{"id":350,"date":"2026-10-19T09:34:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/lhlb1n25\/?p=350"},"modified":"2026-10-29T11:55:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T11:55:50","slug":"week-five","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/lhlb1n25\/2026\/10\/19\/week-five\/","title":{"rendered":"Week Five"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week our class did an exercise in understanding our target audience<\/strong>, and then researching similar games to our own<\/strong>, and seeing how well they were received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who is your player?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PC players, maybe <\/em>mobile as well. Younger audience, preteen. People who don’t have a lot of money (game will be free).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do they play?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Session length can be relatively short; level-based so maybe game you play between other bigger games downloading, or playing in a little break on your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What motivates them?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who like scores\/getting bigger numbers than other people for bragging rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What other games do they play and why?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other rhythm games, such as Rhythm Heaven<\/em> and Friday Night Funkin’<\/em>. People who find it satisfying to press buttons to a beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why would they choose your game?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My game is slightly different, the main game loop consists of not only clicking buttons in time to a beat, but also reaching a goal via movement. I think people may find that interesting, makes it a Rhythm\/Puzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What might stop them from playing?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting frustrated that they keep losing by bumping into objects or getting caught by spotlights. They may also find it unsatisfying missing beats on purpose to avoid obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Using Steam Database<\/em>, I had a look at other comedic indie games<\/strong> (available on PC) with one main mechanic, and had a look at their stats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though there are not many people actively playing them<\/strong> unlike AAA or online games, their ratings are all very positive<\/strong>, which gives me hope for my possible game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/steamdb.info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ricky Haggett Lecture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game studio founder Ricky Haggett came in to give us a lecture about his experience with making games. Though he made it clear that he can’t speak for everyone, his advice and insight was incredibly useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike many other game studios it seems, his studio (Hollow Ponds) seems to have a very relaxed workflow compared to the stereotypical ‘crunch’ AAA games are well known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He put a big emphasis on not forcing<\/em> ideas, letting everyone chip in with ideas they had, and never putting anyone on a pedestal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After letting him play my current prototype (see end of Week 4) without telling him any context other than using arrow keys to move, he (to my surprise) had a lot of positive things to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Liked the camera angle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Thinks I should lean in to the sound effects and add even more, for example, adding ‘ouch’ sound randomly to movement to make spamming forward funnier (spamming will be needed to avoid spotlights).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Should change level design slightly to make it clear where players should\/can go.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Add shadows to boxes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Overall found it funny, “I have no notes”.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Before this I was pretty put off and sick of my prototype<\/strong> as I couldn’t get the rhythm mechanic to work<\/strong>, but after giving Ricky the context for my game he told me that he doesn’t think I even need to make it a rhythm game<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mason agreed, saying that she thinks that the HUD for the rhythm mechanic would actually obscure the players vision<\/strong> and take them out of the funny 3D experience<\/strong>, which would go against what I want for the game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    For sound effects, Ricky recommended looking at Baby Steps<\/em>, a comedic game in which the main character will moan and complain sometimes when walking<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is a similar thing I may want to add to my game<\/strong>, adding sound effects that only play every now and then to catch players off guard and hopefully add comedic value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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