MiAO, a distinguished Chinese gaming enterprise, entrusted us with the creation of their website, a platform designed for their voxel-style games complemented by artificial intelligence. The directive was clear – infuse the essence of 80's gaming, incorporating pixel fonts, glitches, and a monochromatic palette of black and white.
Our strategic response involved the integration of a pixel-style unifont, thoughtfully incorporating Chinese characters to resonate with the predominantly Chinese audience. The landing page unveils an engaging pixel-based glitch effect, transitioning from white to black – a deliberate homage to the aesthetic of the 80s. Subsequent elements, including text, menus, and buttons, manifest with a deliberate "typewrite" effect, reminiscent of the computing styles prevalent in the 1980's.
To underscore MiAO's dynamic ethos, we meticulously crafted an endlessly generative voxel cityscape, uniquely tailored for each visitor. Rooted in two intertwining simplex noise fields, this cityscape features a bespoke pixel shader and subtle lens distortions with a touch of glow, invoking a nostalgic journey to the experimental spirit of the 80's.
Progressing through the website, each section unveils a distinctive glitch pattern, an outcome of intricate coding. Titles elegantly shuffle into their designated places, distinguished by a subtle bar of horizontal lines for streamlined navigation. Drawing inspiration from the loading screens of MS-Dos operating systems, the body copy unfolds progressively in sections.
MiAO's gaming community revels in a realm of creative freedom and governance, emerging as the architects of their virtual domains. Aligning with this philosophy, our design exudes a deliberate low-level character, presenting text akin to a terminal screen with glitch effects – emblematic of the delicate interplay between failure and success inherent in the creative process.
Navigation remains intuitive – users can scroll, utilise keyboard arrows, or press numbered keys (1 to 7), eliminating the need for a dedicated menu. This design choice pays homage to the simplicity of 80s controls, allowing users to effortlessly navigate, reminiscent of the golden age of gaming.
The MiAO website stands as a testament to the fusion of innovation and creativity, inviting visitors to embark on a refined journey through pixels and the limitless possibilities of MiAO's gaming universe.
