100 Hours to Shanghai
19 days ago
- #game-development
- #travel
- #hackathon
- Esther Ward received an invitation to join the Juice challenge, which involved creating a 30+ minute languageless game in 100 hours for a chance to present it in Shanghai.
- She formed a team with friends: Esther (coder, artist), Layla Salloum (graphic designer, animator), Luca Salloum (coder, composer), and Peter McNish (graphic designer).
- Their game, Dust and Dawn, was inspired by Hollow Knight and featured a soot sprite cleaning a polluted world, though they had to simplify the concept due to time constraints.
- Developing the game was challenging, especially coding features like movement, inventory, and quests, with some elements taking up to 10 hours to implement.
- Despite the challenges, they completed the game and traveled to Shanghai, where they joined 90 other participants from around the world.
- In Shanghai, they showcased their game at Bottle Dream, interacted with locals, and received positive feedback, including from a young girl who loved Dust and Dawn.
- The trip included cultural experiences, such as visiting an electronics market, exploring the city, and attending workshops, culminating in a game showcase and awards ceremony.
- Esther reflected on the experience as transformative, proving her ability to tackle difficult projects and connecting with like-minded individuals globally.