My Gameboy Game is Ready for Market

What started as a fun little challenge during a game jam over a year and a half ago, has turned into a rather exciting project. Back then, I entered a competition that challenged developers to create a Gameboy game within three months. I'd previously experimented with GB Stdio to make a few little fun projects that run on the Gameboy but I now wanted to build a full game using the software and the game jam seemed an ideal way to help me focus. Squirrel Falls was the result.

The Beginning

When I first signed up for the game jam, my goal was simple: make something fun and creative within the constraints of the Gameboy's hardware. Those limitations and a double-edged sword - on one hand they can be really restrictive but on the other, they force you to find creative workarounds which is what I love doing. 


The response from the game jam community was encouraging. It was so inspiring to see other developers’ creations and hear their feedback on my little project. But the real game-changer came after the jam ended. Bitmap Soft, one of the sponsors, reached out to me. They loved the concept of Squirrel Falls and wanted to know if I’d be interested in polishing it up for an official release.

A Big Decision

I’ll be honest: when Bitmap Soft first got in touch, I was excited but also a bit nervous. Making games has always been something I do because I enjoy it, I was worried if I came on board with them and the focus shifted, would that spoil things at all? Would the shift in focus from personal project to market-ready product take the fun away?

Squirrel Falls Comes to Life

Now, over a year and a half since I first started, Squirrel Falls is officially in production! Seeing it go from a small jam project to a fully-fledged game has been a surreal experience. The amount of time, energy, and love that’s gone into it has really paid off, and I’m so proud of what it’s become.

To make things even cooler, I built a bespoke arcade cabinet for the game! It’s been a fun side project, and it’s perfect for letting people sample Squirrel Falls in a really unique way. I’m hoping to take the cabinet to events in the future.




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