UK-based Curve Studios is the name behind the Hyrdroventure / Fluidity series and the recent Wii U exclusive Stealth Inc 2, and has also broadened its business by moving into publishing -- Thomas Was Alone , The Swapper and Last Survior were all published by the firm on the Wii U eShop.
The company has a long tradition of working with Nintendo, and in the latest issue of EDGE magazine, Curve's Design Director Jonathan Biddle and Technical Director Richie Turner spoke about what it's like working with the Japanese veteran, as well as chances for future instalments in the Hydroventure franchise.
Biddle explains that the origin of the series came from a very simple concept, but the initial meeting with Nintendo didn't exactly fill him with confidence:
We had this idea for a game about water. We sat down with [Nintendo] and pitched a few things, and we didn't think they'd liked any of them; they were quite po-faced about it, probably because they'd been
sat in a room for a week listening to pitch after pitch.
However, Biddle reveals that Nintendo did in fact get back in touch, and were keen to create a prototype for the title -- or "experiment" as the company called it. Biddle would later find out that this was a very rare event, at least as far as Nintendo was concerned:
Not very many things get through that wringer. So we were amazed to get that, and we spent six months looking at the tech and the water physics to see if Wii could run it, if the motion-control system could work, and whether the idea actually had any legs.
Turner reveals that working with Nintendo on the WiiWare title was an incredible valuable experience:
The criticisms they give you on the whole process are like gold dust. When they say less of this or more of this, you pay attention. All the platform holders have got their game evangelists and design guys who give very valid feedback, but when you're talking to Nintendo, you're only a couple of steps removed from the likes of Miyamoto.
Other feedback wasn't quite as positive, but as Biddle explains, it did contribute to making the game better:
Iwata couldn't stand to watch the WiiWare demo because it made him really ill. He suffered from simulation sickness, so he literally couldn't watch the game that he was signing off on.
Due to Iwata's problem, Curve tinkered with the game's camera to avoid the issue, thereby saving other players from similar queasiness.
Despite this fine-tuning, Hydroventure was not a commercial success -- hardly a shock given the torrid state of WiiWare -- but Nintendo nevertheless commissioned a sequel on the 3DS. Another critical success, Hydroventure: Spin Cycle sold well by Curve's standards -- according to Turner -- but not Nintendo's. Biddle explains that while Curve is keen to work on the brand again, the ball is very much in Nintendo's court, as it own the IP:
We'd love to go back, but the budget would be significantly more for Wii U. We've had discussions, but the last pitch was a while ago now.
We'd personally love to see another entry in this underrated series -- what about you? Post a comment to tell us.
[source edge-online.com]
Comments 13
Hydroventure is my favourite WiiWare game. A Wii U sequel needs to happen. More in line with the open exploration stages of the first one than the 3DS one (which was great, but I preferred the original format). If Nintendo don't allow it that will be very sad indeed.
Would be awesome to get a Wii U sequel. We do have Puddle there and Hydroventure through Wii mode, but a true sequel using HD graphics and all the knowledge Curve has learned through the years... now that would be quite a dreamy situation.
It was one of the first games I bought back in 2009 when I got Wii. Though game came out in end of 2010 so yeah, I didn't buy that much Wiiware.
I like curve, i think nintendo should buy them up and get them making some first party eshop games
I think Fluidity was amazing. However, after how much time I spent getting 100%, I feel kind of burned out on that gameplay and don't think I'd care to return to it.
I got the Wiiware game, could never beat the final level.
I really liked Fluidity, but it got challenging and always felt so abstract that it was hard to get excited about it. We did keep going back to it though. Really inventive and fun when you weren't beating your head against a wall.
I'd love another one!
I wish they would port Spin Cycle to the Wii U and have it run at 60 fps! I was disappointed with the 3DS version because it ran at a lower framerate than the original Wiiware game.
Fluidity is a WiiWare gem. It's unfortunate that Spin Cycle didn't hold up. A Wii U iteration would be ideal with the Gamepad. I'll still hold on to some hope...
Fluidity was one of the best games on WiiWare and I'd love to see something like it on Wii U.
I personally got both instalments of Fluidity, albeit I technically did not buy either one - managed to get them during periodic Club Nintendo give-aways. I really enjoyed both titles, but I would not have been aware of it and how awesome it is if Nintendo hasn't originally released a demo version of the first game on WiiWare.
I never did buy Fluidity on Wiiware since it was a bit too expensive for my liking, though the concept was grand. If they make one for Wii U I will likely get it since it would be a nice fit for the console!
Bought a lot of WiiWare and Hydroventure is among the best games on that service.
In fact, during WiiWare's lifespan just five games (out of the 200 I played) got a perfect 10/10 score from me.
Hydroventure was one of them. (The other four were World of Goo, My Life as a King, MotoHeroz, and La-Mulana.)
Of course I'd love a sequel on a powerful HD home console.
Curve is a quality game studio, creating awesome exclusive games and porting/publishing interesting unique experiences.
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