Stems From Nothing


Description

Play as a songwriter struggling to create music. You've been stuck at your desk for a while with nothing but do-overs. Dive deep into your mind avoiding projectiles known as writers block, all while finding the music within and building your song.

Project Info

Role: Gameplay and Physics Programmer
Team size: 9
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Tools: Perforce, Blender, Maya
Duration: 48 hours
Date: September 2025
Awards: Participation for the Creative Jam 25th edition
Theme: Start from nothing

Personal Notes

  • We wanted to be unique with the theme and were willing to spend all the time it took to agree on an idea that fit the theme but also represented something we all related to. Dealing with blocks in creativity.
  • We all knew what it's like to burn out or run into rough patches/obstacles preventing us from finishing tasks. We wanted to highlight what it's like to dive into your mind, starting from nothing, and creating something beautiful and unique
  • This was a project I wish I had put more effort into. It didn't turn out how I wanted it to. I wish I would have put more effort into justifying the effort the artists put into createing this world
  • If I could go back, I would want to add features that immersed the player. I always thought you couldn't have too much randomness, but this project showed me that too much random can feel clunky if you're not careful
  • This game was lacking polish in the end. Admittedly, I settled for mediocrity. It is a mistake that I learned from and am not willing to make again.