Kangaroo Kickboxing
Services

– User Testing
– Angular Js
– Node Js
– Photoshop

Deliverables

– App Design
– Business Analysis
– Business Strategy

Client

Apple

Link
Website

About

Inspired by the arcade-style of the original Mortal Kombat games, Kangaroo Kickboxing is a 2D fighting game made for iOS devices. As one might guess, Kangaroo Kickboxing features an Australian flair. So with that in mind, our client wanted to highlight different territories in Australia with each round of fights. The game also features diverse characters, special weapons, and the opportunity to participate in tournaments with people all over the world!

Challenges

To really make Kangaroo Kickboxing stand out in the world of iOS game development, our client requested some specific functions, including simple controls, multiplayer functionality, and the ability for players to customize their kangaroo characters. Our team had to work out building different kangaroo abilities into the platform without overcomplicating the game, keeping it in the casual genre. Our client also wanted the ability for players to paste their own photos on their kangaroo characters.

Approach

As the programmer responsible for the entire game, I first had to create a proper game design document and include all of the necessary details for the game. This step was essential to ensure that our Artist, UI Designer, Project Manager, and I were all on the same page. The next step was to find an animation system that would best fit our game design, as we found that utilizing Sprite animations would not be a suitable route for this project.
I decided to use Spine’s skeleton animation system for Unity. Using Spine’s animation system would allow us to create some fantastic 2D animations while maintaining an efficient workflow for both visual creation and editing and maintaining the game. However, Spine was still relatively new to the market at this point, so using their technology required a little more effort
and communication. I carried out many experiments with Spine creation on my own and had to get support from Spine developers throughout the animation process.
To create more diversity within the fights and allow more character customization, we introduced different weapon types available to purchase within the Kangaroo Kickboxing app. And of course, we integrated the photo customization feature, replacing the kangaroo’s face with the player’s own picture. Although I was not a massive fan of how the photo feature turned out aesthetically, figuring out the technical aspects was still a noteworthy and enjoyable experience.
Implementing multiplayer functionality was another significant aspect of the project. Our approach honored the fact that Kangaroo Kickboxing is a casual mobile game. So with that in mind, we decided to use the Photon PUN plugin for the backend. It was an easy and cost-effective option for this project and would have the best outcome for players from around the world to tournament with one another. On the other hand, I still had to do a lot of backend optimization to avoid network lag since it is a multiplayer fighting game that functions in real-time.
And lastly, we added social elements to develop more of a community around Kangaroo Kickboxing. We created access to Facebook leaderboards and the ability to challenge Facebook friends to a fighting match.