Spacetriss Roadmap

ABOUT

Genre:: Arcade, Puzzle Shooter, Retro
Release Date:: To Be Determined
Mood:: Nostalgic, Action-Packed, Futuristic, Fun, Hopeful, Suspenseful, Retro Synth
Platform:: Nintendo Switch, macOS, PC
Estimated Playtime:: 10-12 hours (base game), infinite in endless mode
Retail Price:: $8.00
In-App Purchases:: Optional cosmetic items and bonus levels (TBD)
Rating:: E for Everyone
Description:: Spacetriss combines the fast-paced strategy of Tetris with the relentless action of Space Invaders in a retro-futuristic arcade experience. Match colors to clear falling blocks, unlock powerful combos, and defend against waves of extraterrestrial invaders. With a unique blend of nostalgic visuals and modern mechanics, Spacetriss offers a one-of-a-kind gaming experience that challenges players’ reflexes and strategy.
Preview Design Pitch for Apple Arcade (PDF): Preview Design Pitch for Apple Arcade (PDF)
Task Tracker List: Spacetriss Task Tracker
Marketing: Marketing Plan (PDF)
Playthrough Demo (5 mins): Watch a 5-Minute Playthrough
Play Demo: Play Game >

GALLERY

Note: some of these images may have been generated by Bing Image Creator.

FEATURES

Out of control match-3 color puzzle shooting mechanics.
Unlock bonus items like bombs, stars, meteors, aliens (maybe) and more!
Choose between 2D Classic Mode or 3D Remix for a fresh experience.
Epic boss battles: defeat block-shaped enemies by matching their colors before the round ends.
Power Ups: Harness the might of lasers, missiles, and more with dropped item bonuses on match.

LET'S GET REAL

Originally launched for the web in 2011, Spacetriss has been reimagined twice—once for iCade and again for iPad. Looking ahead, our goal is to bring Spacetriss to all platforms, starting with an HTML5 version and eventually transitioning to Unity for broader compatibility and enhanced features.

DIRECTION

Drawing inspiration from classic 80s and early 90s arcade games, Spacetriss began with an Atari 2600 aesthetic but has evolved into a seamless blend of 8-bit and 16-bit charm. Our vision combines a retro-futuristic design with strong colors and bold shapes, creating a visually striking contrast to the game’s dark and tense atmosphere. The soundtrack will fuse old-school arcade vibes with techno remixes, enhancing the high-energy, immersive experience.

The following games serve as inspiration:

Space Invaders
Tetris
Galaga
Bejeweled
Space Harrier
Mega Man
Pitfall
Geometry Wars

MOOD

Spacetriss captures a unique mix of futurism, suspense, silliness, and a touch of horror. While fast-paced action and high-stakes tension drive the gameplay, we aim to balance these moments with levity, humor, and somber interludes of rest to provide a dynamic and emotionally engaging experience.

PRIORITIES

MENUS

MODES

LEVELS

MECHANICS

ENVIRONMENTS

FX (Particles)

CHARACTERS

Power Ups

Items

Note: We might make this a separate page due to how large and robust this list can get

Audio

GAMEPLAY

Classic Mode

This mode is the 2D version of our game, where players match colors to clear blocks and prevent them from reaching the bottom of the screen. It's a fast-paced, action-packed experience with a still camera in the frame.

Level One

The first level is a slow paced introduction to the game with the goal of building player confidence and introducing a default theme. The level is designed to be easy to complete, with a focus on teaching players the basics of color matching and block clearing. In theory we can use the space background.

At the end of the first level, players encounter the first boss, Blockskull, who challenges players to think more strategically and react more quickly to the increasing difficulty.

Color Match

The core mechanic of Spacetriss, color matching, requires players to shoot blocks of the same color to clear them from the screen. Players must think quickly and strategically to prevent blocks from reaching the bottom of the screen.

Blockopedia

The following are items that drop in the game. It's more accurate to call them game elements or "blocks".

