Zaku

Platform: Atari Lynx, Publisher: Super Fighter Team, Developer: PenguiNet (Self), Release Date: 10/24/2009, Development Time: Six years
Publisher's Website, Development Website

Development Notes:
Zaku was the first time I had ever attempted to lead the design and development of a full game product. I had never programmed in assembly, let alone at all prior to starting the project, which led to a very steep learning curve and very long development time. The game was picked up for publishing in 2006 by Super Fighter Team, and eventually shipped in 2009. While I personally feel the game is very flawed, I’m satisfied with what was accomplished with Zaku and enjoyed its creation immensely.

Production Materials:
Note: Due to Zaku’s lengthy development time, many of the original design sheets have been lost.
Character Model Sheets: Used for animation reference
Background Layouts: Given out to the new background artists near the end of development.
Zaku Animation Test: A movement test to get a better understanding of the character.
Unused Cartridge Design: This was one of the designs for Zaku’s cartridge. It went unused in favor of the Lynx’s traditional cartridge shape.
Prototype Cartridge: Pre manufacturing PCB test.

Personal Contributions:
*Direction and Design of game characters, story, and world.
*76,127 Lines of 65C02 Assembly Language, composing the engine and game itself.
*22,872 Lines of SPL Sound Scripts for the Game music.
*505 Lines of Java for the game binary building tool ("LynxBuild").
*849 In game Character and Object illustrations.
*11 In game stage backgrounds.
*Character model sheets, and layout drawings for team member reference.
*All promotional/production artwork.
*31 page, two language (English and French) game manual (translation to French was performed by Super Fighter Team).

Additional Staff:
Evren Celimli (Brother):
*Contributed 23 pieces of game music (one was left unused in the final product).
Evan Doody (RIT Student):
*Contributed 4 in game stage backgrounds.
Nick Moy (RIT Student):
*Contributed 1 in game stage background.
Amilcar Parra:
*Contributed 1 in game stage background.