Brief Description:
We recently developed (and are constantly tweaking and making changes to) an engine and framework built for 2D tile-based games.  It's based around metadata, allowing a user to make completely different games without ever looking at the application's code, or even having to re-compile. The application also runs a browser that allows you to select from any of the games you've downloaded that run off the engine.

The project originally started on the NoobToob (a gaming podcast) forums, when the hosts said on the show that they thought it would be cool if someone would make a level editor for Kickle Cubicle (one of their favorite retro games). Fast forward a few months, and here we are. We plan on releasing the engine and framework, bundling in the Kickle Cubicle remake (original levels and level editor) as a demonstration of what it is capable of.

So far, all of the assets (art, music, etc.) have been fed to us by the NoobToob community (with the exception of a few excellent musical pieces), but we have hit a point in which the pacing between how fast features are implemented and how often art is submitted isn't matching up (the game currently has a lot of placeholder art). Thus, we are searching for more artists!

We haven't placed a heavy emphasis on music thus far, though a few songs are in the game, but we are always looking for talented composers as well.

Compensation:
There is no monetary compensation, but you will be credited for any work you contribute that gets put in the game.

What We're Looking For:
Here are a few samples of the kind of quality we like to see from contributors.

This video is on the youtube account of one of our developers, with sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2Fbwrightau&v=HYLd38wOIus

Here are some art samples (obviously some aren't pixel art)
- First two by thebgbb


-These by tallchick



As you can see, we're looking for all kinds of stuff. Sprites, textures, static images, buttons, etc.

Contact:
If you're interested in working on the project, you will need to join the NoobToob forums (which will need to be checked often for the latest information on what art assets we need, etc.) Don't worry, it's an awesome gaming community as well. To let us know that you're interested, you can post in the Kickle Development thread (stickied) in the User Generated Content section,  or PM me on the forums ( username: trikker ).

Legality of remaking Kickle Cubicle:
We made sure to contact Irem about the legality of making a Kickle Cubicle remake. They responded, saying that as long as we don't try to sell it we are in the clear.

Additional Info
We will have meetings sometimes on the NoobToob ventrilo server. Thus, having a microphone is a plus. There's no set schedule, we just set one up when it is appropriate to have one.

Edited by Big Al - 02 June 2010 at 10:01pm