Challenges

Super Neon Colosseum

The initial iteration of the stage was individually created. Through team communication, the following elements were developed and refined.

Adding Obstacles Challenge Creating obstacles that support movement, one of the game's Core Pillars, posed an inherent contradiction, making this a compelling problem to solve. Action The team agreed to repurpose pinball-style bumpers, enla

Adding Obstacles

Challenge

Creating obstacles that support movement, one of the game's Core Pillars, posed an inherent contradiction, making this a compelling problem to solve.

Action

The team agreed to repurpose pinball-style bumpers, enlarging them and integrating them into the map. When collided with, these bumpers would launch vehicles away rather than bring them to a stop.

Result

Rather than halting a player's momentum, the bumpers redirected it. While this could momentarily slow down tanks during redirection, the mechanic was considered a worthwhile trade-off. It became a memorable and well-received feature of the map.

Alternate Routes Challenge An elevated funnel was originally included in the early layout to reinforce the pinball-inspired feeling, but it remained largely ignored during testing, limiting its impact as a and gameplay and visual feature. Act

Alternate Routes

Challenge

An elevated funnel was originally included in the early layout to reinforce the pinball-inspired feeling, but it remained largely ignored during testing, limiting its impact as a and gameplay and visual feature.

Action

To encourage engagement with the funnel, multiple access points were added, along with a large health pack positioned within it. This item was suspended in mid-air to enhance visibility from several areas of the map, serving as both a reward and a navigational beacon. The associated image illustrates these modifications.

Result

The added incentives and improved accessibility increased awareness of the funnel’s existence, making it a more viable and desirable destination within the stage.

Crafting Tools for Development Challenge The map’s borders and many in-level structures were interfering with movement when players collided with them. These needed to be redesigned into half-pipe and quarter-pipe shapes to help guide rather th

Crafting Tools for Development

Challenge

The map’s borders and many in-level structures were interfering with movement when players collided with them. These needed to be redesigned into half-pipe and quarter-pipe shapes to help guide rather than block motion. Additionally, during early experimentation with the layout, an efficient way to construct and adjust map boundaries was required.

Action

A custom tool was developed that allowed static meshes to be paired with splines. This enabled developers to stretch and bend half-pipes and quarter-pipes into custom shapes that matched the needs of different areas. The tool was first implemented in the initial map version to demonstrate its functionality.

Result

The tool streamlined the process of building and iterating on map layouts. It also gave other team members the flexibility to quickly experiment with new shapes and structures, enhancing both creative freedom and development speed.

Encouragement Through Ramps Challenge Although raised platforms were accessible, their potential as shortcuts to lower areas went largely unnoticed. When vertical movement did occur, it was often unplanned and led to clumsy outcomes. Action

Encouragement Through Ramps

Challenge

Although raised platforms were accessible, their potential as shortcuts to lower areas went largely unnoticed. When vertical movement did occur, it was often unplanned and led to clumsy outcomes.

Action

Ramps were added to the edges of elevated sections to communicate the intended function more clearly through environmental cues.

Result

These structures encouraged more intentional use of vertical navigation, with players now regularly accelerating toward them to initiate controlled descents.

Track Size Challenge Certain areas of the map were too narrow to accommodate multiple hover tanks side by side. This frequently led to unintentional collisions, interrupting forward momentum. Action While tight corridors presented the poten

Track Size

Challenge

Certain areas of the map were too narrow to accommodate multiple hover tanks side by side. This frequently led to unintentional collisions, interrupting forward momentum.

Action

While tight corridors presented the potential for positional contests, they conflicted with a core pillar focused on promoting fluid movement. As a compromise, roadways and corridors were widened to allow at least two vehicles to pass alongside one another, a change reflected in the image above.

Result

Movement became smoother, while still preserving moments of spatial contention during encounters involving larger groups of vehicles.

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