Hockey Chess

Hockey Chess is an innovative mobile learning app designed for all ages to master hockey drills through a fun, interactive experience. Featuring intuitive controls and over 100 dynamic drills involving player and puck placement, the app blends hands-on learning with engaging multiple-choice challenges. Hockey teams can join forces to compete locally or even nationally, fostering friendly rivalry and community. Players receive weekly performance reports directly to their email, while coaches can track individual progress over time, making it a powerful tool for skill development and team growth.

Company: Jr Sports IQ

Engine: Unity, C#

Three-person development team

Shipped - Download app: App Store

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Backend Development

    • Refactored the app’s backend using Braincloud’s API to manage player data, authentication, and analytics.

    • Developed a trial account system and integrated it with user progress tracking and limited-time access features.

  • User Experience & Onboarding

    • Built a streamlined sign-in and onboarding flow, allowing users to create accounts, access tutorials, and start drills easily.

    • Implemented logic for guest access, trial conversions, and persistent session handling.

  • Game Systems & Tools

    • Improved the internal toolset for creating hockey drills, enabling faster iteration and higher-quality gameplay scenarios.

    • Designed systems for drill management, player placement, and puck logic to ensure smooth execution during play.

  • Project Management

    • Led a team of three developers using Agile methodology, planning weekly sprints via Jira and visualizing progress through Gantt charts.

    • Scheduled and facilitated playtesting and iteration cycles to balance gameplay and fix edge-case bugs.

  • Deployment & Live Updates

    • Managed deployment from TestFlight to the iOS App Store, coordinating bi-weekly updates.

    • Monitored release feedback and applied hotfixes and gameplay tuning in live environments.

Game Programming & Development Process

  • Unity & C# Development

    • Developed core gameplay systems using C# in Unity, including responsive puck passing and stick interactions.

    • Created logic to dynamically attach the puck to player sticks based on movement, direction, and possession states.

    • Wrote clean, modular code to ensure scalability and maintainability throughout the project.

  • Animation Systems & FSMs

    • Integrated complex hockey animations using Unity’s Animator and custom finite state machines (FSMs).

    • Built state-driven transitions for skating, passing, shooting, and idle states, synced with real-time inputs.

    • Ensured smooth, immersive visual feedback aligned with gameplay mechanics.

  • Backend Integration with Braincloud

    • Used Braincloud’s API to manage user authentication, data storage, and drill progression tracking.

    • Enabled trial accounts, persistent profiles, and competitive features like leaderboards and team stats.

    • Handled asynchronous data syncing between client and server for reliable performance.

  • Iteration & Game Design Feedback Loops

    • Followed iterative design practices with regular playtesting and internal feedback sessions.

    • Refined mechanics, pacing, and UX flow through sprint-based development cycles.

    • Balanced educational goals with engaging gameplay by rapidly prototyping and adjusting features based on player feedback.

Level Design Process

  • Drill Design & Player Flow

    • Designed over 100 hockey drill layouts, focusing on player positioning, puck flow, and strategic movement.

    • Applied level design principles to ensure drills progressed in difficulty, taught specific skills, and felt rewarding to complete.

    • Balanced player challenge and accessibility through thoughtful placement, timing windows, and goal orientation.

  • Design Tools & Systems

    • Improved internal tools for creating and testing drills, reducing iteration time and improving consistency.

    • Developed UI and backend systems to support drill loading, previewing, and simulation for quick review.

    • Collaborated with the development team to align drill structure with game mechanics and learning objectives.

  • Iteration & Testing

    • Conducted regular playtests to evaluate drill clarity, pacing, and player engagement.

    • Used gameplay metrics and feedback to iterate on layouts, tightening timing and spacing to support fluid play.

    • Tuned levels to work across various skill levels and age groups, ensuring broad educational value.

  • Educational Game Design Alignment

    • Combined instructional design with gameplay principles to create levels that naturally teach hockey concepts.

    • Integrated feedback cues, visual markers, and animation timing to reinforce learning goals during play.