Getting Started

Hello everyone!  This is Jamie O writing.  I'm excited to kick off the Natty Bo Hunt blog.  This is a developer blog, tracking the progress of a 5-person team created for the Game Design and Development Course at Saint Mary's College of Maryland.  There are three developers (including yours truly!) and two artists on the team--hopefully they will all get a chance to introduce themselves.

Right now, I don't have a lot of assets to show off--that'll definitely change as the semester goes on.  I want to get some of the concept art from Kristin Seymour; she's got some great sketches for us.  We developers have been hammering out our specifications, and gradually approaching the point of design and object composition.  But that's getting ahead of myself.

What is Natty Bo Hunt, anyway?  Well, here's a little bit from our proposal document to whet your appetite:

Natty Bo Hunt is a refreshing throwback to classic action-adventure platformers of the 80’s and 90’s.  Taking aim at the notorious Saint Mary’s custom, the game follows either Natty Bo or Natty Bo Girl, who is searching the SMCM campus on Easter night, hoping to find delicious National Bohemian beer hidden by upperclassmen.  As the player navigates a two-dimensional representation of the campus, they must dodge rule-minding Residential Assistants, buzz-killing Public Safety officers, Frisbee-throwing students, and predatory sea hawks.  Though these enemies may be challenging on their own, look out!  Drinking more and more beer will cause the screen to wobble and shake, throwing all but the most serious booze seekers.  Finally, the player must escape to a romantic interlude with their alternate before time runs out!

That's all I have for you now, but stay tuned!