TILT THE ODDS

Promotional Game for IBM Clients

Tilt the Odds was the second project in collaboration with Ideas Collide, following the success of Silicon City. This project provided an opportunity to create a more game-centric product aimed at rewarding users for contributing valuable information, which could be used as an outreach tool. The challenge was to design a game that not only aligned with IBM's four pillars but also resonated with a slightly older demographic. We also had a tight 6-8 week turnaround time from concept to delivered product.

To meet these objectives, we developed a Pinball game with distinct, color-coded regions representing each of IBM’s pillars. Players would power up the machine by gradually entering key information, unlocking full gameplay once all essential data was provided. Additional pinballs could be earned by submitting extra information, offering a satisfying and engaging experience designed to last 2-3 minutes.

Responsibilities

  • Served as project manager, producer and lead product designer, acting as the primary liaison with Ideas Collide to ensure that the objectives and high standards of IBM were consistently met.

  • Led the design of the pinball board, dividing it into four quadrants to represent IBM's unique pillars, and conceptualized thematic interactions for each section.

  • Collaborated closely with the technical team to develop a comprehensive suite of tools for testing and prototyping the game’s mechanics and overall feel during the greybox phase.

Learnings

  • Developing a satisfying game experience within a compact 2-3 minute gameplay session required focusing on core mechanics that would deliver immediate engagement and a rewarding payoff for players.

  • Prioritizing key game development aspects within a tight timeline, ensuring the project met both the client's expectations and overall quality standards, while maximizing the product's potential.

  • Creating a production schedule with a limited development window, ensuring processes and development could run in parallel to meet deadlines.

GAME SNAPSHOT -

GAME SNAPSHOT -

Mockup of final board ahead of asset production in-engine (completed by lead artist on team).

Early greybox concept used to test basic Pinball board functionality and layout.

Showcase of how the quadrants of the board powered on in response to users providing information.

Final product provided to Ideas Collide. Built for and deployed as a web application.