A KU student reveals his addictive iPhone app starring the curious characters of a gypsy girl and a mystical bartender.
Anna Stayduhar
Three Kingston students have worked to design graphics and compose music for a new iPhone games app called Bar Shooter which officially launched at the end of April.
Andreas Grigorian, 20, dreamed of creating an iPhone games app centred in a bar with unique graphic effects and background music. He created his own company, Liquid Production Innovations, in 2012.
“More flavour to it”
He found two motivated Kingston students who shared his love of gaming and design to join him.
Mr Grigorian, a third year computer science with games development student, said: “I wanted to make a game that would be interesting to the people. Something that has more flavour to it so I worked on some ideas and drew up some early sketches.
“Once my prototype was finished it allowed me to show people whether my idea and concept had substance.”
Wacky gypsy child curse
The game involves an underage gypsy girl who is refused a drink by the bartender, Mr Silverspoon, so she places a curse on the entire bar and its drinkers. Her mystical powers transform the whole bar into an angry mob.
To maintain order in his rowdy bar Mr Silverspoon launches an attack by shooting corks from a champagne bottle at the customers. Seamus Reilly, a third year student studying music technology, said: “Why are objects being thrown at the bartender?
“I had to come up with something wacky. I thought a gypsy child curse made sense. It was a story that could rely on storyboards and I thought that’s exactly what you need on a mobile platform.”
Smashing objects in the bedroom
Mr Grigorian’s role during the creative process was to develop the storyline and provide the visual element of the gaming app. He also assembled the coding for the app, which enables the characters to move. Mr Reilly was in charge of the audio department which involved producing music and sound effects.
He used Logic Pro and other software to make the tracks. The sound effects included smashing objects in his bedroom. “I don’t think Henry the Hoover has ever forgiven me for that,” he added.
Charles-Jean Boucher, 28, a masters student studying music composing for film and TV, was responsible for developing the app. His background in music technology allowed him to show more of a creative side when constructing the features. He says they all shared the same vision and kept in touch regularly.
Mr Boucher said: “It’s always good to put heads together and work towards a common goal. Seeing it complete and playable is rewarding.”
“It allows a younger audience to connect as it is funny and keeps them guessing,” adds Mr Grigorian.