Making 2D components for the UI was another responsibility I had for this project. This meant that I would create UI design concepts and present them to the team members for feedback. I would then replace the default elements that they had used after another team member had developed the functionality. I would create user interface elements for sections like the main menu, dialogue boxes, and a HUD if necessary. I had to discuss with the rest of the team what UI components the game required before I could start creating any UI.
Evidence Boared:
We intended to incorporate an evidence board so that the player could connect pieces of evidence and increase gameplay immersion. I sketched out a plan for the evidence board, and another team member suggested that they implement a system that allows you to draw lines between the items on the board.
We ultimately decided against including the evidence board ideas since it was tedious for players to traverse back and forth from the room to other parts of the game. Since the player may always carry a journal or note book with them, we decided to switch the gameplay from being evidence-based to that instead.
Journel/notebook:
I sketched out a basic design for a notebook system that would play an animation of the main character taking out a book and flipping through the pages. This would increase player interaction and be an excellent idea to test and incorporate into the game.
Later, we made the decision to use an ui element rather than a system where you pull out a book. I examined the idea and the games that served as the project’s inspiration for this. The character biographies in-game in Batman: Arkham Asylum resemble paperwork. This was one of the games I selected. I made the decision to use this as a guide when developing our ui.
I created various pictures of the characters that resembled photographs of the ones that were uploaded on the page. I then created a mock-up button that another team member would later incorporate into the game.
Dialog Boxes:
I initially added the button ui texture to the ui for the dialogue boxes, but I thought it might be enhanced. I created a dialogue box that appeared to be a file that a detective would use after studying photographs of various user interface boxes for the upgraded user interface. For this, there would be room for the suspects name at the top and space in the middle for text options. Iadded fonts into the game. Initially, a handwritten font was to be included, but because it was difficult to read, i modified the font to one that was more blocky. I did this to make it easier for players to read because several testers for our game had trouble doing so.
references:
Arkham Wiki. (n.d.). Character Bio. [online] Available at: https://arkhamcity.fandom.com/wiki/Character_Bio [Accessed 14/2/2023].