{"id":2016,"date":"2026-03-01T06:54:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T06:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/?page_id=2016"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:23:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:23:49","slug":"dual-shadows-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/?page_id=2016","title":{"rendered":"Dual Shadows"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2016\" class=\"elementor elementor-2016\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4216deb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4216deb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bccb3d8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bccb3d8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f5cfa6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3f5cfa6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">DUAL SHADOWS<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3739134 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3739134\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5929d51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5929d51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">OVERVIEW<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05cd3b2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"05cd3b2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22b2855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"22b2855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-879d375 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"879d375\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><i>DUAL<\/i> <i>SHADOWS<\/i> is a third person action game set in a near-future urban environment. My work consisted of a variety of design roles, which allowed me to connect threads between each, unifying the experience for the player.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc66e87 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bc66e87\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdf2a08 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fdf2a08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Team Size:<\/strong> 13 Core Developers + 4 Contractors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Development Time:<\/strong> 9 months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Engine: <\/strong>Unreal Engine 5<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Released:<\/strong> June 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Platform:<\/strong> Windows<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34c325d elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"34c325d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b637534 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b637534\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47ce3c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"47ce3c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Play for FREE on Steam &amp; itch.io!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8f5a01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a8f5a01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ab55b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3ab55b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/app\/3678160\/Dual_Shadows\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steam_icon_logo.svg_-150x150.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-shrink attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-813\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steam_icon_logo.svg_-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steam_icon_logo.svg_-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steam_icon_logo.svg_-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steam_icon_logo.svg_-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steam_icon_logo.svg_-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steam_icon_logo.svg_.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-94da7b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"94da7b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/megacheeky.itch.io\/dual-shadows\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/itch-io-icon-2048x2048-i6hzclad-150x150.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-shrink attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-814\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/itch-io-icon-2048x2048-i6hzclad-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/itch-io-icon-2048x2048-i6hzclad-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/itch-io-icon-2048x2048-i6hzclad-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/itch-io-icon-2048x2048-i6hzclad-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/itch-io-icon-2048x2048-i6hzclad-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/itch-io-icon-2048x2048-i6hzclad.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffc34dd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ffc34dd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6287874 elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"6287874\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;multiple&quot;,&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;all_collapsed&quot;,&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:400,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1030\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1030\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> LEAD DESIGN <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1030\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d6e192 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4d6e192\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8deb81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b8deb81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From August to December 2024, I served as <strong data-start=\"157\" data-end=\"179\">Team Lead\/Producer<\/strong> for <em data-start=\"184\" data-end=\"198\">Dual Shadows<\/em>, where I implemented SCRUM and Agile practices for a team of eight developers while also contributing to design. In this role, I strengthened my understanding of production pipelines, cross-discipline communication, conflict resolution, and industry-standard management tools such as Jira and Confluence.<\/p>\n<h4>As the Team Lead some of my responsibilities included:<\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Coordinating meetings, creating meeting objectives and agendas.<\/li>\n<li>Directing teammates to participate in the daily stand-up and share updates on their tasks.<\/li>\n<li>Writing meeting notes to keep track of action item progress.<\/li>\n<li>Holding one-on-ones with each teammate to get their personal, unfiltered takes on the project.<\/li>\n<li>Opening and closing sprints, setting sprint goals and prioritizing the backlog.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>From January to April 2025, the team expanded to 13 developers with the addition of five new members, and I was selected to transition into the role of <strong data-start=\"925\" data-end=\"942\">Lead Designer<\/strong>. In this position, I retained ownership of the game\u2019s UI\/UX while also leading the narrative design, including the script, dialogue systems, and voice acting.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>As the Lead Designer I took what I learned from my previous production role as &#8220;Team Lead&#8221; and applied it to running the design team. This helped maintain organization and consistent communication not only with other disciplines, but between designers as well.<\/p>\n<h4>Three key decisions I had to make in this role were:\u00a0<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>How to structure the linear, but open levels.