Minetale

DESCRIPTION:

Math is often defined to be a difficult subject. Some students find that studying math through boring textbooks and lessons does not help. We decided to create an interactive math learning game targeting preschoolers. Instead of the usual “seeing the numbers” and “filling in the gap”, there are funny stories and indirect lessons to teach them basic math, our goal is to create interest in math.

With our game, they can get their basic skills well while still interested in improving on math.

Play Minetale!

CAST LIST:

Tzu-Lin Yang - Team leader, Game planner, Quality controller, Programmer
Mingyue Li: Concept artist, Character designer, Background & CG artist
Yu-ping Lin: CG planner, Character designer, Character asset
Theodore Pabulayan: Story writer, Character animator, Video producer
Min Hsia: Brand identity, Dialogue writer, Character animator
Kieu Diem Pham: UI/UX designer, Asset artist, Character animator

WORK EXPLANATION:

The problem we are trying to solve is to make children who struggle with math more comfortable in using it and make it fun rather than most math games where it’s mostly matching and sorting.

We also want to help children with dyscalculia better grasp using number-based information without seeing too many numbers and subdue their inability to use math.

Our solution is to make a story/sandbox game that uses math as a tool but indirectly teaches children to use mathematical concepts. 

The gameplay is similar to 《Minecraft》 and 《Terraria》 but uses math as a function for the player.

We target a narrower age range than our competitors and are suitable for children with dyscalculia issues.

Furthermore, we will use engaging stories to catch children's attention and build their creativity.

Our end users are children from grades 1-4 and children who have dyscalculia which is a learning disability that makes number-based information and mathematics difficult for the person.

The potential users would be teachers or instructors who will use the game to teach children.

Another potential user is gamers interested in playing something new games because the gameplay we provide is a mix of Minecraft, RPGs (Role-Playing Games), and Visual Novels and it should interest them. 

MAJOR MILESTONES:

1. To make everyone who plays our game think learning math is funny. 

2. To make everyone who plays our game think math is not difficult to learn.

3. To enlighten teachers who teach math and parents to find a new way of teaching math.

4. To make the gamer in our class play our game.

GAMEPLAY STORYBOARD:

Programming:

I developed a game using Unity. It's a 2D game where players navigate through various levels, encountering challenges and obstacles along the way. My partners focused on creating various assets for the project. While I handled the game development aspect using Unity, my partners were responsible for producing assets such as character portraits, animations, background art, game items, and CGs using their preferred tools and software. Integrating their assets into the Unity environment was a significant part of our collaboration. I ensured that their creations seamlessly fit into the game by adapting them to Unity's specifications, adjusting scales, and optimizing performance. Despite the differing roles and tools used, our teamwork allowed us to bring together diverse talents and create a cohesive and immersive gaming experience.

Throughout the game development process, I actively sought out online resources and tutorials to enhance my skills and overcome challenges. I utilized various websites, such as Bilibili and YouTube, to find relevant information and guidance. These resources covered a wide range of topics, including Unity tutorials, programming techniques, asset creation, and game design principles. Additionally, I engaged with online communities and forums like Discord to seek advice, share experiences, and troubleshoot issues. This proactive approach to learning allowed me to continually improve my abilities and tackle complex tasks with confidence, ultimately contributing to the success of the game development project.

STORIES:

Together with Theodore Pabulayan and Min Hsia, I collaborated on crafting the storyline for our game. We brainstormed ideas and outlined the narrative arc to create a compelling and immersive gaming experience. Each team member contributed their unique perspectives and creativity to shape the story's direction and themes. Through collaborative discussions and iterations, we refined the plot, character motivations, and key story beats to ensure coherence and engagement.

We developed 7 story chapters for our game and meticulously detailed the first 2 chapters for gameplay.