Legendary game Monument Valley behind the design secrets

We call those legendary, rich potential and unique companies as unicorns, and Monument Valley is not the game field unicorn? This legendary game has fascinated us for a whole year, lost in an unforgettable world, addicted to dazzling and delicate scenes, which makes us wonder how the game was born. Today, we come to uncover the secret.

For the award-winning famous mobile game Monument Valley, you are certainly not unfamiliar. The Princess Ida, who has never seen her face before, takes you through a series of exquisite and gorgeous mazes to explore the way out and seek forgiveness.

There is no enemy in this game, the story is not killed, in such a cruel reality and the "opposite" game, since the launch of April 2014 has sold 5 million copies, resulting in more than 13 million U.S. dollars of income, attracted users of different ages and different cultural backgrounds, and even the "card house" President Underwood, the President, has also been inspired to determine the propaganda strategy for the presidential election.

UsTwo's chief design, Ken Wong, completed the design of the Monument Valley in a London studio, and the success of the product proved that gamers were not necessarily squatting in the basement playing the dead house of antisocial games.

In an interview with Bridge's designer foundation, Ken bluntly said that games are attractive to men, children and the elderly, from China to the Middle East, and that the territory of the game is not just about pornography and violence.

In the group discussion at the Designer Foundation, Ken shared many of his ideas. "The game can cover cancer and love, and it can accommodate relationships and friendships," he says. "Everything in your life can be made into a game, it's like a movie and a book is an expression, and that's why every minute of the game is so exciting." ”

Ken's fascination with architecture is an important source of inspiration for the design of Monument Valley.

The Monument Valley was inspired by Ken's fascination with architecture and Dutch artist M.C. Escher. At the beginning of the design, Ken did intend to lead the game to a new direction. And his game users and players also cover a wide variety of types, skills to the players, against the master, to seek the fun of ordinary users, as well as the traditional RPG fans willing to slaughter dragons.

But at the same time, he wants to burnish an interesting story, create a plump figure, use stunning visual design and the sound of the ear to get pregnant to meet those who are truly "addicted to the new world and are happy to discover strange and interesting new things."

The design draft of the early Monument Valley Ken was drawing

　Simple, reserved, elegant

Monument Valley in many places has broken the traditional pattern of game design:

• Its design is quiet and introverted: The Princess Ida is roaming in a world without chaos, and Zen music replaces the noisy soundtrack of traditional games.

• No artificial incentives to motivate users

* Ida Princess does not have a distinct personality, the user can not bring into the imagination of her ideas, and did not use her story to resonate with the user

Less is more than the idea that runs through the whole game always. "Perhaps a short experience may be more cathartic than a game," he said. "Maybe you don't need a movie." "If you're going to design a great game, don't be afraid to break the traditional wisdom," says Ken. ”

Another important factor in the success of Monument Valley is its elegant new user-guided process. Just enter the game when beautiful illustrations will visually attract users, of course, there will still be many users of the new game has a natural suspicion, and Ken said: "They need some encouragement, but a little groping, they will actively explore." ”

　Construction of the Monument Valley World

When it comes to the design and development of Monument Valley, Ken outlines the architecture based game prototype and then the development team takes over and then gradually iterates through frequent failures. The design of the game is not simply visual design.

Their 8-person design team has been looking for a game balance between art and design, and hopes it will be a close combination of art and design.

"The game presents a highly interactive operating experience, so we need to focus on the user experience." ”

At the same time, the entire team has never been any more relaxed in the interactive design. They focus on the interaction between the user and the game, the different levels of the structure in the game suspended in the void, then how users will enter the "Small World" and how to shuttle, this is what they need to carefully consider.

When users get involved in the "Small World," they need to uncover all the mysteries along the way, these well-designed structures and potted plants will change with each operation, all of which are obstacles to solving puzzles.

Monument Valley attracts not only traditional gamers but also users who don't think they are gamers.

　Design games with Soul

"To design a great game not only don't be afraid to overthrow the traditional wisdom, but also not to worry about traditional gamers," Ken said.

There is no doubt that UsTwo is not a gaming company, but the whole environment has been reminding designers that many people don't play games but they may not resent the game, and they probably also have a smart device. "We have been thinking that those who do not play the game because the game is too difficult to decide to give up the game?" which games are designed against humans? are some games just male or female?

Having figured this out, the next step is to take care of a great story, and it's best not to start with "Once Upon a mountain."

Instead, it seems better to use simple video to present the beginning of a story, then gradually build the world, introduce roles, and choose a compelling goal. Then, the Monument Valley gradually has a game appearance.

Don't treat users as fools, repetitive checkpoints and repeated setbacks are anti-human designs. Experimental visual effects, creative typography and bright and attractive colors, unique personality should be the characteristics of the new era of the game.

"We are trying to find the soul of the game in this process. "said Ken. The game is the interactive art, the user experience plays an important role in it. "There are many similarities between users using apps and manipulating games," said Ken, "the user experience driven design approach allows our design team to design games more farsighted: What's the best experience on mobile devices?"

Ken's early concept manuscript

Game designers will be keen to explore what the game is, what the player wants. But in Ken's view, the game industry "has not really grasped the core of good games." He sees the game as a digital interactive experience, viewing it as a new form of art, bringing together the elements of the game and bringing the most interesting gifts to users.

"Thousands of games are trying to be more pleasing to the eye, and exploring ways to learn from different areas of architecture, dance and photography," he said, "So why don't we let the game have more culture and content?"

　　Tips

• If you are from a hardcore gamer to a higher level, then your users should be everyone.

• Your inspiration should be inspired by your interests, passions and the things that fascinate you.

• The full character and unique story of the truly strange and exciting world of magic can only make users addicted

• Game is art, interactive experience, user experience driven by the design method to build a wonderful product