Family Farce Official Site

About familyfarce.net

We are an independent software and media development team currently working with the popular rhythm simulation game StepMania. We compose songs, create graphics and program material for use with this game.

We strive to deliver one of the most unique and original StepMania experiences suitable for beginners or experts. Some may call it just another game; we like to think of it as a work of art!

We are the creators of the popular simulation pack Hopscotch Mix and have developed and published three sequels (Hopscotch Mix 2, Hopscotch Mix 3 Excel, and Hopscotch Mix Encore).

About Hopscotch Mix

Hopscotch Mix was created in 2004 by Chuck Enck and Lauren Hopkins as a fun side project. At this time, we both had around a year's worth of experience with composing electronic music and decided to harness these skills with a game we loved: StepMania.

When we started this adventure, we had a few simple rules: Don't plagiarize and we function as a democracy. If the majority of members didn't like a song that another member created, it was rejected. This was semi-rare in the beginning, as we had a "we'll take what we can get" attitude back then. As the year 2004 was wrapping up, we decided to create the first mix, host it and then end it. But something kept us going.

In early 2005, Sam Ganster, Jacob Johnson and Kameron Gibson joined the Hopscotch Mix group. This, of course, kept the wagon rolling with a second mix already in progress as the first mix was being finalized. By February 25, 2005, the first mix was complete and hosted in the most redneck fashon: a Live Journal account for a website and a g-Mail account to download the pack. Users were given a password to access this g-Mail account and could download from there. Even as underfunded as we were, this wouldn't fly. The Summer of 2005 came around and the second mix was near completionand as early as June, the third mix was already underway. On October 21, 2005, the second mix was completed and distributed in that same redneck fashon.

It wasn't long before the group members went their seperate ways. Kameron got caught up in his career, Sam got caught up in school, Jacob's computer died (he still has a passion for music composition, but never fixed his PC), and Lauren, as well, got caught up in her studies. Hopscotch Mix 3 Excel's burder rested on my shoulders. As a result of being in complete charge, I generated as much music in whatever style I desired. As an homage to the respected "former members", I dug up some unreleased tracks from Sam and Jacob, and and re-vamped Lauren's infamous "Rome Needs No Mother". I turned a democracy into complete dictatorship!

I personally waited until the third mix was complete to start an actual website. With plenty of web design knowledge under my belt, I launched the official familyfarce.net site on August 6, 2006 (the 66th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing). Two days later, I launched Hopscotch Mix 3 Excel. This was going to be golden.

By this point in my Hopscotch Mix Career, a trilogy is the way to end things. I decided to update the website here and there, but not release another pack. I remember people saying things like "So, when's the fourth mix coming out?". Silently, i'd respond "uh, never".

Boy, was I wrong.

With such enthusiasm from the "fans", I felt obligated to create another. This time, it would be different. It would be smaller, but jam-packed with quality. I dubbed this project "Encore".

Hopscotch Mix Encore was a success! Even though it was released 13 days past the expected release date (originally panned for 05/06/07, but was released 05/19/07), it was a hit. I was surprised to see so many people commenting/blogging/whatever about this release, but nonetheless, I was touched.

Last summer, I made an update about some "expansion pack" for Encore. It was to consist if around five songs and was to be available a few months after Encore was released. Somehow, this turned into an even bigger project than I had anticipated. It has turned into "The second half of Hopscotch Mix Encore"...and I don't know how.

That's the story so far. More updates on the Hopscotch Mix saga when they become available!

-Chuck Enck