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Space Candy is a game within a game that critiques the free-to-play mobile game business model, exposing the crunch culture and unsustainable capitalist practices, all wrapped up in sweet visuals, humor, and a tantalising crime plot.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/796fa403-4c65-4992-b683-75e3344c7d98/59df7626-d5a7-46ac-8732-62649d203ccc_rw_1920.jpeg?h=70eaddac4ad2b13cb7700c086ce9de00)
To design the core story, I prefer to prototype all the branched narratives using Inkle software...
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/796fa403-4c65-4992-b683-75e3344c7d98/77e08647-7532-40b4-aec3-ab0c37eb6916_rw_1920.jpeg?h=e3afe4e1c6d86f338961153d20ce5fdd)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/796fa403-4c65-4992-b683-75e3344c7d98/d6b6ac78-1b0f-48dc-a478-1f67a92e3ed8_rw_1920.png?h=95612ed5bdc39813e28955f699f0d7e4)
Even the game bible must correspond with the Space Candy Corp. design manual!
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At the beginning of the game, Zesty is a corporate guy, clocking in hours and then chilling at home, hoping that the next day will be exactly the same as the day before.
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The Sugar Rush Gym: What better way to start an exhausting day than by exhausting yourself preemptively!
So where does Zesty head to work every day? As a regular employee of the Space Candy mobile game, his job is to get matched, crushed, and swapped to keep users hooked on the dopamine rush of a never-ending challenge.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/796fa403-4c65-4992-b683-75e3344c7d98/2eef843d-6cdd-42a2-b9b9-9281e7cc446f_rw_1920.jpeg?h=76c828b4d49c479305f6b3431cdf6f21)
During his shift in the marketing department, Zesty's job is to promote other mobile titles through gamified ads like this one.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/796fa403-4c65-4992-b683-75e3344c7d98/b2b2b7fe-fde6-49cd-adde-ce8a8dcec82a_rw_1920.jpeg?h=db1d2604feb41c01ee9b8c85fd055f3b)
When the star of the matching grid doesn't show up for work, the company's very existence is at stake.
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Luckily, Zesty discovers a knack for investigation and ultimately realizes he's more than just a candy to be crushed.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/796fa403-4c65-4992-b683-75e3344c7d98/477a62f7-445e-4b9f-855b-a5a7ae1bff3e_rw_1920.jpeg?h=39f25620f1fa341fe02ac5fb494c2836)
Through honest detective work, Zesty peels back everyone’s sweet facade and discovers that anyone could be a suspect.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/796fa403-4c65-4992-b683-75e3344c7d98/d087f9ed-cd16-4764-bff2-d8e2c546389a_rw_3840.png?h=dddf1a0c9b210e5a7a4f9056fe9de541)
Map of the locations.
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Example of UI design.