A Tool a Detective Can't Be Without: The Phone!

Last time on the blog I introduced a couple of ways in which Erik will gather information and solve cases. But he also has another tool at his disposal: his handy dandy smartphone! His phone has a number of apps that can do things from making phone calls to keeping track of how the case is going. Here are a few of my favorites. 

First, I would like to show off the phone itself. Starting with the top left, just like real phones, this phone includes a notification bar. Note on the screenshot that Erik current has an unread email and text message. Second, the phone features a working clock that tells the real-life time. Worried that you’ve been playing for too long? Just pull up the phone to see the time. And of course, the battery is always at 75%.

While not all of the apps on the home screen work at this time, I am planning on expanding the variety for the full game. The apps that will be ready for the demo are the ones on the first two rows from the top and the Settings app on the third row.

In general, the thought behind the phone is that it will act as a sort of pause or main menu. When you pull it up, you can use a few gameplay features from the phone, but it will also include things beyond the game, like the settings menu.

The Notes app will function as your “quest tracker.” It’s possible to have a number of missions going at a time, and this is where you will be able to see how you’re progressing through them. Just as in Skyrim you can pull up the quest menu and take a look at your progress or your next objective, the Notes app will keep a handy log of what has already happened and what should happen next.

Yo dawg, I heard you like games, so I put games in your games. What smartphone is not complete without a few games for you to pass the time!

Erik doesn’t drive—more on this in the game. But if you need to get from one place to another quickly, this is how you hail your next ride to that location. Simply open up the map, toggle “Destination Mode” and choose your destination. A friendly driver will pull up to pick you up and take you where you need to go in no time!

As a note, this is currently how you can also view your map. Should I create a new app just to view the map, or should I just leave it like this? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Database app is one that I have been excited about for some time. With the help of [one of Erik’s partners], Erik has access to the East Las Palmas Police Department database. This database includes entries on people (both criminals and other citizens), businesses, events, cases, and anything else that may help the police solve crime. It’s a powerful tool, but one has to know what they’re looking for first!

I spent quite a bit of time on the phone, and I’m proud of how it turned out. Most of the apps that I had in mind when I began work on the game are ready to go, and a few others shouldn’t be too hard to add later on. A lot of thought also went into it as well. Everything from how intuitive an app would be to use to the speed at which the phone transitions in and out have been put under scrutiny. I’m always open to suggestions, so if there is an app that you think Erik could benefit from, don’t forget to reach out!

Thanks for reading!