Explosion FX

The explosion FX is a visual effect that occurs when a block is destroyed, creating a burst of particles and light. The explosion FX adds impact and excitement to the gameplay, enhancing the player's experience. We'll try to keep it within the 8-bit or 16-bit aesthetic.

Bonus Item Mechanic

Bonus items are special items that players can collect to earn extra points, and gain an advantage in the game. Bonus items can include bombs, stars, meteors, and other valuable items that enhance the player's experience. Among them is the Block star, when it lands in the right color, it can clear all blocks of that color on screen.

Bonus Library

Every so often the spawner drops items for bonus points. The following are items that drop in the game.

Level Two

The second level is a slightly faster pace than the first, with a new background. It might be a desert theme. The goal is to challenge players to think more strategically and react more quickly to the increasing difficulty.

At the end of the second level, players encounter the second boss, Shooter Alien, who challenges players to think more strategically and react more quickly to the increasing difficulty.

Level Three

The third level is a faster pace than the second, with a new background. It might be a meteor belt theme. The goal is to challenge players to think more strategically and react more quickly

At the end of the third level, players encounter the third boss, Freezeri, who challenges players on his unique attack pattern and freezing abilities.

Space Environment

The space environment is the default setting for the game, featuring a dark, starry backdrop that sets the tone for the action-packed gameplay. The space environment is designed to be visually striking and immersive, drawing players into the game's world.

Desert Environment

The desert environment is the second level setting, featuring a sandy backdrop with cacti and rock formations. The desert environment is designed to be visually distinct from the space environment, offering players a fresh and engaging experience. It's meant to simulate players flying across the surface of a desert planet.

Explosion Sound

A mix of modern and retro sounds from arcade with a slight digital bass layer (think 808's). We can use different pitches for different blocks and bosses and depending on the impact and size of the explosion.

Bullet Burst FX

It's more like bullet explosion, when a projectile hits a target, it explodes into a burst of particles. The bullet burst FX adds impact and excitement to the gameplay, enhancing the player's experience.

Bullet Burst Sound

The bullet burst sound is a mix of modern and retro sounds from arcade with a slight digital bass. Based on the speed and size of the bullet, the sound can be adjusted to match the impact.

Bomb

The bomb is a powerful item that clears all blocks of a single color from the screen, providing players with a strategic advantage in the game. When players shoot the bomb, it changes color until it detonate after a certain number of seconds.

Note: We might introduce this in the third level or second if possible.

Item Collect FX

The item collect FX is a visual effect that occurs when a player collects a bonus item, creating a burst of particles and light. The item collect FX adds impact and excitement to the gameplay, enhancing the player's experience.

Item Collect Sound

A mix of modern and retro sounds from arcade with a slight digital bass layer (think 808's). We can use different pitches for different items and depending on the impact and size of the item. The coin sound is a classic but we can add a twist to it.

Boss Mode

Players battle bosses made of blocks, matching colors to defeat them before they reach the bottom of the screen. Bosses have unique abilities and patterns, requiring quick reflexes and strategic thinking to overcome.

Evil Star Boss

The fourth level boss, the evil star boss, shaped like a star, would use the square attack pattern following the screen's edges at various speeds, stopping, then moving again.

Evil Alien Boss

The fifth level boss, the evil alien takes on a similar appearance to the shooter alien but with a red hat and a more aggressive attack pattern.

Blockskull

The main boss of the first level. He forms after the first round and then spews blocks out of his mouth. His attack pattern is figure 8, which seems typical but for a first encounter we want to keep it simple.

Shooter Alien

The shooter alien is a being from another planet with a strange appearance, blocky, and with a blue or purple hat and green skin. His attack pattern is side to side but makes large amounts of blocks rain every couple of seconds.

He can be the second-level boss.

Freezeri

Third level boss Freezeri would be ice-themed and perhaps freeze the player or slow them down, or create ice blocks the player has to shoot but it will slow players down since they won't be able to color match and will have to do twice the work to match the enemy blocks to defeat it.

