BrightNotes

Teach kids about music through fun gameplay! This is a proprietary game platform with it's own custom console, cartridges, games, and game controllers. This product did not make it to market, but it went far in development. We had functional hardware and finished game titles; a huge effort! I believed in this product and am really proud of my and the team's work.

Year of production: 2011

Platform: Proprietary

Company: Seven45 Studios

Role:

As the lead designer, I designed and oversaw all aspects of the system, including:
Developed original IP for the system and games
Led design of all the custom hardware; defined functions of the controllers, button layouts, ergonomics
Led game design of the custom video game titles
Play key role in pitching the product to major retailers: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us

Game System

Here you can see an overview of the game system: guitar and drums game controllers, console, and game software displayed on a customer's TV. The game console and TV image are mock-ups, clearly.

Game Start

This is an actual screenshot of the start screen for one of the video game titles for the system. This gives you a great idea of the mood and style of the original IP I developed.

Curriculum

The first game titles produced centered around music, but the longer-term vision was to create additional games around other educational areas. I was careful to design the hardware controllers with a joystick and button so they would be adaptable to non-musical gameplay in the future.

Guitar Controller

Custom guitar controller peripheral that I designed. I didn't do the detailed industrial design; I designed the overall concept, the button layout and configuration, and worked closely with industrial design to get the size, look, and ergonomics correct. We tested our prototypes with kids to be sure they were functional for our target audience.

Guitar Controller

Guitar Controller

The controller was designed to have two different ergonomic stances. This image shows "music mode" where the gameplay centered around playing notes. Each game activity would instruct the player on how to hold the controller for each activity.

Guitar Controller

The controller was designed to have two different ergonomic stances. This image shows "game mode"; the user grips the joystick with the left hand and presses the button with the right hand. With a joystick and button, an enormous variety of games could be played. Notice there is only one gameplay button and it is huge and chunky. This is purposeful for the target demographic of young kids: it keeps games simple, approachable, and the button is easy to manipulate.

Drum Controller

Similar to the guitar controller, the drum controller was designed for two ergonomic stances. The player bangs on the five drum pads for music or rhythm gameplay, and grips the joystick with left and and presses button with right hand for more traditional gameplay.

Drum Controller

Licensed Games

We planned to have licensed games in the library. In fact, we had already secured licenses for SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer.

Packaging

Concept packaging

Gameplay

Screen shots of the actual working game software, running on the custom console hardware. This system was truly just about finished but sadly never made it to market!

Gameplay

Screen shots of the actual working game software, running on the custom console hardware. This system was truly just about finished but sadly never made it to market!

Gameplay

Screen shots of the actual working game software, running on the custom console hardware. This system was truly just about finished but sadly never made it to market!

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