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Pixel Press wants to turn your drawings into video game levels
Did you design video game levels when you were a kid? Growing up in the era of the SNES and Genesis, I spent countless hours drawing pits of fire and dragon's lairs, dreaming of the day when I could lead a pixelated hero to victory over the villain who rules my levels. It was a nice dream, but it was out of reach when I was 10. While development has gotten easier in the time since, it still requires you too know something about coding. But Pixel Press is aiming to fix that. Pixel Press is a mobile and web app that lets users design their own video game levels from their own drawings. The project recently finished its initial Kickstarter funding campaign, surpassing the original funding goal by US$8,950 dollars. The app's level creator lets you design five floors of a video game level, much like the different stages found in Super Mario Bros., which saw you move across fields, then underground, then back through fields, until you finally ended up at the castle of the boss. Simply draw your level map on the free Sketch Kit paper provided by Pixel Press and draw your level. Using a simple system of shorthand, you can add platforms, spikes, traps and portals. When you're done, snap a picture of your level with your iOS device and the app digitizes your drawing into a customizable world. With the aid of the app's design tools, you can color in your level as well as add textures, music, sound effects, different characters and fine details. Once you finish, play your level and/or share it with others in the apps community as you try your hand at the work of other users. Upgrades to the app, including new templates and level skins, will be available using in-game credits. When asked by Kickstarter supporters to explain if Pixel Press is going to be ruined dominated with in-app purchases, the developers explained their system accordingly: A lot of users are wondering if Pixel Press will be like many of the other games out there, where in-app purchasing dominates the experience. Pixel Press will work something like this: Items like new level skin packs will be available periodically, you can buy these to use for your levels OR you can download them for free using the credits/points you earn for playing other peoples levels, submitting levels, etc. Given how much potential this app has to allow me to fulfill the childhood dream of building my own video game, I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt. You can watch a trailer for Pixel Press below. While it's still months from release, its successful Kickstarter campaign makes this as good a time as any to put it on your radar. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Crowdfund Bookie, June 9 - 15: Pixel Press, Tek Recon, Energy Hook
The Crowdfund Bookie crunches data from select successful Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns that ended during the week and produces pretty charts for you to look at. This week in crowdfunding, the Kickstarter campaigns for Pixel Press, Spintires, Tek Recon, Energy Hook, Paranormal: The Town and Terrashift Tactics ended. Platforming game creator app Pixel Press earned the most money this week ($108,950), and had the most backers of the group, with 2,256 people funding the project. Tek Recon, an augmented reality FPS app for those that still love tangible, Nerf-like soft projectile guns had the highest average pledge per person, with each funder averaging $130.33. Check out the results and our charts after the break.
Pixel Press coming to Android, pending Kickstarter success
In a recent Kickstarter update, developer Roundthird announced that its draw-your-own-game app Pixel Press will launch for both Android and iOS devices, once its funding goal of $100,000 is met. Originally announced as an iOS exclusive, Pixel Press will now debut for Android in 2014 if funding succeeds. Roundthird will ramp up production for a simultaneous iOS and Android launch in December of this year if funding reaches a newly announced stretch goal of $125,000. To create platforming challenges within Pixel Press, players start by drawing level layouts on printable graph paper. These layouts can then be imported and made playable by uploading a photo of the finished design. The app is aimed at students wishing to enter game development; a $40 "teacher package" reward tier includes multiple copies of Pixel Press and access to online educational resources. Currently, Pixel Press backers have pledged over $33,000, as 21 days remain in Roundthird's funding campaign.
PSA: Pixel Press Kickstarter is live
The Kickstarter for Pixel Press is now live. As we wrote last week, the app allows iOS devices to scan level designs drawn on special graph paper, automatically turning them into a playable platformer. Once scanned, users will be able to adjust textures and music using either pre-installed assets or their own custom work. Users will then be able to share their levels with other Pixel Press users. Developer Roundthird is seeking $100,000 to fund the project.
Pixel Press creates games from your drawings
Maybe, when you were a kid – or currently, if you are a kid – you used to draw your favorite video games. Maybe you designed your own levels, sketching them out on notebooks instead of paying attention in science class (sorry Mrs. Brown!). If you did, Pixel Press might be the most magical thing you'll hear about today. Pixel Press is an application that works across computers and iOS devices to transform drawings into video game levels. All would-be designers have to do is print off a special sheet using a printer, draw detailed levels onto the grid (like graph paper), and scan the sheet using an iPhone or iPad. Once uploaded, the level can be edited using a computer, allowing designers to apply customized graphics and sound and, finally, share the level with other Pixel Press users. The simple platform game that the app creates doesn't appear to be very complex, but it also requires no coding skills, and it's designed to appeal to kids and families. A Kickstarter for Pixel Press will launch on May 7. Check out a more detailed tutorial video after the break.
