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Lemonade Apocalypse

  • Case Study Summary

    Originally created for IGDA's Summer Game Jam 2021, Lemonade Apocalypse is a cozy management clicker where play as a kid who aim to get rich by selling lemonade.

    I joined the team after the summer game jam ended, since I really enjoyed the game but saw possibilities to remove pain points and improve the experience.

1. Concept

Since I joined the team after the month long summer game jam, I could jump right into playtesting the game!

Story

Lemonade Apocalypse is a cozy management clicker where play as a kid who aim to get rich by selling lemonade. While it starts out wholesome, it takes a rather dark spin where the kid ends up being a ruthless capitalist.

My roles
  • UX & UI design
  • Prototyping & testing
  • Documenting

Level 1

Upgrades menu

Make lemonade menu

Contrast checker report

Contrast checker

"Oh, he turned into a capitalist swine immediately!"

"Where the fuck is my ice machine?!"

"Come on, you can do it! Someone will buy my lemonade!"

"Come on, buy! BUY! One more!"

"Sell, sell, sell!"

Some quotes from the playtesting

2. PLAYTESTING

I tested with 5 test users, and noted all the painpoints and questions they had.

The game was generally liked, and engaging to the test users. However there was some parts of the design that confused the test users.

Test result highligts

UI

  • + 5/5 understood how to adjust the price of the lemonade
  • + 5/5 understood how to make lemonade

  • - 4/5 didn’t understand if they had gotten the upgrade they bought
  • - 4/5 didn’t understand that you needed to buy upgrades in a certain order
  • - 4/5 didn’t understand what upgrades did
  • - 4/5 had problems reading the UI text
  • - 3/5 pressed “make lemonades” during the tutorial and missed information

Gameplay

  • + 5/5 were excited to buy a factory
  • + 4/5 enjoyed & engaged with the game
  • + 4/5 mentioned that it was a good game to chill with, during lectures or on the bus
  • + 3/5 mentioned that they liked the music, especially at scene 2 since it was happy

  • - 5/5 didn’t understand why the lemonade sold sometimes, and sometimes not
  • - 5/5 said the music was too loud
  • - 4/5 wanted the music to continue during the whole stage
  • - 3/5 thought it was strange and game breaking that you could click allowance all the time
  • - 3/5 thought the cicadas are annoying

Story
Some players mentioned that the story felt a bit thin, and that they didn't understand the main characters motivation or the end goal.

“The story feels a bit forced, goes a bit fast”

“What’s the point of the game? What’s the end goal?”

Solutions
  • Update the UI to guide the players
  • Set a limit to the allowance
  • Show the customer demand
  • Lower the music and loop it
  • Contrast check the colors
  • Remove the "make lemonade"-button during the tutorial
Level 1 suggestions

Suggestions for level 1

Level 1 suggestions

Suggestions for upgrades menu

Level 1 suggestions

Suggestions for making lemonade menu

3. UI PROTOTYPING & TESTING

I designed solutions to the problem, tested the prototype and iterated.

We're currently implementing the solutions into the game!

4. KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • The bigger the team, the harder to plan meetings
  • Splitting up into smaller groups with specific responsibilities is effective
Team
  • Amanda Alling Andrén (UX/UI & testing)
  • Laura Marian (artist)
  • Geir Fjermestad Rolandsen (programmer)
  • Hind Toufga (UI/UX & logo design)
Thanks to