Game Design Portfolio
Focus:
Create a casual puzzle game with emphasis on dynamic music.
Team:
SongHi Development Team
Arash John Sammander (Sr. Lead Game Designer)
Michael Thaddeus (Lead System Designer)
Results:
Teaser Trailer (Offline) 🙁
Tentative release date (Q4, 2014)
Abstract:
This thesis is a reflection of the entire production process and learnings of Trials of the Wolf; an approachable roguelike card game about a wolf, created by Björn Lindholm and I over a period of almost two years. It was born out of our concerns about the endangerment of wolves as a result of poaching in Finland. It was my hope that by allowing for an underlying current of realism to exist within the game, some tangential learning would occur, allowing for players to empathise with their situation. The production was broken up into two major stages: pre-production, and production; my responsibilities being that of design, art direction, and animation. During pre-production, my goals mainly consisted of the background research on wolves as well as the necessary game benchmarking, prototyping, and documentation. Production was the development of the digital game based off of pre-production’s documentation and learnings. It was during this time the most pivots and learnings occurred when evaluated against the entire production. At the end of the production we were able to deliver a vertical slice of the game which entailed our initial production goals: creating a game that was difficult but still approachable with factual undertones. It is my deepest hopes that my research and learnings from this thesis can be used as a guide for others looking to develop their own digital games with a small team and limited resources.
Thesis:
The Production & Learnings of Trials of the Wolf
Alpha Builds:
– Read Me
– Mac 32 bit / 64 bit (Offline)
– PC 32 / 64 bit (Offline)
– Linux (Offline)
Credits:
Developed by Arash John Sammander and Björn Lindholm
Art by Matei Molner
Music by Vesa-Matti Mattsson
Focus:
Create a casual and approachable pirate board game (13+ year old) with emphasis a generative world map, varying narrative, and emergent winning conditions.
Design Team:
Anne-Marie Grönroos
Arash John Sammander
Björn Lindholm
Jaakko Kemppainen
Results:
Currently tweaking rules based off of user tests and then looking at art and publishing options.
Tentative release date (Q3-Q4, 2015)
Focus:
A game production requested by a committee chaired by the Mayor of Espoo in collaboration between Espoo School of Art, South Tapiola High School, Espoo Music Institute’s Music-Technology Group, Aalto University New Media Department, and the Department of Art Education, which celebrated Heikki von Herzen’s 100th birthday.
Team:
Espoo School of Art Students
South Tapiola High School Students
Espoo Music Institute’s Music-Technology Students
Arash John Sammander (Teaching, Mentoring, Producer Role)
Technologies:
Gamemaker: Studio, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
Results:
Delievered a successful project in time for Heikki von Herzen’s 100th birthday celebration.
Articles:
Länsiväylä
Esse
Award:
Vuoden Taidekasvatusteko 2013
Game Download:
Windows
Focus:
Create a competitive online browser based 3D racing game (Facebook and Spil) with user generated tracks and randomly generated car parts.
Team:
Race Track Rivals Team
Stefan Engblom (Game Designer)
Arash John Sammander (Jr. Game Designer)
Technologies:
Flash, Away 3D, Adobe Photoshop
Reviews:
Insides Social Games
Video:
Gameplay
Focus:
Create a browser based massively multiplayer strategy game (Facebook and Spil)
Team:
Kings & Warlords Team
Arash John Sammander (Game Designer) – I came in on the tail end of the project and did some new design for an in game assistant, as well as funnel testing with an emphasis on retention and usability.
Technologies:
Flash
Reviews:
Insides Social Games
Video:
Trailer
Focus:
Create a game that involves the heart and heartbeat.
Team:
Johannes Hidén (Programming)
Matei Molner (Art)
Arash John Sammander (Design)
Technologies:
Actionscript, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Audacity
Results:
Created an fun and addictive prototype which was extremely polished.
Play Below:
Granny’s Walk
Focus:
Create a game based around the Ouroboros.
Team:
Arash John Sammander, Björn Lindholm (Design)
Charlotta Tiuri, Noora Klaavu (Art)
Joona Heinikoski, Markku Velinen, Miikka Hilke (Programming)
Arash John Sammander, Charlotta Tiuri, Noora Klaavu (Audio)
Olli-Pekka Vuorinen, Mats Takila (Special Thanks)
Technologies:
Unity3D, Adobe Photoshop, Audacity
Results:
Created a game concentrating on narrative.
Interviews / Videos:
Happi Article
Cool Bunny Video Interview
Teaser Trailer
Download Below:
Sad Cactus Game
Focus:
Create a unique online multiplayer game following the theme of extinction.
Team:
Sebastian Jakaus (Programming)
Tatu-Pekka Saarinen (Design / Art)
Arash John Sammander (Concept, Creative Direction)
Technologies:
Flash (Flex), Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Garageband
Results:
Created an fun and addictive prototype which led us to receive:
– Best Game Nomination FGJ 2011
– Gamesauce Challenge Winner 2011
Articles:
Gamesauce
Play Below:
Death Pizza
Focus:
Create a murder mystery game that must be solved in X number days, where the player cannot leave the environment without solving the mystery, and use the following key words, fog, calm, witty. I personally also wanted to create a game that allows the player to “feel” like a master detective by giving them the ability to use an intuitive “power” that helps them find clues and make relevant connections in their mind. The game gives the players the option to play through and solve all situations on their own or in conjunctions with their “powers.” The main character is one of a group of 5 characters are trapped on a foggy arctic island. He is introduced to a murder through a series of flash forward scenes that he is trying to prevent before x days. The murderer may change from game to game. The player will feel he is a master detective that uses his abilities to find clues through dialog and the environment. From the clues he creates a network that is used to help him prevent the murder. The game is simplistic and stylistic 3D with a limited color palette which reacts to game-play.
Team:
Arash John Sammander (Lead Design, Lead Artist)
Eetu Kupiainen (Project Manager, Programming)
Jaakko Kemppainen (Designer, Writer)
Jussi Litja (Programmer, Sound Design)
Anne-Marie Grönroos (Lead Writer)
Technologies:
Unity 3D, Softimage, 3D Max, Mudbox, Photoshop, Illustrator
Concept Art:
Youtube Video
