A drag & drop connect-3 game
Match Box is a new game prototype, developed at Dots. Its unique gameplay approach combines fun drag & drop interactions with addictive match-three-or-more mechanics. This alpha-stage game was built by a very small creative R&D team, with a focus on rapid iteration & regular user testing.
Role: Visual Design, Illustration, Product Design
Game Direction: David Hohusen
Engineering: Addison Yarborough
Game Design: Patrick Moberg, Toby Sarnelle, David Trammell
Additional Illustration: Ray Bruwelheide
Production & QA: David Trammel
Music & SFX: Ross Warriner, Cody Uhler
Development Work
Early prototype
Match Box was born out of a week-long prototyping workshop. After clearing some initial visual comprehension & interaction design hurdles, we quickly grew excited at the idea’s potential. Over the next month, the prototype was given a quick & simple visual treatment & underwent initial viability testing to gauge player comprehension.
The release tested positively & we developed a number of potential alternative thematic & aesthetic directions to explore for the game. The following month-long phase was spent exploring & A/B testing these directions via user acquisition campaigns.
Test DIRECTION B: “KAWAII TAROT”
Approachable cuteness with an air of optimistic occultism
Test DIRECTION C: “FOREST MONSTERS”
Friendly, mystical creatures that lurk just outside the village.
Test DIRECTION D: “MID-CENTURY INNOVATION”
The nostalgic energy of technological advancement from yesteryear.
