48hr Game Making Challenge 2009 - 12 hours in

News from Yug - Saturday, 03 October 2009 @ 4:59am

Earlier Matt turned up to do a live podcast, which included such guests as Truna from the IGDA, John Passfield from 3 Blokes Studios (who is one of the guest judges), and Morgan Jaffit & Gordon Moyes who are one of the professional teams competing as their company Curious Bear.

Truna from the IGDA joins the AustralianGamer Podcast

Matt and Yug with John Passfield

However, it's now 4am, 12 hours in, and the excited shouting and laughter has died down to a slow murmer. There are casualties, people sleeping under desks, putting their heads down for a second that turns into hours, playing MMO's, and some people just leaving all together.

Chen and Matt - Chen planning to power through City of Heros for 48 hours

In the midst of the madness though, there are some impressive game concepts coming out of the three keywords - STORM, GIANT, LOVE. I've done a walk around and talked to 10 of the 20 teams to see where they're at - and discovered way more pornographic material than expected.

Milk & Pickles

Perhaps having the best incentive for staying awake, their namesake sits on their table, mocking those who's eyelids get heavy. See, they've made a pact that the first person to fall asleep has to drink and eat the milk and pickle.

The milk and pickles in question

Their game features a little aztec character making offerings during a storm

Overflow (or Orange Juice)

I was captivated by the 'Shadow of Colossus' giant climbing mechanic these guys were working on, until I took a look at the artists screen to be greated by some lovingly hand drawn cocks. That are apparently enemies. How this works into the game mechanics I don't actually want to know ... actually I do ... no, no I don't ...

Love?

Sleeping under the desk of the cock artist might not be the best idea

Preemptive Revenge

Featuring Tim from the AG forums, I don't know where the rest of their team was, but their game seemed pretty minimal at this early stage - although they seem pretty confident.

Something about growing square flowers with the rain

Sick Fish

A bunch of guys from Griffith, their game is all about how love is all about what's on the inside ... no matter how fat the chick is. Plus, for no reason I can gather, they're having half naked women fly in from the side of the screen. Awesome.

The animation of the guy chasing the girl was impressive

Atramentarious

1st year QUT students with the impossible to pronounce name, interesting spin on the love angle using paparazzi as the theme. Also one of the guys does card tricks, which I highly approve of.

She does not look happy!

Anger Issues

These guys are so professional they even have business cards. Mind you, they have no details or information on them other than they're logo (which does put them in the running to win the 'best group logo' prize Matt and I made up). Their game is about sheep love ...

An everlasting packed of tim tams ... still won't last 48 hours

PLAY

A very different approach, treating the concept of love more as 'attraction', and working on a multiplayer browser based java game. Impressive at the very least for the different direction and technology, and especially as they've lost a team member who claims to have gone to the Opera. Seriously.

Anyone who uses 'going to the Opera' as an excuse needs to be dealt with

Curious Bear

One of the 3 professional teams, made up of industry professionals such as Morgan Jaffit and Gordon Moyes, Gordon started to explain the game but through either lack of sleep or a desire to be coy, all I could get out of him regarding their game was 'Giant Robots getting married in the park'. Definately unique.

Cmon boys, you can stay awake!

SIF90

The reigning champions from the last 2 years have alot to prove, and in fine form their game seems to be coming together nicely, all about the love between a dragon giant and a young girl, and featuring 2 player co-operative play!

Cmon boys, you can keep them awake!

Monkey Something

The third professional team, made up primarily of ex-Pandemic staff, I have to say so far their game is looking extremely impressive, with a completely different concept and take that could be awesome if they get the 4 player element in place! Look forward to seeing more.

Just 2 left, the rest having deserted or fallen asleep!

And just for fun, a few other random photos that could just as easily be from Supanova as the 48hr Comp.