# Visual Design and Narrative

### **Progression of visual complexity**

- First level:
- constants and variables are same
- visually they will just be simple shapes which behave as per equation solving rules, but there is no indication of whether a certain element is constant or variable.
- we will use simple shapes.
- so the main thing the player learns at this stage is how different operators behave or what are the basic rules of equation solving..

- Second level
- Bracket and sign will be introduced
- visually the shapes will look different if they have a + vs they have -
- behavior of bracket is also what they will learn at this stage

- Third level
- Some shapes (elements) will now have a number..so, in addition to re-arranging, you can simplify the equation wherever its possible.
- player will start learning about the different behavior of constants and variables at this stage

### For your review ##

### **Visual Design Ideas**

“Introvert X” — Xavier likes to read
X is an introverted kid. Everyone is playing very actively at school and all he wants to do is just read a book alone! All numbers and variables are little kids, they interact with objects that symbolize the signs + , - , x , : and parenthesis. All the kids want to go to the playground , except X (Xavier), who wants to stay inside reading alone. The set is the school seen from above, with a wall and door separating the inside from the playground.

- the illustrations can be quite dynamic and fun, lots of details
- when X merge or numbers sum/subtract, the multiple Xs, or multiple kids (for eg) turn into a single X - this is something tricky to solve.
- don’t know yet how to make it work with exponentials

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Some rough sketches:






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What is your opinion of X @johnbamberg ?

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Visual direction -
IDEAS FOR INTRODUCING THE MATHS THROUGH NON-MATHS()

We have already thought about having the first few levels having the mathematics hidden, but with identical mechanics. So for instance, we can disregard consolidation of sums (e.g., we don’t worry about $4−3=1$) and we keep each item as it is. So suppose underneath, we have $4x+2=−3$. We have characters for the numbers, and something significant for x itself. I don’t know what yet, but let’s try a shark for 4, a car for 2, and a horse for 3. The direction that each of these characters determines their parity. So $−3$ is a horse facing to the right. Then we use concatenation for multiplication and Egyptian walking legs for addition and subtraction. Multiplication by right-facing walk-legs changes the direction of the character (the parity).

:shark: :x: 𓂻 :car: | :racehorse:

(but the racehorse faces to the right).

OUR CURRENT VISUAL IDEAS -


- Numbers and variables will change colors as they move across the equals sign.
- Shapes will change as different operations are performed.
- What shapes or symbols to be used, is still to be thought of..
- maybe things like paranthesis will need a change in shape, need to think.
- the operators are the way all elements in the equation entangle. Colors of the operators can indicate that they can't be changed or moved.
- A little more on colors and operators


- the universe on the left and right of the equals sign will behave so opposite..they can actually not belong to the same universe. eg: sea and sea shore, or forest and cave..or still thinking..
- x has to detangle from his clingy friends 🙊

**UPDATE (10th May) on visual design**
Based on some intial discussions with our designer, she suggested a world of shapes with a style roughly shown below: