Jacob Crawford
Game Designer
Sunshine Days
Sunshine Days is a slice-of-life MMO, currently available on Android and IOS with a Steam release planned later this year. Developed by Netspeak Games, the game focuses on creating an inclusive community and allowing the player to build their own home!
Game Details
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Trailer: Available Here.
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Platforms: IOS, Google Play, Steam
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Genre: Casual Slice-Of-Life MMO
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My Role: Game Designer (September 2021 - March 2024)
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Team Size: 50
My Role At Netspeak
During my role as a General Game Designer at Netspeak, I concentrated primarily on systems and content design for Sunshine Days. Working within a small design team, I facilitated and led collaborative feature design across departments, often being involved in both the conception and realisation of these features. Additionally, I actively engaged with the game community, regularly communicating with players on Discord and providing feedback on their weekly suggestions.
System Design Highlights
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Crafting: Designed and implemented a robust crafting system allowing players to use in-game resources to create furniture, tools, and other expressive items, boosting overall player retention.
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NPC Friendships: Designed and implemented a system for players to develop friendships with the villagers of Sunshine Valley through the giving of gifts, increasing Day 30 minutes played by 30%!
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Journey Tasks: Played a key role in designing and implementing the game's primary quest mechanic, "Journey Tasks", which allow the player to progress through the games narrative content.
Content Design Highlights
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NPC Quests: Wrote and designed several NPC quests within the game, responsible for design, implementation, and writing. This contributed to a significant 53% increase in Day 7 player retention!
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Monthly Battle Passes: From concept to launch, I designed and implemented the monthly seasonal battle passes, including item ordering and developing the monthly themes. This served as the initial primary monetization method before the IAP store was introduced.
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Zone Design: Contributed to the creation of various questing zones like Flappyfin Waterway, Lazylog Lumberyard, and Scarecrow Meadow, providing input on level design, quest flow, and mechanics.
