Trail research
Studied real terrain, ecology and landscape features.
Explore details ↓
← All projects↓THE PROJECT
Overview
A former search-and-rescue dog must help her injured human return home through the Pacific Northwest wilderness. Survival, trauma and belonging unfold through the relationship between the pair and the landscape they navigate.
MY ROLEPuzzle Designer / Usability Researcher
- Setting
- Pacific Northwest wilderness
- Design focus
- Environmental interactions / Research / Maps
- Materials
- Trail research / System rules / Concept document
DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION
My Contributions
Environmental interactions
Defined character responses and movement restrictions.
Explore details ↓Map design
Connected routes, landmarks and environmental boundaries.
Explore details ↓01 / REAL-WORLD RESEARCH
Start with the trails people actually walk.
I researched real hiking trails, studying terrain, ecology and landscape features. These observations informed the game’s routes and map design, grounding the wilderness in believable paths and environmental details.
02 / ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
Make the environment respond to the character.
I defined rules for character–environment interactions, including how a leg injury restricts movement. These guidelines describe responses in different situations and connect character state with the surrounding systems.
03 / MAP DESIGN
Build the journey around places worth noticing.
I drew maps with waterfalls, caves and lookout points, alongside rivers, mountains and forests. Map layers and boundaries organize these points of interest into a connected environment for exploration.
PROJECT DOCUMENT
