Planck Version Zero (v.0) is a prototype game that lets you interact with original music through shmup mechanics. Although it plays like a familiar top-down scrolling shooter, every in-game action is interpreted through a timing and beat-matching system, turning your play into the song you hear as you traverse the level.
Just as traditional shmup levels are scripted experiences with a natural progression to them, Planck’s levels carry the player through a full song from beginning to end. And while Planck isn’t necessarily about the hardcore challenge of reaction time or pattern memorization, skilled players can express themselves by earning more complex versions of the track with good timing and judicious play.
Planck v.0 includes one level in order to demonstrate the game’s “play the music” concept, but the full version of Planck is intended to include an album’s worth of high-quality original tracks.
Credits for Planck v.0
Director: Matthew Burns
Producer / Lead Designer: Brenton Woodrow
Composer: Chad Bechard
Programmer: Kyle Murphy
Designer / Effects Artist: Chris McCarthy
Additional Art: Josh Franklin, Brad Fishkin
Additional Programming: Andrew Richardson
Special Thanks: Scott Fabianek, Glenn Israel, Scott Macmillan, Andy Molloy