Xbox Game Studios Game Camp was based in 2020 on the assumption that extraordinary expertise resides in every single place. The purpose of this system is to allow folks from historically marginalized communities and non-traditional backgrounds to appreciate their potential within the gaming trade and develop thriving video games communities and industries in locations all around the world.
In this Q&A collection, we purpose to focus on the tales of Game Camp Alumni with distinctive sport creation journeys. Today, we might be chatting with the CEO & Creative Director of LemonJuice Game Studio Austin-Taylor Caldwell, about his expertise at Game Camp and his present challenge, Beyond the Nightlight, a 3D horror journey sport that sheds mild on psychological well being and dependancy.
Tell us about your self (if relevant: your crew and the sport you’re engaged on)?
My identify is Austin-Taylor Caldwell. Like most different people within the gaming trade, I grew up taking part in video video games. However, to consider making a profession in gaming was laughable to me from a younger age. I used to be raised within the poorest county in my state the place sources and connections to the tech trade have been extraordinarily far and few. Fast ahead to 2020, I made a decision to leap into the deep finish and based LemonJuice Game Studio to make cinematic video games inside the horror style. From solo growth to Game Camp, LemonJuice now stands at 20 members who’re working carefully collectively on our present title, Beyond the Nightlight. It is a 3D horror journey sport that facilities round psychological well being and dependancy in hopes to shine mild on the subject and doubtlessly assist these struggling with these sicknesses on daily basis.
Why did you determine to heart Beyond the Nightlight on psychological well being and dependancy?
Beyond the Nightlight facilities across the examine that after we die our brains have seven minutes of exercise left, throughout this time is when our life ‘flashes before our eyes.’ Our protagonist Jolene is in her closing seven minutes and doesn’t realize it but. She races by this odd world in a porcelain doll physique, chased by Death, to reclaim her reminiscence of what occurred to her and the way she will be able to get a second likelihood at life.
I misplaced my mom in 2019 to drug dependancy and that was in all probability the toughest level in my life. A 12 months later, I discovered from my therapist that I’ve each despair and nervousness…which didn’t assist the scenario. Beyond the Nightlight is constructed from actual trauma and experiences from actual folks to point out the gamers that do wrestle with related if not precise points, that they’re not alone.
“Xbox Game Studios Game Camp taught me things I would have otherwise taken 10 years to learn. Game Camp helped me identify my “superpower” in growth and give attention to that as an alternative of spreading myself skinny.”
Austin-Taylor Caldwell, CEO & Creative Director of LemonJuice Game Studio
Walk us by your sport creation journey earlier than you attended Xbox Game Studios Game Camp?
Before Game Camp, I taught myself sport design by Unreal Engine Documentation and a ton of YouTube. Working a full-time job made devoting time to study sport growth troublesome, however not inconceivable. I might get up a pair hours early to get by a couple of classes or add a brand new function to my challenge, then go into work and use my lunch to analysis numerous techniques or resolve some issues I’ll have run into that morning. Returning residence after work was once I actually put within the work by staying up method later than I ought to to proceed including options to my challenge and studying all the pieces I might to make a playable product.
What are a few of the key takeaways you discovered out of your expertise at Xbox Game Studios Game Camp?
Xbox Game Studios Game Camp taught me issues I might have in any other case taken 10 years to study. Game Camp helped me determine my “superpower” in growth and give attention to that as an alternative of spreading myself skinny attempting to be distinguished in each division. That alone is invaluable, however greater than that it additionally taught me methods to handle a crew, talk and community to ascertain lengthy lasting relationships, methods to create and handle a growth pipeline, and a lot extra. Game Camp actually modified my life.
What excites you in regards to the sport creation course of?
Seeing the primary prototype is a sense phrases can’t describe. Spending days on days crafting this world and seeing it come to life is enthralling. Directing that’s extraordinarily enjoyable to me and seeing others get impressed and watching their eyes mild up over a brand new thought they suggest is actually what makes sport growth so lovely.
What are some distinctive challenges your dev groups overcame? Were there any instruments/providers that helped overcome this?
The largest problem we confronted was switching our 2D challenge from Unity to the 3D challenge it’s now inside Unreal Engine. Having to rebuild the code in a distinct language took a bit to get off the bottom, however Unreal Engine Documentation helped us as a crew get our bearings collectively and now, we’re again up on the bottom and sprinting!
Tell us in regards to the instruments you’re utilizing for sport growth and why.
We are using Unreal Engine 5 and Quixel Megascans for Beyond the Nightlight . We determined to work inside Unreal Engine 5 as the quantity of instruments offered freed from price actually tip the scales on what we will accomplish. Plus, having Megascans that we will use with ease and simply import into Unreal Engine is superb for portray a really detailed and immersive surroundings.
Can you inform us about your expertise working with an Xbox Game Studios mentor and what you discovered from them in regards to the sport creation course of?
Working with our mentor, Rosa Dachtler, was an incredible expertise. She was extraordinarily useful and all the time obtainable to assist in any method she might. Particularly, she guided and supported us as we made an excessive change in manufacturing with solely 2 weeks of manufacturing time left. She taught us methods to construct a robust narrative round action-packed gameplay and the way departments can higher talk with one another all through the design course of.”
Now that you just’ve attended Xbox Game Studios Game Camp, what’s subsequent for LemonJuice?
Game Camp readied LemonJuice with the instruments and information wanted to dive headfirst into the trade. We are presently within the closing levels of wrapping up our prototype for Beyond the Nightlight. We intend to convey it to publishers so LemonJuice as a collective can work on this challenge full time and be outfitted with the required instruments to make it as lovely as we have envisioned. I’ve all the time dreamed huge, and it’s nonetheless my dream and purpose for my firm to turn out to be a 1st or 2nd social gathering studio for Xbox Game Studios.
To study extra about Xbox Game Studios Game Camp go to xbox.com/gamecamp.
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