Making a rhythm game, like 'A Dance of Fire and Ice Demo,' requires a unique blend of programming skills, artistic vision, and attention to detail. In this devlog, we'll explore the challenges and lessons learned in creating a high-quality rhythm game.

Starting from Scratch

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As a team of students from the University of Cambridge, California Institute of the Arts, and Berklee College of Music, we were selected for the Dare to be Digital 2015 competition. Our goal was to create a revamped version of 'A Dance of Fire and Ice,' a one-button rhythm game about turning geometry into music.

The programming challenges in creating this game were significant. We needed to design and implement a rhythm game engine that could handle complex level designs, multiple audio tracks, and real-time graphics rendering. Our artist, Kyle, is an expert in webcomics and brought his unique style to the project. Our composer, Jade, is a music student at Berklee College of Music and created an original soundtrack for the game.

From Prototype to Full-Blooded HD

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Our journey began with creating a prototype of the game using art from Willy Chyr's Relativity devlog as inspiration. We then refined our design and implemented the programming changes necessary to take the game from prototype to full-blown HD.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was balancing the level of difficulty in each level. 'A Dance of Fire and Ice' is a tough one-button rhythm game, requiring players to tap in rhythm to advance their planets on tiles of different sizes that correspond to the sound of the music. We needed to ensure that each level presented a unique challenge while still being accessible to players.

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In conclusion, making a rhythm game like 'A Dance of Fire and Ice Demo' requires dedication, creativity, and perseverance. Our team learned valuable lessons about programming, design, and teamwork during this project. If you're interested in creating your own rhythm game, we hope that our devlog has inspired you to take the leap.

A dance of fire and ice demo