How I Made a Game on hyperPad
About Me
My name is Yasad. I'm a 20-year-old entrepreneur, game designer, and graphic artist, and I love making enjoyable experiences that expand people's knowledge and bring creators together.
I started my journey in digital art when I was a kid. I was homeschooled from K-12, so I got to explore technology, mathematics, and animation freely throughout the day. I was encouraged to find books and online courses about my interests.
For years I wanted to launch my own business. As a pre-teen, I spent most of the school day tinkering with animation, coding, and graphic design. I was always fascinated by animals, nature, and educational technology, so most of my childhood games and animations centered on those themes.
Today, I'm the founder of YasadCreativeStudios and my game studio, Sleepy Turtledove Games. I first came up with these ideas in middle school and finally got the seed funding to launch the studio when I was 18. I'm very excited to use hyperPad's game engine to launch my company's first game. It's been a long time in the making!
How I Found hyperPad
Honestly, I feel like hyperPad found me! It's been part of my life for years, and I've grown up alongside it. When I first discovered hyperPad as a kid, I dreamed of releasing a game made with it. I found it on the Apple App Store over a decade ago, and I've used it ever since. This year, for the first time, I'm taking a hyperPad game all the way from planning to release, and it launches on the App Store soon.
What is the Game About?
My game is called Star Glide, an action-packed, endless underwater runner. Right now, it's available on the hyperPad Hub. You play as an echinoderm (a starfish, sea cucumber, urchin, and so on), gliding and swimming endlessly across the ocean floor. You dodge hazards and collect seashells to unlock power-ups.
The game is also inspired by real-life animal behaviors, so you learn about the ocean while you collect coins and beat your high score.
My Inspiration, How I Got Started
Sea life and ocean exploration have always been a huge interest of mine. I'm a big fan of the games Super Starfish and Sling Kong (and the movie Finding Nemo), and years ago I started an octopus game called High Eight.
I couldn't quite get the game mechanics and graphics the way I wanted, so I put it on pause as life got busy.
Last year, my sibling had a health emergency. I wanted to do something positive while dealing with that scary moment, so I got back into making games and put my love of design and ocean life to work. I knew it was important to do something I loved, and Star Glide was officially born.
What's Next
Keep an eye out for a pre-release on the App Store in the next few months! I'd love for you to download the app when it comes out. You can also follow me on all major social media at @TurtledoveGames and subscribe to my YouTube channel (@TurtledoveGamesYT) for updates. I always welcome playtesters on the hyperPad Hub (@Ya7), so I can keep making the game better before and after its App Store release.
