Josephine Ryu

Level Designer // Game Designer

Resume + Contact

Projects

Monster Jam Extreme Mayhem: Leve Design

Caravan: Merchant Sim Prototype

A narrative-driven item shop simulator with a focus on character interactions and light-hearted storytelling.

itch.io

Project Goals & Pillars:

  • Create a character focused narrative experience that allows the player to mold and steer the fate of the characters and the story within the context of a merchant sim
  • Work lean in a team of 3, find the MVP (Minimal Viable Product) and make quick iterations
  • Create a vertical slice in 8 months to pitch to publishers and apply for production funding

What I accomplished:

  • Designed and iterated on core loop and gameplay, working lean to quickly build 5+ MVP of various features and gameplay to find the fun
  • Designed and implemented 5+ customer archetypes and 3 unique behavior for special characters using Dialogue System for Unity along with unique scripting created for the game’s prototype
  • Balanced and redesigned customer archetypes based on playtests and feedback
  • Designed and implemented main quest line for prototype with 2 main branching narrative paths
  • Design and implemented 3+ unique events and 5+ side quests
  • Conducted 10+ playtests, internal and external
  • Created assets for marketing materials for socials and user acquisition ads

Overview of Project Evolution:

Initial merchant sim gameplay prototype where players put items of interest on display to attract customers.
Displaying certain kinds of items attract unique customers and unlock special interactions.
Haggling mechanic where the player can set prices and make deals. Overdoing it can anger customers.
Iteration on displaying items – instead of using a physical space, we pivoted to a UI-based mechanic.
Customer haggling behavior flow.
Haggling behavior flow incorporated with new UI.
New UI “inside the caravan” test alongside sitting companion character, Circe.
Character movement and behavior test using Dialogue for Unity scripting.
Character movement and behavior test using Dialogue for Unity scripting.
Final iteration after art polish – stocking items.
Final iteration after art polish – Haggling.