KeyBeat

In-Game Action
Home Screen

Inspiration

We use keyboards every day to learn, work, and communicate, yet many people never learn to touch type efficiently. We wanted to transform a repetitive skill into something engaging by combining music, rhythm, and gameplay. Inspired by the hackathon theme, "Blocks that Make Up Our World," we see letters as the building blocks of words, words as the building blocks of messages, and messages as the building blocks of connection.

What it does

KeyBeat is a rhythm-based typing game where players press keys in time with the music. As they progress through increasingly challenging levels, they improve their typing speed, accuracy, and confidence. The game turns digital literacy into an enjoyable experience while reinforcing the fundamental communication skills used every day.

How we built it

We built KeyBeat in Unity and created all of the artwork/music ourselves. Celine served as our lead programmer, developing the game's core mechanics and systems. I designed the UI and helped shape the overall player experience, while Julia managed the project and kept our team organised and on track throughout development.

Challenges we ran into

None of us were experts in Unity or C# when we started, so there was a steep learning curve. We relied on tutorials, advice from friends, plenty of trial and error, and a lot of perseverance. Fine-tuning the rhythm mechanics was also challenging, particularly deciding how to detect player inputs accurately and keep the gameplay feeling responsive. Throughout the project, we continuously tested the game and gave each other feedback to improve it.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Creating our very first game in Unity.
Learning and applying C# programming skills.
Building a fully functional rhythm game from scratch within 24hrs.
Designing all of our own artwork and assets.
Working effectively as a team and supporting each other through challenges.

What we learned

This project taught us how to develop a game from concept to completion using Unity. We gained experience with C#, game design, UI design, teamwork, project management, and iterative development. Most importantly, we learned that collaboration, persistence, and a willingness to learn can help overcome even the steepest learning curves. Another key lesson: DOWNLOAD

What's next for KeyBeat

We're excited to continue developing KeyBeat beyond its current prototype. In future versions, we'd love to introduce word- and sentence-based gameplay that helps players build real-world typing and communication skills, not just speed and accuracy. We also hope to add grammar and language-focused challenges, allowing players to improve their written communication while playing.

To make the game accessible to different learning styles, we'd like to give users the option to choose between a music-focused rhythm experience or a typing-focused learning mode. Additional goals include more songs, difficulty levels, progression systems, performance tracking, and accessibility features, making KeyBeat an even more engaging and effective tool for building digital literacy through play.