Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake

In the bustling indie game scene, 2012 marked the birth of SleepNinja Games, a studio founded by two longtime friends from the Spokane metal scene — Justin and myself. Our journey into game development began with a successful Kickstarter campaign, a platform that turned our shared dream into reality. This dream was "Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake," a whimsical puzzle-adventure game that would eventually catch the eye of Cartoon Network Games, despite our initial reluctance to partner with them—twice, no less.

Our partnership with Cartoon Network Games wasn't an immediate match made in heaven. Initially, we declined their offers, intent on retaining creative control over our project. However, their persistence and shared vision for the game eventually won us over, leading to a five-year professional relationship that was both fruitful and enriching. This collaboration culminated in a memorable release party at VidCon 2014, where we celebrated the game's launch amidst a sea of fans and fellow creators.

As the head writer and co-level designer, my responsibilities were as diverse as they were challenging. The game's narrative, a charming tale of a boy named Niko whose birthday cake is stolen by mischievous monsters, was crafted to appeal to players of all ages. Drawing from our experiences and a love for quirky humor, I penned the script in Google Docs—a digital space that soon became a labyrinth of dialogue, plot twists, and puns.

The level design was another key aspect of my role. Using Tiled, a 2D level editor, Justin and I painstakingly crafted each puzzle and environment to ensure a seamless blend of narrative and gameplay. The process was meticulous, often requiring hours of tweaking and testing to perfect the game's balance and flow.

One of the more technical challenges we faced was translating the narrative and dialogue into the game. We developed a custom XML interpreter, allowing us to export the script from Google Docs and integrate it directly into the game's code. This system not only streamlined the development process but also ensured that the story elements remained consistent and accessible throughout the game.

The journey of creating "Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake" was a rollercoaster of creativity, collaboration, and learning. From its humble beginnings as a Kickstarter project to its release under the Cartoon Network Games banner, the game stands as a testament to what can be achieved with passion, perseverance, and a touch of monster magic. Reflecting on this project, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the opportunity to bring a slice of joy and adventure to players around the world.

Also I pitched the game as a show to the gentleman who created Ben 10 in CN's Burbank office and I was very nervous and lost. Fun times!