Dance through Design
For my first chart mapping project, this was quite a treat. I was tasked with completing the hardest difficulty chart in the game
Creating a difficult level meant testing limits beyond my current skill level as a player. I took advantage of the great level design tools to adjust timing and test patterns in slow motion.
The process included outlining an exhaustive list of Possible permutations and patterns, and a system to relate melodic ideas to gameplay blocks.
First and most important, was to understand the desire of the player. There is an instinctual urge while playing rhythm games to feel one with the song. There are melodic patterns and memorable sections which the player will be expecting. The question is, how do we convert these musical sections into tactile gameplay?
It was essential to iterate on a list of some of the possible permutations and patterns, and a system to relate melodic ideas to gameplay blocks. Below we outlined possible transformations and shapes that patterns could take. Different pitches, rhythm and directionality in a melody can be transferrable to gameplay blocks by transforming sequences accordingly. Key changes, Pauses between the notes, and equally pauses between moments of intense difficulty, were key to giving the player the opportunity to observe difficult patterns without getting overwhelmed.
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