Ex-Middle East Member Develops Game With 'Crash Bandicoot' Composer

Independent Sydney-based games developer LionSaysRoar has announced that it is collaborating with Josh Mancell, the man responsible for composing the tunes that soundtracked the original Crash Bandicoot console game, on TOTOME, an original title for mobile platforms, and, to make it all possible, you can help via the magic of crowdfunding.

Pitched as a “beautiful, high-adrenaline game for iPhone and Android”, TOTOME is aiming for about a Christmas release – all things going well with the crowdfunding – with Mancell’s contribution born of LionSaysRoar chief Javed Sterritt’s desire to collaborate with creative minds with backgrounds in art, animation and music, while avoiding the shallow trappings so often worn by mobile-platform games.

Sterritt is no stranger to a musical background himself, having found himself in his present creative profession of many-talented multimedia machine via an extended stint as the drummer for one-time indie darlings The Middle East, as well as occasionally finding time to frontman it up for cult Sydney-by-way-of-Townsville act The Forest.

“I had this moment where I felt like I wanted to surpass the basic level of a ‘gamer’ and actually try to make one of my own,” Sterritt explained in a statement. “I love the psychology and the experimentation of games and how they affect us. The video game is an art form. When done right, it can inspire you, immerse you in a story, and challenge you.”

Since moving on from the full-time music game, Sterritt has been awarded degrees in Game Design and Film & Animation, giving TOTOME an esteemed pedigree no matter which way you look at it – including its gorgeous art design, which comes with assistance from the Tillman Project’s Clint Reid.

“The collaboration with Josh Mancell came about after being inspired by the soundtrack to the original Crash Bandicoot game on PS1,” he continued. “There was something mature and atmospheric about his work that I found very engaging.

“The gaming community was very young back when the game was released in 1996, and I was impressed by how mature the mood of the game was for that time. I wanted that same atmosphere for TOTOME, so, even though it was a long shot, I contacted his agent.

“I also fell in love with the art style of … Clint Reid. He has a very bold and adventurous tone to his work that I’ve been into for a while. He has a general love for video games as well and was super-keen to jump on-board with the project.”

So, too, have been supporters, so far – LionSaysRoar has managed to acquire about 25 per cent of their total funding in a matter of days. With 27 days remaining, there’s no reason we shouldn’t have a gorgeous new handheld game ready to go for Christmas.

Get your crowdfunding on here, where you can find all the information about the game's story, creative team, crowdfund rewards, and all the other key details you need to find out how you can be a part of it.