Devolution #3: Thumper (@AMaze2017)

A game like rhythm? Like audiovisual violence?

We are thrilled to welcome Thumper and Brian Gibson to our next Devolution event to explore the creative process behind the 7 years development of the game! And we are equally excited to partner with the amazing A MAZE. / Berlin 2017 and be part of three days of inspiration, skill, celebration and play!

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Thumper

Thumper is rhythm violence: classic rhythm-action, blistering speed, and brutal physicality. You are a space beetle. Brave the hellish void and confront a maniacal giant head from the future.

Thumper was developed by Brian Gibson and Marc Flury. The game started 2009 as a prototype during their time at Harmonix. When the game shaped out Brian and Marc decided to fund Drool LLC in 2013 and to develop the game further as their debut. Thumper was released in October 2016 on Steam, PS4 and PS VR and shortly after for Steam VR. Thumper will come to Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in spring 2017.


Brian Gibson & Drool

Drool is the team of Brian Gibson and Marc Flury.

Brian Gibson is a musician and artist living in Providence, Rhode Island. He is best known as the bassist for the band Lightning Bolt. He made all the art and music in Thumper and co-designed the game. He also enjoys making artwork about a polite and well mannered dog named Barkley.

Marc Flury is a programmer and designer.  He created Drool’s engine and co-designed Thumper. He helps organize the Seoul Indies meetup and the Busan Indie Connect festival. He reports as a foreign correspondent on Chicago’s best radio show, This Is Hell.


See also: amazeberlin2017.sched.com/?s=devolution

The Devolution of Thumper –
An Exhibition

27. & 28. April 2017 – 10am to 7pm

Exhibition of the 7 year development process of Thumper. More than 10 playable prototypes, in between versions and level editors. Track down the evolution of Thumper, its features and aesthetics by comparing versions to each other.


Exhibition Tours by Brian Gibson

27. April 2017 – 4pm
28. April 2017 – 11am

For the ultimate insight into the development of Thumper and its aesthetics. Guided tours through the exhibition by one of the games designers. Complementing the exhibited versions and level editors by background information, secrets and anecdotes.


The Devolution of Thumper –
In Conversation: Brian Gibson

28. April 2017 – 2:30pm

An in-depth interview with Brian Gibson about the development of Thumper. How to make a game like rhythm, like audiovisual violence?

How did the game change during its development? Why? Which features were added? Which were taken away? When? What were the interesting design challenges? What was the original vision of the game? How did the idea emerge? How did certain features evolved into their final version?

Devolution

Devolution is a game design focused exhibition / event exploring the creative process and challenges of game development. Each edition focalises on the evolution of a game through the exhibition of prototypes and interim versions and an in-depth conversation with the developers.

How did the game change during its development? Why? Which features were added? Which were taken away? When? What were the interesting design challenges? What was the original vision of the game? How did the idea emerge? How did certain features evolved into their final version? How did testing and feedback affect the game? What the hell is creativity? What is the connection of all this to business and technology? What might the future hold?

Devolution #3: Thumper is a cooperation between A MAZE. / Berlin 2017, Drool LLC and Game Design // BTK.
It is curated and organized by Csongor Baranyai and a team of students:
Carola Brozio / Mascha Camino / Christopher Etmer / Zoe Koc / Lenio Pereira Alves / Timo Ruberg / Myriel Schigiol / Philipp Schmitz / Anne Zarnecke

More…


A MAZE. / Berlin 2017

6th International Independent Games and Playful Media Festival
April 26 – 29, 2017

www.amaze-berlin.de

A MAZE. / Berlin is an international platform for unique and experimental games, playful media and interactive digital art that invites professionals and creatives from various fields to exchange their knowledge and visions, presenting their projects, playing and forming contacts to collaborate on future projects.

You can expect three days of inspiration, skill, celebration and play.


Important!

As we are part of A MAZE. / Berlin 2017, you will have to have a Festival Ticket to enter Devolution #3: Thumper! It’s worth it!