Quietus

As the Lead Producer and Project Manager for the game Quietus, I oversaw a six-month development project with an eleven-person team. My responsibilities encompassed various aspects of project management, including tracking milestones, deadlines, and deliverables using Google Sheets. Additionally, I conducted regular team meetings and check-ins to ensure smooth progress and foster open communication among team members. I prepared and presented weekly status reports for stakeholders, providing comprehensive project development updates.

Throughout the project, I made important decisions to simplify our collaboration process. One major decision was changing our website from Wix to Google Sites, which matched our team's preferred platform for work and documentation. This transition made it easier for us to include our documentation on the website and manage our workflow more efficiently. Additionally, I collaborated with Henry and Vicky to create a scrum presentation, ensuring that our team understood agile development methods well.

Aside from enhancing the website, I was also responsible for managing the playtesting efforts. To do this, I formulated a Google Form that started as a comprehensive survey and was later adjusted to suit the game's development. This enabled us to acquire valuable insights from players and implement incremental enhancements. Furthermore, I meticulously maintained our Gantt chart to keep everyone on the same page and ensure our project was on track despite any scope modifications.

During the development process, we faced setbacks and challenges. Nevertheless, I worked closely with Team Leads to tackle critical issues and find solutions, while maintaining a transparent and supportive atmosphere. Our team's collaborative spirit led to our success, as we regularly updated the website with new documentation and previous builds. To make things easier for everyone on the team, I organized our documentation in Google Drive for easy access.

To increase player engagement, we created a welcoming "Play our Game" section on our website that lets players download our latest version and offer feedback through our survey. Additionally, we added a "Meet the Team" section with photos of our team members, so players can now associate the game with actual people.

Overall, my experience as the Lead Producer and Project Manager for Quietus was rewarding. From managing milestones and fostering team communication to adapting to challenges and improving player engagement, I found immense satisfaction in overseeing the development of this game. Our team successfully brought Quietus to life through effective organization, collaboration, and a dedication to continuous improvement.

At its heart, Quietus is a 3-D low-poly first-person puzzle platforming game. The main goal for the player is to use their trusty boomerang to traverse the world and solve environmental puzzles. To thwart the player, the environment itself puts obstructions in front of the player to prevent them from reaching their goal. To overcome these obstructions, the player will solve logic, pattern, physics, and sequencing puzzles throughout different biomes. While this may seem easy, the player must rely on their ability to possess and destroy statues in order to collect prism shards and save the realm.

Elsend-Physical World Linkage: If the statue in which the player is located gets destroyed, they will be transported to a mystical dimension called Elsend. This realm is almost identical to the Physical World's environment, but the player is invulnerable to damage and can teleport using the boomerang within a limited range. However, the player cannot walk, run, jump, or interact physically with the environment in Elsend.

To return to the Physical World, the player must possess one of the many statues scattered throughout the realms. This will subject them once again to the Physical World's rules. The various realms and body states offer new and innovative opportunities to solve the puzzles throughout the world.

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Traversal: The game's traversal mechanic introduces the concept of "Return," which allows players to move between the physical world and Elsend, a realm intertwined with reality. Statues in the game can be strategically destroyed to progress further, and doing so does not result in a "Game Over" scenario. Possessing statues enables players to interact with the physical world in unique ways and helps solve puzzles that span both realms. The traversal mechanic challenges players to think creatively and use their skills to overcome obstacles and uncover mysteries. By combining elements from both worlds, the game offers a captivating experience that engages the mind and senses.

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Boomerang: This is a versatile tool that is crucial to the player's success. It offers both physical guidance and enhances the narrative experience. By skillfully controlling the boomerang, players can precisely navigate the game world and access new areas, making the gameplay even more exciting. Additionally, the boomerang interacts with the environment, known as "The Land," allowing players to trigger events, discover secrets, and manipulate their surroundings to their advantage.

The boomerang also has a unique ability to teleport to statues located throughout the game world, which is called "Elsend." This not only opens up new pathways, but also offers players new perspectives by temporarily possessing the statues. With its insightful commentary, strategic functions, and immersive interactions, the boomerang mechanic truly enriches the gameplay experience, making it both captivating and engaging for players.