Hey look over here! I’m making this game!
What follows is a series of events that led to it being in development …
When the fairy dust settled
When I became unemployed (I don’t wanna talk about it), I frantically looked for anything else where I could use my software engineering skills for something in media (music/film/tv) again – it’s all I knew. Then, disappointed and crushed by the vapor hologram that was the job market, I tried to think about what I could do outside the glamorous world of web application development. I started a little samosa popup. I was the Samosa Fairy, flittering about bringing samosas to the good citizens of the town. That didn’t pay the mortgage.
I printed stickers and everything
Aren’t video games just writing code?
Skip ahead, I do still do software engineering for a major corporation for mortgage money, however in that time I also had the thought “aren’t video games also just writing code?” I had been studying Node and Typescript and React and my mind was sharp. I was in a learning mode, so I started learning Unity development in C#. Why not??
Ideas, but too good
After a few Unity courses, I decided I got the gist. I was never going to become an encyclopedic expert on Unity, and I learn better by doing anyway. And thus it became time to make my first game. I would learn as I went along.
⚔️ Pen vs Sword
The first idea was about a knight who works in an office who has to deal with a bunch of bureaucracy in order to fight a dragon for which he is well equipped to do from the start of the gam. I felt it was ripe for Monty Python style but too ambitious.
💀 Obstacle Course
Another idea was basically an obstacle course with death implements like columns of rotating knives, vats of acid, falling pianos and more will most likely kill you. But your dead body doesn’t disappear. When you respawn you can use your previous body or bodies to gunk up some gears, cross a moat or climb a wall. Again, it could be a cool game but way past my skill level especially with the body animations.
Make what you know – aka copy
I read somewhere to just copy a game you really liked in order to learn how to make your first game. I like a lotta games! From Secret of Mana to Contra to Leisure Suit Larry! But one game I remember playing all night with my friend was Rock and Roll Racing. The game itself was great, I don’t know HOW the licensed the soundtrack – that’s probably why I liked it so much lol.
Actually, here’s a documentary on Rock and Roll Racing if you have any interest.
It was a combination of that game, RC Pro Am, some Twisted Metal, and Wreckfest that made me think “I can make the illusion of a box with wheels zipping around!” And so it began:
Wow a box with wheels! .. literally! I DID it!
I’m learnding
I knew there would be more than just the introductory courses that I took to making a full game. 3D modelling, materials, lighting, object placement.
And then how do the enemies know how to follow the track? How does the game manager know that someone has completed a lap? How do you earn cash? What about the HUD?!! THE HUDDDDD!!!!!!
I’m enjoying learning as I go. The ability to learn is a great signifier that you are alive. ALIVE I say!
the look
I wanted an isometric radio controlled battle racer. As time went on, the minimalist cyber look kind of developed on it’s own and I think the plan is to just see where it goes. Right now there is no iron art-direction.
what’s next
Currently, I have a track that goes race→battle arena→race. I like breaking up the race with some Twisted Metal throwback – it’s last-vehicle-standing. I just added a sort of homing Roomba with rotating blades called a razorDrone as a second heavy weapon choice besides missiles. I believe a hovercraft will be coming up as a new vehicle.
There is no store yet, so currently all these weapons and vehicles will be free until I figure out a money system.
The money system in which I separate you, the player, from your money and into my checking account.
I kid, I’m not going into this expecting to make any money. All I expect is a solid gold house and a rocket car.