A gamejam kind of weekend

I have been drawing *other* non-game-related things, but I have yet to scan them. So those will be saved for a later post.

This weekend I spent 48 hours (or there about) making a game. Unlike previous game jams where I've worked in teams of about 5, this game jam I worked on my own. I didn't want to stress about it, or spend extra hours on it – my goal for this game jam was to take my time, enjoy myself, and hopefully make something that resembled a game. I succeeded on all counts, which makes this one of the most successful game jams I've had.

The basic premise of the game goes thusly: You are a mouse in an atmospheric test facility, attempting a great escape. Squeeze under obstacles, avoid roid-rage rats, and collect medicine for the ultimate power-up! As a mouse you are incapable of attacking, but once you've collected 3 capsules of medicine, you can transform (for a limited time, of course) into a swash-buckling hero. Face your enemies, fight your way out, and become the hero of your own adventure!

The idea came from a mouse at the company I work at (Roadhouse) and a conversation that arose. I explained I found mice adorable and interesting, as they are essentially a conglomerate of disconnected bones in a gelatinous body (scientific fact!) allowing them to squeeze under doorways. There the main mechanic was born: a character who can squeeze under obstacles. 

I began sketching in my sketchbook, but having left my tablet at work and possessing no scanner at the jam, had to duplicate my sketches in pixel art (using photoshop). All in all, it works, I believe. The mouse managed to remain cute, even without the cute lines. I then set about making all the sprites for the major mouse animations. 

crouch walk - or as Kim says "Sausage MOUSE!"

Jump. I ended up cutting out the first and last sprite for the game.

and Walk

Due to the time constraints of the game, I did not manage to make the swash-buckling hero. I have plans to upload the concept sketches and to create a pixelated mouse-hero soon, but not yet. 

On the second day of the jam, I realized I wouldn't have the time to do all I wanted, and more importantly, I needed a baddie to avoid. Not necessarily an evil character to battle, but a guard of sorts, someone to avoid at all costs. I also realized I am rather bad at laying out the level design. I literally made it up as I went along. 

The enemy!

end of the level

middle of the level

On the last day I made a title screen (super important) and made sure the "game" looped. At the end of the day I only had one level (a mediocre one at best) that when you reached the end of you arrived back at the title screen. In a way, the game is functional. And kinda pretty to look at. 

The original background had a blue overlay

but I thought that was too meh, so I added a purple one

By the way, did I mention I made the entire game with a program called Stencyl? Because thats important. None of my "lone wolf game jamming" would have worked without it.