Note: Default blocks from enemies might be filled in instead of hollow to denote it's an original feature of the enemy so if we end up with rows of the same color, they won't be matched for removal until the player shoots.

Meteor Belt Environment

The meteor belt environment is the third level setting, featuring a rocky backdrop with floating asteroids and debris. The meteor belt environment is designed to be visually distinct from the space and desert environments, offering players a fresh and engaging experience. It's meant to simulate players flying through a dangerous asteroid field.

Meteor blocks can be introduced here, which are indestructible and players have to shoot around them to clear the screen but clear when they match 3.

Power Up Mechanic

Power-ups are special items that players can collect to enhance their abilities and gain an advantage in the game. Power-ups can include missiles, lasers, and other powerful tools that help players clear blocks more efficiently and defeat bosses.

Three-bullet Power up

The three-bullet power up allows players to shoot three bullets at once, increasing their firepower and clearing blocks more efficiently.

Note: We might be able to introduce stacking up to three levels so that the spray either goes up in 4 and five paths.

Laser Power up

The laser power up fires a continuous beam that aligns every block in it's path to the same color.

Yuki

Friendly, tech-savvy, and a master pilot, Yuki's heartfelt and overt enthusiasm keeps her team together even in adverse situations, keeping the crew's spirits high.

For tutorial levels, she guides players through the basics of the game, offering tips and encouragement along the way.

This is in fact the same Yuki in Rise of the Star Kingdom.

Missile Power up

The missile power up launches a powerful projectile that clears multiple blocks in a single shot, making it an essential tool for taking down bosses and clearing large groups of blocks.

For stacking, up to three, the missiles can either go faster or spread to four and five.

Shapeshifter Blob

The shapeshifter blob is a block that can shift form from one block to another or power up item every number of seconds. They can be tricky since they can take forms and undermine the player's strategy.

Turret

The turret is a stationary element that shoots back at the player. Originally it was a threat to the player's health. But since there's no death, what we might be able to do is penalize the player with momentary slowdown or freezing of blocks for a second.

Defeating them may be a matter of number of shots, or if a bomb of same color knocks it out. But since they're grey, at least the grey ones can't be matched, but the color ones can.

3D Mode (Remix)

It's the 3D version of our game, where players match colors to clear blocks and prevent them from reaching the bottom of the screen. But the camera angle is in a different perspective, giving the game a fresh look and feel.

We might be able to switch to 3D for boss battles to give players a different perspective. There can be a pure 2D, 3D, and hybrid mode. How this would be implemented is still up for consideration.

There are many ways to introduce this. For now, at it's simplest, we can have a 3D mode available as an option in the main menu.

PHILOSOPHY

Made with love: like other projects, we embrace the philosophy "use the entire buffalo" by maximizing value out of every item, mechanic, and idea in the game. Whenever possible, every element serves multiple purposes. Features that don’t enhance player experience are cut. We strive for clarity, impact, and conciseness, adhering to the "less is more" principle as a cornerstone of our process.

NEXT CHAPTER: REMIX

The next chapter of Spacetriss will focus on expanding the game's mechanics into 3D. While initially we had this running, it was felt the best way forward was to focus on 2D first and then introduce 3D as a separate mode. This will allow us to explore new gameplay possibilities, enhance the player experience, and create a fresh and engaging experience for fans of the original game, including 3D boss battles and new environments.

Q&A

Who is this game for?

Spacetriss is designed for retro arcade enthusiasts, puzzle lovers, and anyone who enjoys fast-paced, action-packed gameplay. It’s perfect for gamers of all ages who want to relive the magic of 80s and 90s classics while experiencing modern twists.

What is this about?

Spacetriss is a nostalgic fusion of Tetris, Space Invaders, and other retro classics, reinvented for a new generation of players.

When will this game ship?

We have no idea, pending development milestones.

Where is it being developed?

Spacetriss is being crafted by a small, passionate team (of one person) in the comfort of our home office.

Why?

Because it's fun!

How much will it cost?

The base game will be available for $8.00 on iOS, free for web, with optional cosmetic items and DLCs for added value.