As a small, two-person indie game development team, working on Save The Village has shown us that being an indie developer goes far beyond just coding. In a small team, you’re not only responsible for the programming but often find yourself creating or modifying assets to make the game unique. While we do use some pre-made assets to save time, adding our own custom graphics, sound effects, and music is crucial to bringing our game’s world to life in a way that feels personal and authentic.

One example? Music! There are times when I need to sit down at my MIDI keyboard and switch roles, becoming the game’s music composer. The music in Save The Village is as much a part of the gameplay experience as the towers and enemies themselves, creating the atmosphere that players feel as they defend each village. So, instead of outsourcing every sound or track, I dive in and compose the music myself, crafting each note to capture the spirit of the game.

In the picture, you can see me working on one of the tracks for Save The Village at my desk, blending the tones and rhythms that bring our virtual villages to life. It’s a labor of love, and every time I hit the right note, it feels like I’m helping build our little game from the ground up, one melody at a time.

Being indie means wearing many hats, and that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. Stay tuned for more updates from the ZUPTI team as we continue building, creating, and refining Save The Village.

After finishing this blog post, I wrapped up a new track for Save The Village called “Brambles Burning.” You can listen to it on SoundCloud and get a taste of the atmosphere we’re creating for the game. 🎶