Synth Run is a speedy runner game that puts you in control of a rather *out of control* ship that hurtles towards total oblivion. Guide it over, around or whichever way you damn please to avoid various obstacles and avoid said total oblivion!
Solo developed and published by myself, Synth Run was released on Steam on 30th July 2021. The game had a rather long and arduous development cycle given its scope, which will be descreibed below.
The game began development as a simple proof of concept used to develop my mobile development skills. Utilising touch on android to control the game character. At this point the game was simply a cube, moving down a platform being moved left and right by holding either sid eof the mobile device’s screen respectivley.
Once I had refined these controls I turned my attention to the creative aspects of the game, developing it stylistically. Through messing around with both emmision textures and skybox lighting.
It didnt take long after this for the creative vision for the game came fully into fruition. A fast paced, challenging level based runner with simplistic art styles and VFX, combined with a thumping synthwave soundtrack.
I learned shortly after it was going to be more difficult and time consuming to publish to android that i had anticipated. Given this knowledge, i pivoted development to focus on getting a functioning build with revamped controls for the windows platform with the intention to publish either on Itch or Steam.
For the next month roughly I finished the last couple levels and focused my effors mostly on optimization, ensuring the game would run effectivley on its intended platform. It was during this time i decided the game was to be published on steam rather than itch.
Finally after a short, small marketing spree the game launched on steam. Not necisarily to record breaking numbers, but none the less a personal achievement for myself that taught me many lesons in managing expectations, project management and a myriad of others.
The game is available on steam for a very reasonable £2.89 now, alternativley wishlist and keep an eye out for sales that it may be featured in. Check it out below:
gruffers.studio 
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