Role
Game Designer
Game Designer
Cidade das Palavras is a city management game to help speech therapists and educational psychologists improve children's language skills.
The game is part of a monthly subscription platform called Fonoflix, which features metrics and patient organization for professionals.
Fonoflix and Cidade das Palavras were developed at the company Campus Studio simultaneously. As part of the Game Design team, I participated in the entire design and delivery process of both products.
Cidade das Palavras included:
• Minigames that develop different types of skills
• Difficulty adjustment to better suit the patient's level
• A system in which the city grows following the evolution of children’s skill
Fonoflix and Cidade das Palavras were developed at the company Campus Studio simultaneously. As part of the Game Design team, I participated in the entire design and delivery process of both products.
Cidade das Palavras included:
• Minigames that develop different types of skills
• Difficulty adjustment to better suit the patient's level
• A system in which the city grows following the evolution of children’s skill
PS: The game is only available in Portuguese.
Since the game is aimed at education professionals, there was extensive research into exercises for children commonly used by them. We researched the most used exercises through books and interviews with speech therapists, before brainstorming possible games.
First prototype of the game
After developing the prototype, tests were carried out with speech therapists. The biggest feedback was that a single-skill approach would not be enough to help children's development.
Therefore, we decided to modify the game to diversify the city-building aspect.
• Three minigames that provide exercises focused on spelling, vocabulary, grammar, word stress, among others
• The city has different needs that must be balanced to encourage children to make decisions
Therefore, we decided to modify the game to diversify the city-building aspect.
• Three minigames that provide exercises focused on spelling, vocabulary, grammar, word stress, among others
• The city has different needs that must be balanced to encourage children to make decisions
Minigame 1: Complete the Words
Minigame 2: Word in Word
Minigame 3: Reveal the Message
Minigame 3: Reveal the Message
Minigames
Considering the game's target audience of children and professionals who might not be familiar with digital games, an interactive tutorial was designed to help both groups.
The tutorial was divided into several parts throughout the game, teaching only what was necessary at that moment.
The tutorial was divided into several parts throughout the game, teaching only what was necessary at that moment.
To make the experience more enjoyable, a construction helper character guides the player through all the steps of the tutorial. She points to the places the player should look at and talks to them, thus creating a small narrative.
In order not to overwhelm the player with too much text, the tutorial for each minigame was developed to be a short looped animation with a quick gameplay example.
The entire tutorial was programmed by me.
Parts of the interactive tutorial
Short game demo video
The game is available for Windows through the Fonoflix platform
Production: Ivan Duffles, Leonardo Kaplan, Marcello Nunes Bernardes, Nicolas Leme e Yann Lemos
Game Design: Bruna Lucchesi e Nelson José Donato
Programming: Felipe Pessoa, Leonardo Kaplan e Renan da Fonte
Art: Bruno Lopes e João Pedro Balbino
Music and SFXs: Miguel Mermelstein
Game Design: Bruna Lucchesi e Nelson José Donato
Programming: Felipe Pessoa, Leonardo Kaplan e Renan da Fonte
Art: Bruno Lopes e João Pedro Balbino
Music and SFXs: Miguel Mermelstein
