FEATURE + PRODUCT DESIGN

MARVEL STRIKE FORCE

Contextual messaging that helps players build effective, synergized squads

Squad-Based Roleplaying Game (FoxNext Games LA)

CHALLENGE

MARVEL Strike Force is a free-to-play RPG with an economy revolving around hero acquisition and investment. The game faces the tough challenge of needing to communicate a hero’s value by surfacing the depth of its combat system while remaining easy for players to understand.

After observing players in user testing, I identified an issue where players had difficulty understanding hero synergies while assembling their squad, resulting in suboptimal teams and less urgency to invest in their characters.

APPROACH

To aid player understanding, I designed new contextual feedback messaging that appeared when heroes were swapped in and out of a squad. This improved messaging:

  • Highlighted shared traits between heroes

  • Tracked and displayed activated synergies

  • Prioritized visual elements over text to keep the screens easy to read

  • Made deeper research optional, reducing friction for more casual players.

RESULTS

With the new information presented to them, players were able to make good strategic decisions quickly, allowing them to experiment with heroes and assemble stronger teams. These changes:

  • Created more discussion on synergy strategies in the community

  • Led to an increase in hero experimentation

  • Reinforced the need for a broad & diverse roster in our player base

STAR WARS: GALAXY OF HEROES

Pre-visualization prototype of the core loop + metagame experience

Squad-Based Roleplaying Game (Electronic Arts)

CHALLENGE

During development of Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, the team needed a way to quickly evaluate the game's holistic experience and various workflows with as little overhead as possible.

APPROACH

I created and maintained an interactive pre-visualization of the entire intended experience for feature owner and stakeholder reviews, providing a prototype of the game that:

  • Included hot-spots to simulate mobile gestures (e.g., tap, drag, and swipe).

  • Could be loaded onto any device or browser

  • Eliminated the need to involve engineering during the iteration phase

RESULTS

Adopting this pre-visualization process greatly increased the overall efficiency of feature development by:

  • Allowing for quick design iterations

  • Serving as an implementation reference

  • Reducing internal friction between cross-functional teams

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APPS, SITES + PLATFORMS