Creating a Game on a PlayStation 4

Game development can be quite the challenge, especially to 17-year old me that didn't know anything about it. Luckily, Dreams made it so accessible and enjoyable, that I quickly fell in love with the process of game creation. Using the book LevelUp! by Scott Rodgers as my game design guide, I set off to make B-4, a linear single-player game, inspired by the Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper series.

When I started, Dreams had just been released and resources on how to use their game creation system were incredibly scarce.  As a result, I had to be resourceful. I’d watch the Media Molecule dev streams, any Youtube tutorial I could find, and completed all the in-game tutorials to learn how to use the tools that the engine offered. I even had a small Youtuber help me out along the way. It didn't take long before I was transforming my ideas from notes and sketches, to gameplay. I became quite good at modelling, making all sorts of environments as I envisioned completing an entire level (as shown in the environment screenshots from the game). I had a complex narrative and programmed radioactive rat enemies, which were led by the Rat King. This would be my first reality check into game scope, and how much time and effort goes into making something that you can be proud of. Eventually, B-4 would help to get me accepted into Sheridan's Bachelor of Game Design program.