Yitong Hu

When I was a child, I lived far away from school and didn't have many friends around me. My favorite activity was gathering all my toys together, giving them names, creating stories, and voicing their dialogues. In third grade, I created a board game using soda bottle caps and designated roles for my classmates to play as government officials and generals in a royal court. I wrote novels from elementary school to high school, but I always felt that words alone were not enough to convey the visual images in my imagination. In 2013, I learned for the first time that there was a game technology major in universities, and I began to dream of making a living by creating games and using video games to tell the fiction in my head to people all over the world.

Black White Bear is a game demo I created entirely by myself, which means I took on the responsibilities of story writing, level design, programming, 2D art, UI, and audio design. This is a huge challenge for any game developer, but it is also an excellent opportunity for us to better understand the functions of other positions and the difficulties they may encounter in team collaboration. What a solo developer needs most is motivation because without the urging and help of teammates, it's easy for one person to procrastinate or even give up, so strict and efficient project management and time management skills are essential.

Currently, several talented designers and artists are assisting me in re-drawing the animations and UI in the game. They also provide valuable feedback on various aspects of the game. However, the level design, narrative design, and programming are still completed by me alone.

I believe that a great game either provides players with a clear and profound theme, or offers a virtual space where people can escape from real-life pressures and fully immerse themselves in the joy of the present moment.

My greatest strengths lie in narrative-driven puzzle games and user interface design that conveys information with minimal text and icons in the clearest possible manner.

Most of my ideas come from visual arts in real life and movies, as I believe that video games are a combination of practical software and interactive movies. In terms of gameplay design, I consider how to arrange levels, clues, and enemies from the player's or user's perspective to best fit their logical thinking. In terms of multi-sensory experience design, I reference how movies use composition, colors, and sound effects to make plot twists more dramatic and to better stimulate the emotions of players.

For a game designer, there is no better 10th anniversary gift for their first personal work than an international award. When I received the email, I read it three times and immediately logged on to the website to check the list of winners before I could believe that I was truly a silver award winner. Moreover, this award was given to the game design and plot design category of Black White Bear, which is completely independently created by myself, and is a complete affirmation of my design ability. Since I woke up from a dream and came up with this idea on a November morning in 2019, the whole story has been brewing in my mind for many years, so Black White Bear is one of the most important works in my entire career.

After receiving recognition from NYX Game Awards judges from so many countries, I got congratulations from many peers, alumni, and professors. Not only was I interviewed by the media in my home country, but the faculty of my graduate program also wants to feature me in their Alumni Spotlight section. I feel incredibly proud. This will undoubtedly be very beneficial for my future career development.

Because developing this game is not my main job, I have to make way for full-time work and daily chores, and it's hard to find time to invest in the production. However, I don't want to waste such a good idea on low-quality work. In addition, due to limited funding, I have to personally handle many things, and spend a lot of time and energy on tasks outside of designing game content. The most difficult part is not knowing if the story I wrote and the interactions I created accurately convey the struggles of a minority group and whether they can resonate with players.

The United States is undoubtedly one of the largest game markets and game design industries in the world today, so I can get a lot of learning materials, inspiration, and enthusiastic help from industry professionals here. At the same time, the diversity and inclusiveness in American culture are an important origin of the story of Black White Bear. During my years in the United States, I have encountered many individuals from different industries and backgrounds who have distinctive personalities and have made efforts to help minority groups to be seen by the public. Their personal energy and life philosophy have inspired and educated me greatly.

I am glad to see game design being applied to non-entertainment digital products such as education, technical training, simulation, and healthcare. This means that there are more possibilities for the development of the game industry, and people's acceptance of video games is gradually increasing.

The entertainment spirit of developers, the openness to advanced technology, and providing a platform for multiculturalism.

I believe participating in Game Jams is a great way to train as a game developer. It allows developers to practice their skills in topic-based creative thinking, rapid prototyping, resource allocation, and project management. Additionally, it provides opportunities for developers to learn and exchange ideas with other types of developers.

Graphic technology will continue to improve, and people will see more detailed graphics and more realistic animations. Multi-sensory technology will mature, and there will be greater development opportunities for VR and AR games. At the same time, game engines will provide more opportunities for independent developers without professional teams.

My graduate professor, Michael John, is the most important mentor for me on my journey in game design. He had incredible confidence in my talent and provided strong support and detailed guidance during the creation of my first game project, "Truants," where I served as creative director for the very first time. Even years after my graduation, he still selflessly offers help in game design philosophy and job seeking.

For game designers, finishing is more important than being perfect. Always remember to jot down your ideas. Develop the habit and ability to write documents regularly. Play and observe games frequently, keep up with the latest trends, and learn from others.