What’s the idea?

a) Introduction

The name of this project is „Locked“, which sounds a bit dark, but indeed it isn’t. To get an easy explanation for this, just imagine a couple of indie game developers.

b) Setting and plot

So, take a closer look to your characters you just imagined. They’re just at their working place, designing, programming and planning, when suddenly they get sucked into their computers. From now on it gets nifty – anyone of them is at a different place in the game, they were creating. It turns out, that they have to find each other, in order to get back to reality.

c) Design and aesthetics

The games bases on a simple 2 dimensional pixel-look, consisting of one colored shapes and without outlines - like for examlpe “Spacejacked”. To go deeper, the graphics bring the illusion of a retro side-scroller, with 3 dimensional ground to walk on. A great example for this would be the „Unity 2D Power“-video, as this is also my favourite engine-choice for this kind of games.

d) Gameplay and mechanics

Now, as there are many games of this kind out there, I was thinking about something new and fresh. Well, the idea of multiple playable characters brought me onto something – as a certain amount of personalities covers lots of possibilities, there will nearly always be one of them, which goes well with the personality of the guy, playing the game. Anyone can identify with one character in particular, making it the most fun to play with that one. But that’s not the key. Change is. Even clearer - changing the character every five or ten minutes gives one the sensation of progressing simultaneously and the most important thing: awaiting to play your favourite character again. Apart of that every developer has some pretty hilarious special abilties, they’re all different in general. They feel like different worlds to play.

What do we want from you?

If you are a pixel-artist, searching for a team to join, just post into this thread. We are open to also hire up to three or four people. What you’re gonna get for your work wont be money - we can’t offer this, we’re both under 18 - but a good and important role in the development of this game in any area. We will treat you as normal group members, not as people who just do their job for us. That’d be kinda selfish, ain’t it? Instead you’re going to be pleased to give ideas, criticism and inputs, to help the game to evolve.

If you just want to do your sprites and not join the team for any reason, we still can’t offer you anything than credit and a big “thank you”.

To conclude, we hope to get some motivated people here and maybe learn some friendly folks!

Greetings - Diphtong studios!