Games

What Is A Game Developer?

Video game developers take the germ of a video game idea and build it into a playable game. Video game developers, or just plain games developers for short, write the code needed to bring a game to life. They can usually create a games development to suit a range of formats, including consoles, PCs web browsers and mobile phone applications.

The interesting thing about a traditional video game developer is that they will usually work closely with a video game designer, transforming their ideas and drawings into code to produce the final game. Here at JForth Designs, we cut out the middle man. We not only create the designs, but we also write the code.

The result? A seamless creative experience from start to finish!

Our Indie Game Developer Portfolio

JForth Designs has produced several proof of concept indie games. Here are more details about these projects:

Medieval Steve

You play as Steve, the wizard’s apprentice. Steve has been imbued with abilities and super strength; not bad for a once-rusty pile of armour! You must battle your way through the varying levels, collecting the broken shards of what we once called ‘home’.

Along the way, you will encounter enemies from other dimensions that are interested in one thing and one thing only: to destroy what’s left of the world. The world needs a hero. Can you be that hero?

Game Overview

Medieval Steve plays like the classic side-scrollers of the past. Simple controls, predictable enemies and collectables galore. You will feel like you are playing on a Sega Master System only the graphics are better and you have more than two buttons and… well, okay, it won’t be anything like a Master System – but it’s still fun!

You control Steve through five different worlds, starting with the bread and butter of any side-scroller, the lush, green grass levels, proudly dubbed: ‘The Grasslands’. There are traps, enemies, levers to touch, switches to squeeze – everything you would ever want!

Mission

Our mission was to complete this game and release it on one platform. Initially, that platform was Android. However, after much deliberation we decided to develop for PC first and then take the time to port it to Android.

After finishing the game, we realised that it should have been done the other way around. Trying to optimise the whole game to run smoothly on a phone is rather difficult as it happens! It is now our new mission to migrate Medieval Steve onto Android devices.

What Did We Learn?

Medieval Steve was our first game in Unreal Engine (UE4), meaning a lot of the time developing was spent learning the engine and learning their visual scripting language – Blueprints. The total development time was just over four years. About 12 months of that was spent away from the game because we began dreaming about Blueprints!

The mission for this game was to learn Unreal Engine and to take a game from concept, through development and to completion. One of the biggest killers of games for indie developers is not finishing the game. It may sound silly considering how much time is invested but a lot, and we mean a LOT, of developers start a game and don’t finish. They can essentially waste years of time on a project that never sees the light of day.

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Videos

Now Steve is also available for Android users on the google Play Store
(Sorry Apple users, no release yet. Maybe soon)
If any reviewers or Let’s player’s are looking to try the game, or record a Let’s Play video, please get in touch!
Here is the Press Kit should you need to dress up a thumbnail or have a few talking points about the game.

Butty Boy

Butty boy is an Android-based game on the Google Play Store. In the game, you are the delivery driver and you have to deliver sandwiches to the hungry masses, while avoiding obstacles and other vehicles. Butty Boy is an endless runner and your only task is to get the highest score you can and to see if you can make it onto the leader board.

If you do well, you will earn in-game currency which will allow you to unlock van skins and power-ups. There are seven skins available to choose from, including the A-Team van, the Mystery Machine and the Mutts Cutts van from Dumb and Dumber.

Game Overview

Butty Boy was created for two reasons: firstly, as a test to see if we could develop an app and deploy it onto the Google Play Store. Secondly, it was an homage to a friend. It’s a silly story really. However, a friend of ours makes the most incredible sandwiches. Not ‘run of the mill’ cheese butties, but, wonderful, varied, ‘I feel inadequate’ kind of sandwiches!

Due to his sandwich making abilities, we dubbed him ‘Butty Boy’ and that led us to the idea of creating a virtual world based around his sandwich-making empire, where he makes and delivers his own masterpieces. At JForth Designs, we’re definitely not afraid to use our imaginations and our sense of humour. Sometimes the silliest ideas turn out to be the best!

Mission

After playing for a while, you would earn enough in-game currency to purchase a new skin to play with. The skins are purely for aesthetic purposes and offer no abilities or enhancements in-game. We opted for this process as it gives the player a reason to continue playing and gives them an achievable goal.

While we do use in-game currency, we don’t ask for real money. There are no microtransactions. We strongly believe that free games should be free, with no hidden costs! Sure, we might have adverts in the top bar, but we will never ask for money from the player if our game is advertised as free.
Default Van
Free Candy
England Flag
A Team
Mystery Machine
Mutts Cutts
Ambulance

What Did We Learn?

With the experience of Medieval Steve under our belts, building Butty Boy specifically for Android was a much smoother and more logical process. You’d be surprised at how much of computer games development is trial, error and learned experience. So this time we had the relevant knowledge and skills needed to bring this mobile game to production.

Another valuable lesson from developing Butty Boy was the idea that you can take an admittedly goofy concept on paper and turn it into something brilliant. We created a highly playable and addictive video game. If someone tried to explain the concept of Mario Bros to you, you’d probably think they had issues! But often the wackiest ideas can produce really effective results – especially in games development.

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Where Can I Find A Game Developer Near Me?

If you’re looking for a game developer who combines design flair and coding skill, then JForth Designs offers the best of both worlds. Wherever you’re based in the UK or abroad, we can transform your ideas into beautiful, highly imaginative and supremely playable video games for just about any gaming platform.

Work with a freelance game developer who can deliver your video game project on time, on budget and to the highest possible standard. JForth Designs can help you to produce an indie game that you can be proud of.

Speak to JForth Designs Today

Our comprehensive graphic design services cover every aspect of the design process, combining the skills of a full-blown creative team from a single source. For the ultimate convenience, creativity and value for money, JForth Designs is a local freelance graphic designer you can depend on.
No matter how big or small your design project, JForth Designs can deliver exactly what you need and more. We pride ourselves on delivering an innovative, punctual and courteous design service that goes above and beyond what you would normally expect from a traditional design agency.
Contact us today to discuss your requirements in more detail or to arrange a free face-to-face consultation.
GET IN CONTACT
JForth Designs is a small Preston based design agency, with around 11 years experience in the design field; specialising in 3D renders, Motion Graphics and Video work.
© Copyright 2020 JForth Designs Ltd – Company No. 12744071
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