Players cooperate to gather resources, fortify a sustainable Citadel, and prepare for an oncoming storm while ensuring the survival of a thriving, eco-conscious community.
Solar Citadel delivers a dynamic blend of exploration, strategy, and community-building. The game evokes a sense of purpose, challenging players to think collaboratively while navigating resource scarcity and environmental challenges. The tactile satisfaction of building the Citadel is amplified by the option to incorporate LED animations, creating an immersive experience that blends craft and technology.
In this two-person 10-week project, I undertook multiple pivotal roles to drive Solar Citadel’s development from concept to completion. As Creative Director, I defined the game’s vision, ensuring cohesion between its solarpunk themes, aesthetics, and gameplay systems. My role as Producer involved managing timelines, workflows, and clear, consistent communication with my teammate, keeping milestones on track and tasks effectively distributed. As Creative Technologist, I implemented experimental features such as Arduino-powered LEDs and a plan to implement digital soundscapes, enhancing immersion and innovation in a traditionally physical format. I co-developed the Game System Design, creating mechanics for resource management, event progression, and player collaboration, balancing challenge and agency to align with the cooperative experience. Additionally, I served as one of the project’s Writers, crafting narrative elements, website content, and player materials to reinforce thematic depth, while acting as QA Lead by organizing structured playtests, gathering feedback, and refining the prototype iteratively with the team. Finally, I oversaw Promotion, co-producing a trailer, website, and press kit to present Solar Citadel to external audiences in a polished and professional manner.
This design journal documents my creative and technical journey throughout the development of Solar Citadel, reflecting both the process and decisions that shaped the final prototype. My objectives include leading effective project management, implementing experimental technology to enhance gameplay, and embedding the prototype within theoretical frameworks of interactivity, sustainability, and social play. Each section of the journal tracks progress across pre-production, production, and post-production stages, providing a methodical record of my contributions to creative direction, systems design, and promotional output. By critically analyzing my design choices, playtesting results, and engagement with solarpunk ideals, this journal highlights my ability to combine innovation, thoughtful design, and cultural awareness. It serves as evidence of a rigorous process that connects practice with theory, while showcasing professional-quality work pivotal to the project’s success.
The Initial Concept
The photo was made with DALL-E and the following prompt: “A photorealistic image of four people, diverse in gender and race, aged between 20 and 45, gathered indoors around a table, each using mobile phones.”
The text reads:
“Players work together to create a sustainable city where technology and nature thrive.
Through mixed-reality gameplay, players solve dynamic 3D puzzles, balancing resources and connecting diverse communities.
Choices shape the city’s growth, both physical and digital elements interact in real-time, guiding Stewards of the Citadel toward a future of harmony and innovation.”
In the earliest stages of Solar Citadel when I envisioned a solo project, I was guided by a clear vision: cooperative gameplay that embraced solarpunk themes. I wanted to design an experience where players work together, fostering a sense of connection as they built a sustainable city where technology and nature could thrive. At the time, I also wanted to experiment with new technology, imagining mixed-reality gameplay where players would solve dynamic 3D puzzles, balancing resources and linking diverse communities. I aimed for physical and digital elements to interact in real-time, shaping the city's growth and guiding the Stewards of the Citadel toward a future defined by harmony and innovation.
Aesthetically, I leaned into a cool color palette comprised of light blues and lavenders. This choice felt sleek and futuristic, but in hindsight, it created a sense of coldness that clashed with the thematic optimism I wanted to evoke. While it unintentionally hinted at an approaching storm—a theme that would later become central to the game—it didn’t align with the warmth and hopefulness at the heart of solarpunk.
Looking back, this early iteration laid the foundation for what would become Solar Citadel, even as it evolved from abstract ideas to a tangible board game.
It was a starting point shaped by my first criteria: collaboration, innovation, and the pursuit of harmony.
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Further Enhanced by Collaboration
During a collaborative exchange of individual project proposals, Joanna proposed that we form a partnership. This collaboration has significantly enhanced the project by infusing a solarpunk pillar directly into the production process: cooperative teamwork for an even better outcome.
The benefits of collaborative game development are well-documented. For instance, the article "Collaborating in Game Design" by David Fox, co-founder of iWIN, Inc and published author, discusses how well-defined roles, mutual respect, shared vision, effective communication, and conflict resolution are essential elements in collaborative design situations, leading to more successful outcomes. (Fox 1997)
Additionally, the study "Exploring Indie Game Development: Team Practices and Social Experiences in a Creativity-Centric Technology Community" examines collaborative practices in indie game development teams, highlighting how collaboration enhances creativity and project success. (Guo & McNeese, 2019)
These insights underscore the value of collaboration in game development, aligning with our project's objectives and thematic focus.
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Concept 2.0
Proposal Presentation for Solar Citadel. Created with Figma.
Proposal Presentation for Solar Citadel. Created with Figma.
A sample of notes from our “Obstacles” discussion during a gameplay brainstorming session.
I designed and assembled the initial proposal slide deck using Joanna’s aesthetic inspirations and research along with our early discussions about the mechanics of the game. Several strengths are highlighted in the pitch deck.