Demon Turf and the art of self-expression through movement


What has fascinated me the most about video games, elevating me beyond other mediums for me, was how the player is directly involved and influences how the game progresses. Players express themselves through game mechanics! But the way it is handled is completely different depending on the genre. An adventure game allows players to express themselves through dialogue options. A fighter allows the player to express himself through an intricate dance of button combinations and reactions. A racer allows the player to express themselves through their choice of car and driving style. And a 3D platform allows the player to express themselves through the simple act of movement.

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This understanding is what made the genre so special to me. Special enough to tackle it with my spectacular team, experience it first-hand, and see how we can deeply explore that core idea. Each genre has its form of expression, which often comes with a certain level of complexity, but does it simply move around the world? That is as fundamental as possible, and that is precisely why it is so exciting for me. It’s wonderfully simple and accessible, but hides an incredible amount of depth! So how exactly is it accomplished? It’s all about the details of giving the player a wealth of options on how to progress without requiring any specific solutions.

Let’s say the player needs to climb some kind of tower. Right off the bat, does the player run to him? Or take a casual walk first? Do they start doing a triple jump, followed by a double jump to get to the first ledge? Or do they instead perform a triangle jump, followed by a wall jump to jump to the next platform entirely? Do they spin carefully to get over some moving platforms or do they super jump to get past it faster? The point is that the player analyzes how he wants to move beyond a space and then acts on it in his own style! Giving the player options, both satisfying and easy to perform, is key. Add an extra layer of depth by combining movements in smart ways and you’ll get even closer to that sense of self-expression through movement.

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With Demonic lawn We launched a demo a while ago, which included weekly challenges, and through it we developed a thriving sprinting community. It is no exaggeration to say that the playing styles among our best runners were so diverse, that I could differentiate them and tell you which recordings are of which runner simply by observing their movement style. And that is something very special for me and for our team. Making the move so effortless, and its abundance of options connecting together so seamlessly, that people develop their own styles while feeling tough all the time. Both beginners and experts!

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With that in mind, we also tried to add a good number of accessibility options so that hopefully no one feels left out, even when the levels get particularly challenging. This involved implementing button mapping, colorblind modes, and a host of gameplay options. It also meant that we had to find a solution if you are simply stuck and cannot clear a level despite your best efforts! That’s where the “revolutionaries” come in! For a small fee for collectible candy, you can ask them to level up for you! Don’t worry though, you can get your candy back at any time if you try the level again later! We also add game mods that you can buy to modify your movements, as well as dyes and pets to customize your appearance. Beebz, the protagonist, not only expresses your movements, but will also vibrate your styles!

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We really put our heart and soul into this game. It’s loaded with content and challenges, has a world full of wacky characters, and is, at its core, trying to be the most fun 3D platforming experience you can ever have. Demonic lawn launches today and I can’t wait to see everyone express themselves across the lawn to take on the Demon King. Good luck and most importantly: have fun!

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Demonic lawn

The Demon World is inhabited by all kinds of evil men … Most of them grouped into gangs that fight for dominance, each led by their own boss. However, even these bad guys are no match for the Demon King himself! Instead, the task falls to Beebz, a young demon barely a thousand years old, who decides it’s time for her to kick all the territory’s leaders in the butt and become the Demon Queen. • A unique aesthetic that combines the expressiveness of 2D illustrations with the depth and sense of exploration that 3D environments can offer! • A world full of humor and style, from the music accompanied by the protagonist’s rap to the colorful characters that inhabit the world! • A unique version of the progression! Take a victory lap and explore previously beaten levels to discover your liberated state, with many mechanical and environmental changes to discover. Or take some time off in the central city by taking on side quests and various other challenges. • Perform some clever platforming combinations or get physical with a special physics-driven combat system that adds to the chaos and fun. Push, pull and spin your enemies out of your way. • A different view of the control points, freeing the player to place them wherever they want. Show off without them for a perfect run, or prepare one for a challenging section. • Unique challenges like “Photo Hunt” mode where you are tasked with taking pictures of hidden places and surprising moments! Or just take photos and selfies for fun and share them on all social networks! • An impressive collection of buyable mods that can be combined in clever ways to completely change your playstyle! Or you could buy some dyes and pets instead, the world is your oyster! • Tons of carefully designed levels constantly introducing new challenges, as well as engaging bosses full of character and life! Until Beebz gets to them … From the creators of Slime-san comes their new creation! The team used everything they learned from their 2D platformer to take this 3D platformer to the next level!

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