So a few weeks ago now I attended a game making event with some 3rd year degree students on the game making, visual effects and animation degrees, the aim was to make a basic game in 12 hours. We had an introduction by two people from an independent games company who showed examples of the type of game each group should be working on. We were only allowed to use 2 buttons per player which narrowed down the type of game we could make. We then had to form our own groups in which we then discussed the type of game we would make. Craig, the concept designer in our group basically had an idea of a joisting type game, but after the discussion with the rest of the group we decided on a game that would eventually be called ‘Sumo-Bash’. I think this was also a more open game for composing and sound design as well.
The game was going to feature two slopes, one either side of the screen. Separating the two slopes would be a river and the aim of the game was to get your sumo down the hill and jump without going into the water. We also decided to add in floating bonus points which would include a bowl of rice and a sandwich. There is also pink pants which increases mass which means your sumo wont be able to jump as high. This would be based on a button bash type game, so if the player button bash’s faster they will gain more speed going down the ramp. It is also possible to button bash to jump.
So When we first started working on the game I started to compose an orchestral composition which seemed very intense for the unserious type of game it is. After thinking about it we decided this could be an intro for the game. I carried on to compose game-play music, intro’s for each sumo and game winning music. After I had completed the music I had to wait as the others we still working on the visuals and the mass of different objects within the game.
When it was time to put the sound in through code we only had about 40 minutes left and we only managed to program the game-play sound as well as some sound effects for when the sumos hit each other in the gameplay.
Overall it was a very interesting day and it was a good experience working in a team on a project like that. I also enjoyed the target of trying to compose all the music in a day which I thought was going to be harder than what it was.
You can play the game at this url:
http://www.rickyhodgson.com/sumo/sumo.html
Red sumo controls are:
Q = Button bash to roll/move quicker
W= Jump
Blue sumo controls are:
P = Button bash to roll/move quicker
O = Jump
Here is all of the music I composed for the game, some was and some wasn’t used
