A Theoretical Rhythm Game Concept 🎶✨

🎤 The Idea

Cosmic Catch imagines a world where a star-powered mermaid pop idol uses her voice to lure cosmic fish from the stars. Instead of rods and reels, players would perform on-beat arrow inputs--catching fish through music and rhythm. Each success would add new creatures to a glowing space moon pool aquarium, turning gameplay into both performance and collection.

🎮 Core Concepts

• Rhythm-Based Fishing – A fishing system imagined as a rhythm challenge, where timing replaces tackle.

• Cosmic Aquarium Showcase – A window to display the fish you’ve earned, glowing against a galactic backdrop.

• Unique Characters – The central mermaid idol imagined with expressive poses and performance flair.

• Celestial Creatures – Concept art for three animated cosmic fish.

• Stylized Environments – A surreal moonlit pool in space, shimmering with otherworldly light.

• Immersive Audio Design – Envisioned tracks blending vocals and percussion to create escalating “fish fights.”

🖼️ Art Direction

The concept embraces chunky, colorful 2D pixel art, drawing inspiration from Chillquarium and Stardew Valley. The assets we produced—character sprites, fish, UI elements, and environment pieces—convey the cozy-but-cosmic aesthetic we envisioned.

🔊 Audio Theory

While no final tracks were implemented, our talented audio designer made tracks for:

• Ambient background music for a cozy vibe.

• Distinct rhythm tracks per fish encounter (layered percussion and vocals).

• Sourced SFX like splashes, warning cues, and UI clicks to anchor gameplay feedback.

💻 Intended Platforms

• PC

• Mac

• Linux

⭐ Why This Concept?

Cosmic Catch was designed as a hybrid of rhythm and collection genres—a game loop that would reward precision while offering the meditative joy of filling an aquarium. Even as an unfinished prototype, the assets and theory represent our vision of blending cozy gameplay with performance-based challenge.

👥 Behind the Scenes

This theoretical game was envisioned and partially built during the University of Florida’s annual Create-A-Thon. Over 12 hours, our team brainstormed, sketched, animated, and designed assets that show what Cosmic Catch could be. Though the code never fully came together, the creative output reflects the heart of our concept.

🕺 The Team

• Marina DiPonio

• Anna Kubart

• Warrick Brugal

• Cameron Caangay

• Xavier Caangay