Strange New Tides
During the Ludum Dare 56 game jam, I had the incredible opportunity to contribute to Strange New Tides, a 2.5D sidescrolling town simulation game inspired by the charm of Animal Crossing. Developed in just 72 hours by a team of 40 talented individuals, the project was a whirlwind of creativity and collaboration, simulating the workflow of a mid-sized AA game studio. Players take on the role of Munch, a tiny Cthulhu navigating a vibrant beachside town after being swept away from their underwater home. The game’s quirky premise blends whimsy with subtle tension as players balance helping their new neighbors and managing Munch's ever-present hunger for the creatures around them.
Key Contributions
As part of the Marketing team, I focused on designing visual assets that would bring Strange New Tides to life outside of the game itself. A major highlight of my work was creating the game's logo, which demanded balancing the aesthetic familiarity of popular town-sim games with the unique, lighthearted take on Cthulhu that defined our project. Beginning with hand-drawn sketches, I iterated on concepts to find the perfect balance of playful and ominous tones. Drawing inspiration from the iconic signpost design associated with games like Animal Crossing, I incorporated visual cues from the game—such as Munch’s tentacles and the in-game currency, geodes—to make the logo resonate with the gameplay experience. Careful attention was given to typography, letter interaction, and overall composition to encapsulate the essence of Saltbay Cove’s strange and cozy atmosphere.
In addition to logo development, I collaborated with the team to design promotional assets for the game’s Steam and Itch.io pages. These assets needed to convey the game’s unique premise and visual style at a glance. I combined the great character art, and vibrant environmental elements to ensure the game’s quirky personality shone through. I worked closely with our writers and artists to ensure a cohesive visual narrative that aligned with the gameplay and story.
My contributions extended to the Art team, where I designed the UI for the game’s pause menu. This interface needed to be user-friendly while maintaining the game’s established look and feel. I created a clear, concise popup modal with intuitive navigation, ensuring every menu item was easily accessible and visually appealing while maintaining immersion in the game’s whimsical yet eerie world.
Outcomes and Results
The collaborative effort behind Strange New Tides resulted in a polished, engaging experience that received praise for its originality and execution within the tight constraints of a game jam. This project reinforced my ability to work collaboratively within a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment, blending creative and technical skills in such a tight dev window. It was an invaluable experience that deepened my passion for game design.
