Q&A with Amine El Bouhattaoui: Master Game Technology Student and Creator of Fudgy Dice

Can you tell us about the game you made, Fudgy Dice? 

Amine: ‘Fudgy Dice is an exhilarating turn-based dice battle game where players engage in strategic duels using, you guessed it, dice! The gameplay revolves around taking turns throwing dice and reacting to each other's moves, whether it's attacking or defending. What sets Fudgy Dice apart are the plethora of special creature-dice available for players to discover. With options for local multiplayer and a single-player mode complete with an engaging story, there's something for everyone to enjoy.’  

What was the initial assignment or inspiration behind this project? 

Amine: ‘The story behind Fudgy Dice is as intriguing as the game itself. Despite my limited experience in game development, having graduated with a degree in computer science from Eindhoven University just last year, I dove headfirst into the world of game creation. It all started during a Game Jam in 2021 where Fudgy Dice was conceived in a whirlwind weekend of creativity. With the invaluable help from friends like Joris Roelofs and guidance from lecturers at BUas, the game began to take shape. However, as summer arrived, the project evolved beyond our initial scope, prompting me to continue solo.’  

Can you walk us through the process of bringing Fudgy Dice to life?  

Amine: ‘Creating Fudgy Dice has been a largely solitary journey, with around 90% of the work being done independently. While I handled the bulk of the development, my talented sibling crafted marketing materials. A friend assisted with playtesting, ensuring the game's mechanics were finely tuned for maximum enjoyment. As with any creative endeavour, there were challenges along the way, but the satisfaction of seeing the game evolve and improve with each iteration made it all worthwhile.’ 

How did you find the experience of working on this project? 

Amine: ‘I am immensely proud to have brought Fudgy Dice to fruition and to see it available for public enjoyment soon. The process of developing the game has been both rewarding and educational, pushing me to learn and grow as a game developer. I hope that players will find as much joy in playing it as I did in creating it.’ 

Can you incorporate your game development experience into your Master Game Technology studies? 

Amine: ‘While Fudgy Dice has been a labour of love, my focus for my Master's programme in Game Technology lies elsewhere, specifically in the realm of 2D normal map generation and dynamic lighting within games. However, I do see Fudgy Dice as a valuable testing ground for exploring certain game mechanics and techniques that may inform my future projects.’ 

What are your plans for the future? 

Amine: ‘With Studio Ami, my own game development company, established, I envision a future filled with exciting new projects and creative endeavours. Once I complete my Master's programme, my sights are set on dedicating myself full-time to game development, building upon the foundation laid by Fudgy Dice and exploring new avenues of interactive entertainment. Debugging and refining Fudgy Dice will be a priority in the immediate future, but beyond that, I have ambitious plans for new games and ventures.’ 

For more insights into Amine El Bouhattaoui's journey and to stay updated on his work, you can follow him on LinkedIn, or on X (Twitter) and check out Fudgy Dice on Steam (a playable demo will be released soon).