Dancing Troll

Dancing Troll is a simple rhythm game based on the myth of the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. The player takes control of a troll guarding his bridge, who attempts to use his dancing skills to intimidate the goats into not passing. 

Description of Work:

My work for this game started with creating 2 tracks that could be used in a rhythm-game setting: an easy track and a more difficult one. I decided to do this with a subtractive synthesizer made in a modular synthesis software called VCVRack, as I wanted a more simple sound and timbre instead of something incredibly intense. I also used software called Quaver to map out the charts that would be used for the songs in a rhythm game, and converted these charts to .qua files for the programming team to implement into the game. In addition, I created the game's UI and general aesthetic, opting for something more lighthearted and silly; something that didn't seek to take itself too seriously. 

Artistic Statement:

As this game was created over the course of a weekend, I wanted to make something simple and lighthearted. I didn't want to do something overly complicated, or something that took itself too seriously, but rather a silly game with a simple core game loop. And so, the idea of Dancing Troll was created: a rhythm game where the main mechanic is that the troll on the bridge moves based on your inputs. I found this to be amusing to watch, and felt that it would create a very entertaining playthrough, combined with the simple emoji art and children's fantasy setting. As for the music, to match this energy, I felt it would be out of place to have music that sounded completely refined. So, I tried my best to make the timbres of sounds simple, which I accomplished through the use of a single subtractive synthesis patch made in VCV Rack. Ultimately, my hopes were that the player would find the game amusing and cute, a simple 15-minute bubble of mirth before going back to their day-to-day life. 

All Audio Assets created by myself.

Visual Documentation: