CURRENT/UPDATED BUILD

Build: https://utexas.box.com/s/tmc9dfa1c2s1wtm80016k2agf48x5rs3

Demo: https://youtu.be/HYlwuV3Zlk8?si=rwIgz27RJVlHhbn6

DESIGN PROGRESSION

GAME-PLAY EDITS

After meeting with our clinicians and introducing the game to a public audience, multiple edits to game were suggested and implemented. Concern arose mostly in CLARITY and FUNCTION. Many of our initial users found it difficult to understand HOW to play or what the PURPOSE of the play was for. The connection between the CHAIN MATCH and VIRTUAL PET portions were also confusing for players to grasp without direct explanation.

Therefore the following additions/changes were made in mind.

ADDING IN A TUTORIAL

Creating a simple tutorial to introduce users to the game was suggested by multiple users, especially as our target demographic is focused on those who may not have played many or any games prior to MedPets.

Our tutorial uses inspiration from CANDY CRUSH and ANGRY BIRDS, as both have a wide user base and controls with some variations.

LINK TO VIEW ALL TUTORIAL STILLS

LINK TO TUTORIAL STILLS (NO TEXT)

Tutorial - Introduction

Tutorial - Inventory

Tutorial - Chain Match

Implementation of these images can be see in the TECH section below.

“ADDING” A BLOOD SUGAR BAR

To enforce the purpose of the game and its connection to diabetes, we have opted to replace the “Happiness” bar with the Blood Sugar bar. Players must aim to keep this bar within a “Goldilocks” range, aka not too high and not too low. This direct representation of the balance those with diabetes must juggle seeks to make the purpose of MedPets clear.

Now the primary bars altered by “feeding” are the hunger and blood sugar bar. Certain foods like CAKE can add a great boost to the hungry bar, but also to the blood sugar bar. Other foods like WATER decrease the blood sugar bar, but only offer a small boost to hunger. Medicines like METFORMIN and INSULIN will decrease both hunger and the blood sugar bar.

(SEE DEMO or TECH PROGRESSION)

EDITING MATCH to INVENTORY CONVERSIONS

In play-tests, collecting items via the chain match game was much more difficult than anticipated for new players. The number of matches required to collect an item has been reduced making it far easier to play the game as a whole.