Category: Game Development

Vector 2018 Recap

Game Development, Gaming

This weekend I attended the Vector conference at EKU. This was my first year attending the event, as well as my first time showing my work off at any conference, so I thought it’d be worthwhile to write up a recap of my experience.

Package Handler

The highlight of Vector was getting a chance to show off Package Handler, the game I worked on for Global Game Jam 2018. I’ve been working with Quinten, Christian, and Noah – our newest team member – to polish the game for Vector’s student showcase, and I think out efforts payed off. We had a great time introducing people to the technology of VR (even if it meant panic when our monitors almost took a controller to the screen), and the feedback we received will be immensely helpful as we continue to form the direction we want to take the game in.

Me being me, I wanted to create a box-themed outfit for the event. I originally thought about customizing the Nintendo Labo Robot Kit, but considering it came out the day of Vector, I settled for the next best thing: a cardboard “Gundam”. Our boy Christian delivered (pun intended) with his box-collecting efforts, and I was able to create this sweet number.

Aside from demonstrating our game, I had a blast checking out what other people were showing off. The following games in particular struck my fancy, so I wanted to give them the attention they deserve.

Anti-Virus

My friend and fellow student Kyle has been working on this roguelike game since last semester, and I finally got the chance to check it out. The game puts a new spin on the term “button-mapping”: the player’s position corresponds to whatever key is pressed. This unique control scheme is admittedly a bit clunky, but there’s strong potential here and I’m excited to see where the project goes! Also, the music is banger.

GRAViTY

This game consists of using a black hole to move objects, and it sucked me right in (pun double-intended). The experience was interesting: the challenging puzzles kept me engaged, but the simple physics-based gameplay didn’t require too much thought, leaving me in this strange state of distracted focus, where I was using part of my mind to solve puzzles while the rest of it just wandered. Strongly recommended if you’re looking for a calm yet challenging game.

Match Point

I suppose great minds think alike. This game uses a similar pull mechanic to GRAViTY, but applies it to competitive gameplay that can be described as a combination of Smash Bros., #IDARB, and Lethal League. Players maneuver around a stage, manipulating the ball via attracting or repelling forces. I can see this being a strong party game, and I’m keeping it on my radar as it prepares for a Q3 2018 release.

Attending Vector was a blast. I’m glad I got to be a part of it, and I’m already looking forward to next year!

Steamed Hams but it’s the Garb & Corncob Prototype

Game Development, Videos & Streaming

In January, I discussed an RPG prototype I’d been working on, known as Project GaRbPG. At last, I finally have some footage to share, in addition to a working title: Garb & Corncob.

Despite the joke nature of this video for April Fool’s Day, this is indeed footage from the prototype. These cutscenes were programmed by me within Unity; the only post-production changes were the title cards and the scene transitions.

I still have plenty of work ahead of me for the prototype, so I can not confirm when I will have more information to share, but rest assured that this is a real game that I really intend to release at some point.

EKU Global Game Jam 2018 Results: Package Handler

Game Development, Videos & Streaming

Global Game Jam 2018 has come to an end, and with that, our team has created Package Handler – a VR prototype about transmitting boxes between conveyer belts. We’re planning on developing this prototype further, as we’ve received plenty of positive feedback on it and just overall had a blast working on it.

The prototype can be downloaded here.

For those without access to VR, you can watch this gameplay demonstration in the meantime:

Spring 2018 Plans

Game Development, Site Updates, Videos & Streaming

Hey everyone. My winter break ends soon, and with that I wanted to discuss the progress I’ve made since my Holiday 2017 Update and what my plans are moving forward.

 

Site

As promised, I revamped the Games page to link to download pages on itch.io. I feel that having individual itch.io pages for each piece of content on the page is a better method of organization.

 

Game Development

Progress on my turn-based RPG prototype, which I am now referring to as Project GaRbPG (thanks Chat Man), has been going well. However, I’ve lost about a week’s worth of work due to technical issues. Long story short, I got a new computer that would randomly shut down, exchanged it for a new one that did the same thing, and exchanged it again for one that had a cracked screen (these were all new-in-box). This whole fiasco wasted a week of my life, and to make matters worse I’m stuck on my 6-year-old laptop for the time being.

Despite all of this, I want to push forward with Project GaRbPG; it’ll just be slower than I’d like right now. I don’t plan on revealing this project until I am around 20% complete with it, but just know that it is being worked on.

 

Streams

I am taking a break from streams for a couple weeks while I get my schedule for this semester sorted out. When I return, I am going to continue with my plans to clear my Wii U backlog. This means I’ll finish the main story of Scribblenauts Unlimited, screw around with amiibo Festival, and then, as many have been anticipating, I will return to Explorers of Sky and complete the post-game.

 

Thanks for reading. I apologize that I am doing more telling than showing right now, but I hope to have good stuff to show off real soon!

Holiday 2017 Update

Game Development, Site Updates, Videos & Streaming

Hey everyone! Wanted to provide some updates on current projects and info for my plans this holiday season.

 

Site

I’ve been hard at work revamping this WordPress to be more presentable and better fit my needs. I’ve revamped most of the pages and the site layout, as well as utilized WordPress’s blogging functionality (which is how you’re reading this, obviously). I currently still need to revamp the Games page, and what I’m planning on doing is having links to download pages on other sites like itch.io as opposed to sub-pages within this site.

 

Game Development

Over winter break, I plan on developing a prototype of a short turn-based RPG. Should this go smoothly, I will continue development throughout next semester. I want to use this project to build management experience; I want to start planning development schedules for my games as well as hire others to help out with art and music, and I feel a small project like this one will be a perfect way to gain this experience. I’m not going to reveal specifics of this project yet, so stay tuned for more info!

 

Streams

With finals coming up, I’m not sure how much I’ll be streaming for the next couple of weeks. I plan on streaming Scribblenauts Unlimited this weekend, but beyond that I’m not sure if I’ll have time for anything else before finals are over. Over winter break, I want to finish up Banjo-Kazooie and Teen Titans on stream. I’d also like to stream a playthrough of a new game if I have time, but I haven’t decided what that’d be. Feel free to check my Grouvee shelves if you want to recommend anything I should play.

 

So yeah, this is what I’ve got coming up. Thanks for reading, and in case I forget, happy holidays!