Google Smart Display Game

In 2020, I got an opportunity to work with the Google team to create their first-ever voice-controlled game for Google Smart Displays. Together, B-Reel and the Google team explored the frontiers of voice-controlled games in ways that were previously not possible.

Business Problem

The Google Assistant team had not fully utilized the new technology behind Google Smart Displays

User Problem

Most people use it as a utilitarian device to manage tasks

Project Goals

Business: To explore new opportunities to leverage voice and visuals in game design
Business: To develop best practices of game design and game developing
User: To use Google Smart Displays as an entertainment device outside music and video streaming

Define What We Build

What type of gaming experience would complement this type of device and the location in the home?
What value is our product or experience providing to whom?
What is the person who's playing this game trying to accomplish?

Target gaming experience: To create a party night and facilitator game for group settings.

Mime Jam

To play, say "Hey Google, play Mime Jam"

Mime Jam is a multiplayer party game aimed at getting people up and out of their seats. Players team up to act out random words and phrases that appear on the smart display and see who can guess the most correct answers.

Check out the game trailer here: Mima Jam

Client: Google

Agency: B-reel

Role: Product Designer

Services: Art Direction, UI Design

Client: MasterCard

Agency: Sapient Nitro

Role: Art Director

Design Process

1. Identify game mechanic
2. Create Art Direction
3. Develop a visual system
4. Validate user flow and UX
5. Finalize UI interaction, motion, and sound design

Game Mechanic

Target Game Experience: To create a party night and facilitator game for group settings

We wanted to create games to mirror how people engage with the smart displays – voice-driven and conversational. Our team started with lo-fi, interactive tests to determine what games would complement this new type of engagement. Stickies on a whiteboard and cue cards indicated actions and responses. We were able to get an idea of which games would resonate with players at home.

Define What We Build

- What type of gaming experience would complement this type of device and the location in the home?

- What value is our product or experience providing to whom?

- What is the person who’s playing this game trying to accomplish?

Design Process

1. Identify game mechanic
2. Create Art Direction
3. Develop a visual system
4. Validate user flow and UX
5. Finalize UI interaction, motion, and sound design

Game Mechanic

Target Game Experience: To create a party night and facilitator game for group settings

Art Direction

I developed the look & feel of the game and created the game interface. After exploring multiple visual directions, our team felt like the retro card design captured the nostalgia of the classic game.

Final UX flow

Check out the game trailer (Sound and Animation design) here: Mima Jam

Final UX Flow

To play, say "Hey Google, play Mime Jam"

Check out the game trailer (Sound and Animation design) here: Mima Jam

Visual System

As part of the interface design, I created a visual system that allows all card designs to expand and adapt to varying lengths and numbers of words within the phrase. There are over 5,000-word gameplay libraries. We created a visual system that allows all those visuals to expand and adapt no matter what word length we put in front of it.