them every now and then.

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Genre: Causal, Exploration

Engine: Unity2D

Team Size: 6

Time: 1 month

Platform: PC (Windows/MacOS)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: 2D Animator / Environmental Artist

• Designed environment tilesets for level designer to utilize, ensuring compatibility with Unity package for 2D tilesets.

• Pitched art and gameplay direction during brainstorming, ensuring both directions were aligned with team’s goals.

• Animated character idle/movement animations, improving player experience and adding visual appeal.

• Play-tested game to ensure high-quality art assets, incorporating feedback from 10 peers for further improvements.

"Marble Madness Remake" is a remake of the 1984 game by Midway Games West Inc. with the same name.​ A puzzle-platformer game where the player has to guide a marble through various courses with a time limit. Enemies and obstacles threaten to slow you down. Race to get the highest score!

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Genre: Platformer, Puzzle, Racing

Engine: Unity3D

Team Size: 5

Time: 1 month

Platform: PC (Windows/MacOS)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: Level Designer / 3D Artist / Audio Programmer

• Successfully designed 1 of 5 challenging levels using an experimental Unity package for 3D Tileset systems, contributing to the overall gameplay experience.

• Helped break down original game to determine workflow and game design for HD remake.

• Created 3D models and textures as per project requirements using Autodesk Maya and based on art direction from the lead director.

• Optimized audio programming to ensure precise timing of SFX and BGM.

"When Sorrows Come" is hack n' slash platformer game where the player must defeat enemies to save the Chief of the village... Or spare them? Watch your timing as you go or you may face certain death. This game was developed during TOJam 2021.

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Genre: Action-Adventure, Platformer

Engine: Unity2D

Team Size: 7

Time: 1 week

Platform: PC (Windows/MacOS/Linux)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: Environmental Artist / Concept Artist​

• Designed background parallax layers and title screen card using Aseprite.

• Developed concept art for characters to help establish game theme and direction.

• Produced additional art assets (such as particles, UI assets) upon request from technical artists.

• Coordinated with technical artists to meet quality standards for art assets.

Acting as the fourth and final game in my series so far, "(Spacemen, Strategists)^2" is a local-multiplayer level editor where up to 4 players can build their own levels. Once the levels are finished, players will race against one another to reach the finish first.

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Genre: Local-multiplayer, Level-editor, Platformer, Racing

Engine: Unity3D

Team Size: 6

Time: 4 months

Platform: PC (Windows/MacOS) | (Special Site)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: Lead Game Designer/Director

• Developed gameplay systems, platform mechanics, and aesthetics for player immersion.

• Iterated gameplay and platform design through five user play tests, enhancing engagement.

• Defined game aesthetic with concept art and visual assets for 4 characters.

• Created 28 unique character animations, four victory screens, one animated trailer, and over 100 art assets (blocks, particles, UI) using Clip Studio Paint to elevate game aesthetics.

• Collaborated with programmers, audio designers, and artists to develop a compelling multiplayer game, receiving positive player feedback.

• Hosted weekly SCRUM meetings to track progress and plan future design and gameplay revisions.

"The Spaceman And The Strategist" was the first game ever developed in my series. It is a single-player game where the player explores the depths of a strange underground place to catch a criminal. Various puzzles threaten to stop you!

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Genre: Single-player Puzzle RPG

Engine: GB Studio

Time: 1 month

Platform: PC (Browser), GBA (eventually)

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Role(s)/Responsibilities: Lead Game Designer

• Designed three intricate puzzles and a turn-based combat system, enhancing player engagement and challenge.

• Developed narrative elements, including five hidden secrets and two alternate endings, to enrich the storytelling experience.

• Created and implemented tilesets using Clip Studio Paint and Tiled, designing over 30 map scenes to vividly bring the game world to life.

• Collaborated on character sprites and furniture assets, ensuring visual consistency and alignment with the game's aesthetic.