Below is a selection of the work I produced for Bactrian Games, an indie studio I cofounded and led as art director on our debut title, Norman’s Night In.
2016 - 2020
The Game
Norman’s Night In is a slingshot metroidvania that tells the tale of an old man, his bowling ball, and a fateful fall into the world of Cave. Use slingshot mechanics to solve physics-based puzzles, face unfamiliar cave beasties, and discover the unseen world by the light of your new bowling ball.
Every level of Norman’s Night In is hand crafted and hand painted. Upgrade your bowling ball to access new abilities, uncover secrets, and continue your descent into the vast interconnected world below.
My Contribution
Led the art direction and game design
Designed environments, biomes, architecture, characters, and props from initial sketch to final asset
Illustrated all production-ready assets including environments, backgrounds, props, characters, FX, and UI elements
Designed all core game mechanics and levels, working closely with gameplay programmers to push player experience within our technical limitations
Set dressed 24 interconnected levels using 2D assets, adhering to established level grayboxing with attention to storytelling and mood
Wrote the dialogue, narrative cutscenes, and in-game item descriptions
Managed production schedule, contract hires, and VO to ensure quality and aesthetic consistency
Design Objectives
Physics-based puzzle design in a mechanically driven game
Metroidvania progression and interconnected world map
Bi-directional design to create compelling and unique experiences in levels with backtracking
Movement mechanics-driven everything, from the upgrades to the puzzle elements
Hand-painted and traditionally animated
Awards
Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to receive a number of awards for Norman’s Night In. It’s been an absolute honor to showcase alongside such incredible people. Some awards include:
2016 Google Play Indie Games Festival - Best Game Nominee
2019 PAX East Indie Showcase Winner
2019 PAX West Indie MEGABOOTH Official Selection
2020 PAX East Indie MEGABOOTH Official Selection
“You can just feel what a labor of love this is” - Jared Nelson - Touch Arcade
Copyright © 2023 Nick Iorfino