Our latest release, FryPan:Snatch is a fast-paced VR action game built around the simple joy of catching flying food with magical frying pans. Today I want to share the journey from concept to Meta Quest Store release.
The Origin Story
The idea for FryPan:Snatch emerged from a rather humbling experience. After developing a complex VR prototype that left my non-gaming friends confused and bewildered, I stepped back and asked myself: “What am I making here if my own friends can’t easily enjoy it” I also asked “What’s a movement that feels natural and satisfying in real life that anyone could understand?”
The answer was right in my kitchen – the simple act of flipping a frying pan. It’s a motion most people have made, whether cooking or just playfully tossing imaginary pancakes. This became the foundation for the entire game.
Rapid Prototyping
The core game came together surprisingly quickly – about a week for the basic prototype. I focused on nailing the feel of catching objects with virtual frying pans in VR. Initially, I had something more complex in mind, but playtesting quickly revealed that simpler controls would make the game more accessible.
Rather than developing in isolation, I released a basic demo on HeyVR to gather feedback. The response was overwhelming – 40,000 plays and eventually landing on Meta’s “Best of VR” browser page. This validation was exactly what I needed to commit to turning it into a full release.
From Demo to Full Game
What started as a single arcade mode expanded into a complete game with progression, levels, and story elements. This meant rebuilding nearly everything from the ground up:
- Implementing a proper stage-based system using ScriptableObjects for easy content creation
- Developing a save system to track player progress
- Creating a proper loading system and UI flow
- Introducing the hungry Egg Overlord “EggBburt” as the game’s quirky antagonist
The refactoring was extensive but necessary. Moving from a one-off demo to a structured game with progression required proper architecture that would scale with additional content. The game loads into a over arching bootstrapper scene as the entry point, which goes on to control the entire flow of the game. There is the level manager, save system and loading manager attached to this scene which stays loaded. After initialising, the main menu world scene becomes active and the flow of the game starts. I came up with a modular system using scriptable objects that hold each levels config information.
Technical Challenges
The bulk of development time wasn’t spent on new features but rather on the technical foundation and fine-tuning. Some of the most challenging aspects included:
- Balancing difficulty progression across stages
- Optimizing performance for Meta Quest’s mobile hardware
- Creating intuitive UI flows that work well in VR
- Implementing reliable save systems and leaderboards
- Making sure the core mechanics felt satisfying regardless of player skill level
Meta Quest Store Submission
Getting through Meta’s submission process was… an experience. Their requirements are thorough, which ultimately leads to better games on the platform, but navigating their technical and content guidelines required several iterations.
Thankfully, Meta provides comprehensive tools for testing and validation, which helped identify issues before formal submission. The process taught me a lot about polishing a game for public release beyond just making it functional.
Life After Launch
The game is now available on the Meta Quest Store, and I’m proud to say I’m currently holding the 10th position on our own leaderboard in the HeyVR version (though I expect to drop as more players discover the game’s tricks).
We’ve supported the launch with content across various platforms:
- Twitter posts showcasing gameplay highlights
- TikTok videos with quick tips and funny moments
- YouTube videos with gameplay footage
What’s Next?
While I can’t share too many details yet, we’re already knee-deep in our next project. The lessons learned from FryPan:Snatch are invaluable – particularly the importance of accessible controls, rapid iteration based on player feedback, and focusing on simple mechanics that feel satisfying in VR.
Try It Yourself
FryPan:Snatch is available now on the Meta Quest Store for $0.99. It’s designed for quick play sessions but offers depth for those looking to master its challenging patterns. Whether you’re a VR veteran or newcomer, I hope the simple joy of catching flying food with magical frying pans brings you as much entertainment as it brought me while making it.
Have you played FryPan:Snatch? Let us know your high score in the comments below!
