Pequeños Hábitos

Pequeños Hábitos Title Screen

About the project

This videogame was created for the GameGen Game Jam organized by Virtual Soul.

We were provided with two themes that we had to incorporate into the game: "Loops" and "Breaking the 4th wall". We incorporated these motifs in a videogame that explores the repeating monotony of daily life while making the player aware of the fact that they are playing a videogame.

Roles & Responsibilities

UX Design, UI Art, 2D Art and UI Implementation

Timeline

6 days

Challenges

  • First time-constrained game development, and therefore learning to prioritize, iterate quickly and make creative decisions under pressure.
  • Learning the fundamentals of pixel art to contribute original assets and UI elements.
  • Translating gameplay mechanics into intuitive interfaces while considering player behaviour and clarity.
  • Learning how to communicate ideas and feedback effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

Tools

Aseprite, Unity, Medibang Paint

UX Design

Due to time constraints, wireframes were created to help the team conceptualize the game's visual style and user experience.

Title Screen Wireframe Gameplay Wireframe
Pause Screen Wireframe Gameplay Wireframe

I also planned and created a storyboard for the final cut scenes which could not be completed because of the deadline.

Ending Storyboard

UI Art

The elements of the UI were designed with a strong emphasis on pixel art principles: maintaining readability at low resolutions, consistent iconography, and clear visual hierarchy.

Task Element UI Process of creation
Dialog iteration process
Pause menu
Other UI elements

2D Art

I was also responsible for designing the main character, opting for a deliberately simple figure with minimal defining features to reflect the game's themes of everyday monotony and universality. Although this concept was later replaced by a more cartoonish version created by another team artist, it served as an early foundation for the character's role and tone.

Main character design
Final character design
Background elements

UI Implementation

As part of the UX/UI integration process, I programmed the in-game interface elements in Unity, including the start and pause menus.

Title Screen
Title Screen

Outcomes

  • Participated in my first game jam, creating a platformer under a strict five-day deadline.
  • Released a playable build on itch.io as part of the GameGen Game Jam.
  • Worked with a multidisciplinary team, contributing to pixel art and UI design, scoring the second best place in the art category of the jam.
  • Faced challenges due to our overly ambitious scope, which impacted our ability to polish and test all features before the deadline.
  • The final UI implementation differed from my original designs, as there was no time for proper integration or user testing.
  • Learned valuable lessons in scoping, time management, and the importance of early UX validation in game development.