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Whether or not to introduce a new mini-boss enemy type. \u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Whether to cut or to keep the second boss.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"2\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> UI\/UX DESIGN <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6992ba e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a6992ba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-575ea8c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"575ea8c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f71c834 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f71c834\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Early in development, the team selected a prototype built around two combat forms: <strong data-start=\"214\" data-end=\"224\">ranged<\/strong> for precision and <strong data-start=\"243\" data-end=\"252\">melee<\/strong> for crowd control. The goal was to emphasize the duality between these playstyles while giving players the freedom to approach encounters however they preferred. Each form included its own ability, ultimate, and a combined ultimate when both mana pools were full. My primary objective was to communicate these mechanics clearly through the UI without cluttering the screen or slowing the pace of gameplay.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48e3859 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"48e3859\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbc9e89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bbc9e89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/image.gif\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-806\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be3c93e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be3c93e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"921\">My first solution was a <strong data-start=\"684\" data-end=\"702\">\u201cclamp\u201d layout<\/strong>, which centralized key information in one location. Player health, the active combat form, ability mana, and ultimate charge were all displayed within this structure to keep the interface compact and easy to reference.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"923\" data-end=\"1083\">Playtesting revealed that while the interface was contained, players still struggled to understand which elements corresponded to specific abilities or actions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-472c38f e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"472c38f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f250a69 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f250a69\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1085\" data-end=\"1346\">In response, I created a second iteration that focused on improving clarity. Key improvements included notched health for clearer health tracking, a shell system that visually indicated mana buildup, and a dedicated ability diamond that reacted to player input.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1567\">Although promising, this design was ultimately cut. The health system was not built to support notched health, and the increased number of UI elements made the interface feel less cohesive than the earlier clamp layout.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1569\" data-end=\"1835\">Around this time, the gameplay design also evolved. Ultimate forms were removed, and mana was instead used to activate form-specific abilities. This simplified the combat system and significantly reduced the amount of information the interface needed to communicate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe77efb e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fe77efb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e35d41 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6e35d41\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/base_ui-1-768x432.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-834\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/base_ui-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/base_ui-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/base_ui-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/base_ui-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/base_ui-1-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Second HUD wireframe iteration, ultimate charging up.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-737c911 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"737c911\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/asset-3-768x442.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-835\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/asset-3-768x442.png 768w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/asset-3-300x172.png 300w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/asset-3-1024x589.png 1024w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/asset-3-1536x883.png 1536w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/asset-3-2048x1177.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Second HUD wireframe iteration, ultimate ready to use.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb43e71 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"eb43e71\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a8ca80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9a8ca80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AGV_vUdeklZY8cPIS7U0xf5RL484Nt0DtcLRjMjbkkAwL6deCc96UHS496FyrLeADErZK5pbYIHyFEhno3ldc-eB5e-797O1TJdDf6VtRONbcITUweMr3iiOZts88_iXXRwmb4515C1cws2048.gif\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1384\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f064a2e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f064a2e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1837\" data-end=\"2220\">These changes led to the final concept: the <strong data-start=\"1881\" data-end=\"1890\">Hel-X<\/strong>. Inspired by the earlier ability diamond, the Hel-X arranged abilities in a diamond formation while using the spaces between them to display mana through intersecting progress bars. These bars only appeared when their corresponding combat stance was active, reducing visual clutter while still communicating critical information.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2222\" data-end=\"2404\">The health bar was placed beneath the Hel-X to keep the player\u2019s attention centered in one area. However, the original design intent\u2014evoking a double helix\u2014was not immediately clear.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-651f0be e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"651f0be\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06fdcb8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06fdcb8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"2406\" data-end=\"2558\">Rotating the Hel-X 90 degrees solved this problem, giving the interface a more vertical structure that visually reinforced the double-helix concept.