Paw Paths - 2D Game

Paw Path

Sep 2024 - Nov 2024
Team Project
2D Game Design

Project Overview

My Role

Paws Paths is a 2D puzzle-adventure game that takes players on a journey down memory lane following a puppy as she collects pieces reflecting moments of joy, curiosity and companionship. Set in simple, hand-drawn scenes, the game invites players to explore close-to-life, heart-warming scenarios that evoke their daily experiences and emotions as dog owners.

Project Coordinator
Game Desiger
Visual Designer

Introduction

Theme Setting

This game was inspired by the strong emotional bond I have with my own puppy and the interactions we share in our dog community. Every dog owner in the community has developed a strong relationship with their dog, and we all share our dogs' daily lives often, from their playful moments to their quiet companionship. Through these exchanges, I have observed that while each dog is unique, there are many commonalities in the details and habits of their lives.

It was these shared experiences that inspired me to create this game. With this game, I hope to capture familiar and heartwarming moments.

Players will rediscover the essence of those wonderful shared experiences with their pets through simple interactions and the collection of fragmented memories, amidst themes of nostalgia and companionship. Whether it's the joy of a puppy searching for a beloved toy, the curiosity of exploring a new environment, or the quiet companionship of everyday life, I wanted to incorporate these real, everyday details into the game so that players can emotionally connect with their dogs through their experiences.

Game Tone

This game is designed to provide players a relaxing and comfortable adventure experience with light puzzle elements. It is designed to be stress-free, with no intense puzzles or challenges; instead, the game encourages curiosity and interaction with everyday life from a dog's point of view, with the goal of fostering a joyful sense of discovery while encouraging reflection on the small and beautiful moments in a dog's life.

The game is suitable for all players, whether they are children, casual gamers, or pet lovers. It is designed to be easy to pick up and play, allowing players the freedom to explore and immerse themselves in the everyday world of dogs.

The visual and sound design of the game conveys the same relaxing and warm tone, creating an immersive experience that allows players to relax and release stress.

Old Man's Journey - Game Poster

Reference

My game was inspired in part by an emotional narrative-driven puzzle game I really enjoy, Old Man's Journey. This game takes the player through various landscapes by guiding an old man through interactive, light puzzle solving with the environment to uncover memory fragments from his past. This reminded me of the idea to intersperse fragments of everyday memories with puppies into my game, using memories-conveyed through non-verbal storytelling methods of animation, interactions with objects, and visual memory fragments-to evoke emotion.

Also this game allowed me to experience that there are times when puzzles are not meant to be a challenge, but to further immerse the player in the emotional and narrative aspects of the game, further helping to determine the tone of my game.

Old Man's Journey - Game Screenshot

Old Man's Journey - Momery Scene

Character Design

The character of the game is inspired by my pet, a black Shiba Inu. Ideally, a customization feature that allows players to personalize their in-game canine companion will be developed in the future. This feature will enable players to create a virtual pet that aligns with their ideal dog or closely resembles their real-life pet.

Other Visual Design

The game's visual style employs a childlike illustration style. The art style is characterized by simple, cute designs and a vibrant color palette.

Scenes & Props

Scene One - Home

Home is a cozy starting point for the puppy's life with the family. You can explore the living room and other familiar areas while interacting with a variety of objects. You can search for the puppy's favorite frog toy or naughty chew on the cabinets. The kitchen contains food and water bowls that the puppy can sniff or use. By interacting with these objects, players can collect memory fragments that highlight the puppy's connection to home and family.

Scene Two - Street

Streets are the next part of the journey, as players explore the neighborhoods underneath the home that the puppy often passes through. You can let the puppy chase birds , find pizza toys, twigs and other small treasures to come. Cross the street carefully with your pup and avoid moving cars when you reach the other side. This street hides fun and detailed exploration, and there are pieces of memories that belong here.

Scene Three - Dog Park

The dog park is a wide, open space and the last scenario of the game so far. The park is filled with opportunities for play and interaction. It allows you to meet other dogs, like Bella, and help her find her ball toy. You can play searching for frisbees, volleyballs, and discovering hidden bone shaped cookies. After running around, the pups can refresh themselves with a drink from the water fountain. Many of the activities in the park also reward players with memory fragments, allowing them to discover moments from the puppy's daily life.

Game UI

Basic UI

These section contains UI Elements that will pop-up during the game. Including the puzzle, chat box and other windiws.

Memory UI

Memory Album: collected memory fragments are displayed in an album that players can flip through and view memories.

Memory Fragment Collection Bar: the top right corner of the page displays the progress of collected fragments for the corresponding scene.

Interaction Mechanics

Memory Fragment Collection: Players can trigger memory fragment images by interacting with objects or completing tasks. These fragments showcase shared memories between the dog and its family, serving as a core element of the game's emotional narrative. Players must collect all memory fragments within each scene to progress to the next.

Simple Puzzles: Each scene will have easy collectible puzzle missions. Players need to explore the scenes to collect the items needed for the task. A memory fragment can be unlocked when the collection is completed. For instance, players may need to help the dog collect its favorite frog toys in the first scene, which are scattered throughout various areas.

Basic Scene Interaction: Players can interact with other objects in the scene, such as tapping on a rock in the pond to help the dog jump to the other side, and tapping to switch the state of some items.

Scene 1 Interaction Table Notes

Scene 2 Interaction Table Notes

Scene 3 Interaction Table Notes

Testing Process

In future updates, the game will introduce more interactive mechanics to enhance the experience, such as new puzzles and interesting dynamic environment interactions. Exciting gameplay will also be included to ensure the game stays interesting, and full of surprises. Players will explore more new locations and adventures. The game will also add more characters (NPCs), each with a unique personality and quest for players to engage with. In addition, players will be able to design or choose their own puppy at the start of the game, customizing its appearance to create a more personal connection.