From Jungle Novice to Ocean Animal King: How I Turned Game Design Into a Life of Rhythm and Risk

I still remember the first time I clicked ‘Animal Park’—not as a game, but as a ritual. Growing up bilingual in Chicago’s Polish household, I learned early that outcomes aren’t handed to you by chance. They’re carved by rhythm.

At CMU, my thesis fused cognitive psychology with Unity engine design. I didn’t chase big wins—I chased patterns. Players don’t bet because they hope—they bet because they feel seen. Every spin became an experiment: what happens when you replace ‘luck’ with ‘ritual’?

I tested three variables: win rate (25%), session length (20–30 mins), and emotional resonance (measured via heart rate variability). The highest retention wasn’t from flashy animations—it came from quiet moments: coffee at 2AM, the hum of waves outside your window.

The ‘Coral Animal Fest’ wasn’t a promotion—it was an invitation to co-create meaning. When players saw their first bonus after three losses? That’s when they became part of something larger than the game—the community.

I used A/B tests not to optimize clicks—but to measure belonging. We didn’t design for dopamine—we designed for dignity.

Your next bet shouldn’t be about winning. It should be about showing up—with curiosity, not greed.

You’re not chasing the dolphin. You’re dancing with it.