50+ positive reviews with a 97% positive rating
TRACE: Definitive Edition is the first original Steam game I produced at Coolmath Games. The game is a remastered version of the point-and-click escape room TRACE, developed by STUDIO LOOK. This version offers new puzzles, updated graphics, and new areas to explore. I led the production of the project, starting in September 2024, and worked closely with STUDIO LOOK for slightly over a year. I first established a budget of $43k (this paid STUDIO LOOK for their work on the project, the trailer company Apptamin for the trailer, and the marketing company Keymailer to reach out to influencers).
Within the first 6 months, I created the Steam page using assets from STUDIO LOOK, tested the demo build to show to the public, and created a strategy plan for marketing and promotions.
Within the final 6 months, I created a successful ARG that promoted the demo on coolmathgames.com, worked with Apptamin to make a trailer to promote the game, created display materials to promote the demo in person at PlayNYC, finalized game testing for the demo and full game, created a 4-day long promotional countdown to the game's release, and began working with Keymailer to supply keys for influencers covering the game.
The TR4CE ARG
This ARG ran from May 12-16. During this week, a game I made called TR4CE would appear on the Coolmath Games homepage. This was built in Unity and was not so much of a game but a short, interactive experience for users.
Players had to find 3 codes which would lead to three different pages with strange, cryptic codes within the text. These pages represent the three characters that are mentioned in TRACE: Definitive Edition named Wallace, Wreath, and Marq. After these codes were deciphered, players would be taken to the TRACE: Definitive Edition demo to play on the site.
BUT! There is a 4th code! This is in the console and takes the player to a secret page that results in them finding a new puzzle that they have to decipher. When they get this code, they must email trace@coolmath.com to win one of five Steam keys!
The TR4CE gamepage received over 700k views, the TRACE: Definitive Edition demo page received over 20k views, we received 300+ additional wishlists for the game, and received 400+ email submissions to win a free code.
PlayNYC 2025
I attended PlayNYC with STUDIO LOOK from August 22-24 to promote the demo of the game in person. I created designs for materials, including a tabletop sign where users can scan a QR code to wishlist the game and a standing banner to promote key art.
I worked with our product team to purchase additional supplies such as high refresh rate monitors, computer mice, headphones, and more. We also worked with artist SaunaFrog to create 4 sticker designs of statues from the game. There were 250 copies of each sticker bought, for 1000 stickers that were put in small giveaway bags to players of the demo.
We had received 300+ wishlists from this event and earned great feedback on how to improve the game! We also did an interview with TURBO to explain Coolmath Games' history and introduce the game to new players.
Four Day Build Up
This 4 day mini-series wasn't really an ARG, but a story experience. I worked with STUDIO LOOK to develop 4 games that would appear each day of the week leading up to the launch of TRACE: Definitive Edition. These games were meant to provide some story to the game.
Each game focused on the main character, Wallace, looking into a crystal orb to see the space he is about to enter. Each game takes the player into a different room from the main game to learn some lore about Wallace's interactions and connections with the characters Wreath and Marq, who are never seen.
I worked with STUDIO LOOK on the narrative for each game and writing the dialogue that would appear. STUDIO LOOK developed the games themselves using assets from main game.
Each game received approximately 30k-60k pageviews and can be played below: