Game Development
Samuel Tomé - Game Developer, Artist
"Tonight" was the 1st place winning game from Flowjam 2020, a world-wide online gamejam and competition to create a videogame in just 2 weeks under a theme, using the Flowlab game engine.
The inspiration behind my game "Tonight" stems from the comforting presence Teddy Bears and cherished toys give to children who fear the dark.
In this game, players assume the role of a heroic Teddy Bear who defends its owner from the "Darkness" and its menacing monsters using awesome dance moves.
The Game's concept and idea
The Flowjam 2020 game jam introduced the theme "Light & Darkness" to challenge and inspire participating developers to create games aligned with this thematic prompt.
In my game, I integrated the theme by designing the Player character as the embodiment of "Light," representing goodness, while the opposing forces of "Darkness" symbolized the enemies or antagonistic elements. Additionally, I included multiple thematic references across various aspects of the game.
For instance, the "Health Points" for both sides are symbolized by a shrinking spotlight that diminishes each time the dancer misses a beat or loses a dance battle, reinforcing the theme within the gameplay.
If the Lights go out on their side, the dancer is out!
The Creation Process
After conceiving the concept, I began by sketching out ideas for character designs, environments, and dance moves that would harmonize with the game's playful theme.
Next, I swiftly moved into the prototyping phase, where I implemented basic sprites and mechanics to test the game's core functionality and rhythm mechanics.
As the game took shape, I focused on enhancing its visual appeal, refining character animations, and polishing the overall aesthetics. This involved adding vibrant colors, detailed backgrounds, and charming visual effects to bring the Teddy Bear's dance battles to life.
To elevate the player experience, I incorporated 'juice'—small but impactful details like satisfying sound effects, smooth transitions, and dynamic feedback. The final stage of development involved expanding the game with additional levels and optimizing performance to ensure a seamless and enjoyable gameplay experience.
Thank you!