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2560\" data-end=\"2759\">Finally, the diamond layout aligned naturally with the controller\u2019s button layout, providing an intuitive mapping between inputs and abilities and significantly improving the overall user experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4524f30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4524f30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ScreenRecording2025-04-28193051-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter-1.gif\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2514\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1031\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81c27ea e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"81c27ea\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af13bc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"af13bc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AndrewLounsburyReel.mp4\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1032\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"3\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1032\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> NARRATIVE DESIGN <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-minus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h384c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-plus\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 208H272V64c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32h-32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v144H32c-17.67 0-32 14.33-32 32v32c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h144v144c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h32c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32V304h144c17.67 0 32-14.33 32-32v-32c0-17.67-14.33-32-32-32z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1032\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5c7dca e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f5c7dca\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1032\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ae3630 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2ae3630\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57d4868 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"57d4868\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AGV_vUcsz0D6LpQMdMKyTbaHmqwVSOh2HRafjPWdMCXQZ4jGDhJLHs46ZdaFETUhayyX3phf33jsjKEise8zJQ6qJPbFfh5ts7CnDQXWvHIIKS2uChBRUhy0CBWYBiDEdXDAEFLpU9825ws2048-1024x819.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1383\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AGV_vUcsz0D6LpQMdMKyTbaHmqwVSOh2HRafjPWdMCXQZ4jGDhJLHs46ZdaFETUhayyX3phf33jsjKEise8zJQ6qJPbFfh5ts7CnDQXWvHIIKS2uChBRUhy0CBWYBiDEdXDAEFLpU9825ws2048-1024x819.png 1024w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AGV_vUcsz0D6LpQMdMKyTbaHmqwVSOh2HRafjPWdMCXQZ4jGDhJLHs46ZdaFETUhayyX3phf33jsjKEise8zJQ6qJPbFfh5ts7CnDQXWvHIIKS2uChBRUhy0CBWYBiDEdXDAEFLpU9825ws2048-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AGV_vUcsz0D6LpQMdMKyTbaHmqwVSOh2HRafjPWdMCXQZ4jGDhJLHs46ZdaFETUhayyX3phf33jsjKEise8zJQ6qJPbFfh5ts7CnDQXWvHIIKS2uChBRUhy0CBWYBiDEdXDAEFLpU9825ws2048-768x614.png 768w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AGV_vUcsz0D6LpQMdMKyTbaHmqwVSOh2HRafjPWdMCXQZ4jGDhJLHs46ZdaFETUhayyX3phf33jsjKEise8zJQ6qJPbFfh5ts7CnDQXWvHIIKS2uChBRUhy0CBWYBiDEdXDAEFLpU9825ws2048-1536x1229.png 1536w, https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AGV_vUcsz0D6LpQMdMKyTbaHmqwVSOh2HRafjPWdMCXQZ4jGDhJLHs46ZdaFETUhayyX3phf33jsjKEise8zJQ6qJPbFfh5ts7CnDQXWvHIIKS2uChBRUhy0CBWYBiDEdXDAEFLpU9825ws2048.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Storyboard of the opening scene that did not make the final product.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1032\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0485254 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0485254\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfd0825 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bfd0825\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<p data-start=\"131\" data-end=\"327\">Narrative development became a major focus during production. I rewrote the story three times to ensure it remained within scope while delivering a script the team could feel confident presenting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e8f4f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e8f4f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\"><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p data-start=\"329\" data-end=\"569\">Early plans included <strong data-start=\"350\" data-end=\"378\">2D comic-style cutscenes<\/strong> placed before and between major gameplay segments to provide exposition and stronger pacing. While these sequences helped structure the narrative, they were ultimately cut during production.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"571\" data-end=\"742\">Despite this, developing the world of Pulsanh, its characters, and the context surrounding the game\u2019s events remained one of the most rewarding aspects of the project.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1032\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acb7464 e-grid e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"acb7464\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1032\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fc1fd0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6fc1fd0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bee4dd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bee4dd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<p>A key challenge was designing the narrative around <strong data-start=\"795\" data-end=\"823\">meaningful player choice<\/strong> that affected both story and gameplay. This was achieved through a mechanic that allowed players to either <strong data-start=\"931\" data-end=\"968\">absorb or release defeated bosses<\/strong>. Each decision altered the player\u2019s narrative path while granting unique combat abilities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11fbb3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11fbb3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column\">\n<p data-start=\"1061\" data-end=\"1434\">The most complex scenario arose when players chose to <strong data-start=\"1115\" data-end=\"1156\">absorb one boss but release the other<\/strong>. To resolve this, I introduced unique dialogue followed by a <strong data-start=\"1218\" data-end=\"1244\">third and final choice<\/strong>, allowing players to determine their own outcome. This approach placed the ultimate narrative agency in the player\u2019s hands and ensured that the story\u2019s resolution reflected their decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05abfa0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05abfa0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ultimately, the narrative evolved into a system that placed player choice at the center of the experience. By tying story outcomes and gameplay abilities to the same decisions, the design allowed the player\u2019s actions to shape both the narrative and the way they interacted with the world.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5a2666 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"a5a2666\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<embed src=\"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Dual-Shadows-Narrative-Document.pdf\"type=\"application\/pdf\" width=\"600\"height=\"940\"><\/embed>   \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DUAL SHADOWS OVERVIEW DUAL SHADOWS is a third person action game set in a near-future urban environment. My work consisted of a variety of design roles, which allowed me to connect threads between each, unifying the experience for the player. Team Size: 13 Core Developers + 4 Contractors Development Time: 9 months Engine: Unreal Engine [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2016","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2016"}],"version-history":[{"count":451,"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2940,"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2016\/revisions\/2940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/andrewlounsbury.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}