SIP Blog: Holding steady – 7/14/23

Holding steady

by Henry Cecchini, Vassar College ’25

We’ve come to the point in the summer where production is ramping up, now that the end is in sight. Our challenge is avoiding crunch while staying on track to finish our games. Scope is as important here as it’s ever been; the Corn Dogs had to reckon recently with the realization that we don’t have enough time to implement all our ideas about the setting. Because of this, we made the decision to cut an area of the game from our plans. Scaling down means that we’ll be able to focus our attention better on making the existing levels as polished as they can be.

This week, we’re facing some new and exciting challenges. For one, our builds are out on the Google Play Store, which means they need names, descriptions, and icons. And a trailer. We don’t have much time to work on this, and we also don’t have much time to keep working on our games. Fortunately, the Corn Dogs are done with the first “world” of our game, and well underway implementing the second, which will be the only other full area. Since we’re making a one-button platformer with a very limited number of mechanics, it’s vital for the gameplay to be engaging and well-considered. We’ve been working on level design and art direction lately, trying to ensure that the mechanics and setting reflect the narrative.

Recently, we’ve had plenty of visitors, and there have been lots of events to attend. These lecturers, playtesters, and miscellaneous guests provide excellent opportunities for networking and learning more about the video game industry. And the SIP pool party on Wednesday was a welcome break, as we got to cool off, enjoy some barbecue, and chat with SIP members past and present. (Your unfortunate correspondent also met a number of mosquitoes.)

This summer’s finish line is coming closer, but there’s plenty more to be done in the remaining weeks. With this in mind, we want to make sure that we have a healthy relationship with our work as the big push starts.