Tag: Developer Interview
Mario Kart Month The Developers Who Tried To Beat Nintendo At Its Own Game
Improving On Perfection
Veterans of the 16-bit era will vividly recall the first time they played Super Mario Kart. Nintendo's seminal racer was a genuine revolution; it took what had previously been quite a staid and serious genre and turned it into something light-hearted, yet immensely challenging and addictive. While Super Mario Kart had an...
Developer Interview Causal Bit Games On Scratching That Hardcore Itch With Insanity's Blade
"This is how I want to feel while I split my enemies in half"
We recently reported on the confirmation that Causal Bit Games is bringing its retro-inspired action title Insanity's Blade to the Wii U eShop. Looking like the best 16-bit hack-and-slash game you never played, this digital download aims to capture the feel of genre classics like R
Developer Interview PhobosLab on XType Plus, Impact and Why the Nintendo Web Framework Matters
The HTML5 revolution begins
While there are aspects of the Wii U that can questioned and put under scrutiny, its role in engaging and encouraging download-only developers should be emphasized as a major positive. The support for the widely used Unity engine — with free licensing and tools — has opened the platform up to a number of developers,...
"Ittle Dew has been 'that game' for us for a very long time"
Based in Sweden, Ludosity is a small and successful developer that has created software for a vast range of platforms, including 3DS, Steam and tablets. The studio is behind titles such as Boulderdash-XL 3D and Alien Chaos, both on the 3DS and its latest title, Ittle Dew, sees the studio...
Developer Interview Xander Davis on Astrogun, Indie Potential and the Wii U
"Gamers are dreamers, I think we all care deeply about realizing the dream"
Earlier this summer a story that caught the imagination of the Nintendo Life community revolved around Xander Davis, an independent developer that declared himself to be a Wii U believer — he'd previously dismissed the system prior to its launch. It was a case of going...
Developer Interview Black Forest Games on Bringing Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams to Wii U
"We are planning to bring every game we develop to the Wii U as well"
The Wii U eShop may have endured a relatively dry spell immediately after launch, but in recent times it's played host to a number of highly rated titles, with plenty more on the way. One of these releases is Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, a new title in a franchise that dates...
Release dates and an exclusive first-look at gameplay footage inside
AiRace Speed was announced just recently, the third in the series after two rather enjoyable DSiWare releases in that franchise. With a promising statistic of 18 tracks and a reasonable price point of $4.99 in North America and €4.99 / £4.49 in Europe, combined with its solid...
Developer Interview Two Tribes Clarifies Toki Tori 2+ Details and Confirms Classics Coming to Wii U
A great idea fully hatched?
Toki Tori 2 was always high on a number of Wii U eShop wishlists when it was announced prior to the Wii U's launch. Toki Tori was an early standout on WiiWare, yet developer Two Tribes didn't simply repeat the formula with the sequel, instead opting for a bold approach where puzzles were simply part of a larger world, and...
Start your engines
TNT Racers: Nitro Machines Edition is a high octane battle racing game developed by German studio keen games. It draws on inspiration from classic titles like Micro Machines and features an isometric viewpoint with all drivers competing on the same screen. Previously released on WiiWare, this updated version on Wii U crams in...
Interview Designer Luc Bernard Talks Wii U And Crowdfunding His Vision
The man behind Eternity's Child is back
Remember Luc Bernard? He's the guy behind Eternity's Child — the WiiWare title that never was — and has since produced a string of titles such as Mecho Wars and SteamPirates on iOS and Android. A long-time fan of Nintendo, Bernard has been watching the recent developments on the Wii U and 3DS with...
Exclusive Exploring The Mysterious Cities of Gold With Fleur Marty
We chat about the title's new fundraising campaign and more
About a month ago Neko Entertainment and Ynnis Interactive announced they will be bringing Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths to Wii U and 3DS this October. It's based on the cult Japanese-French animated series of the same name, which aired in the early eighties and it has recently...
Exclusive Talking Tengami With Nyamyam
We go hands-on with the Wii U eShop version
Not so long ago, we broke the news that Tengami was headed for the Wii U eShop. Since then creator Nyamyam — made up of former Rare staffers Phil Tossell and Jennifer Schneidereit — have been hard at work finishing the iOS version as well as porting the title over to Nintendo's hardware. The duo are...
Developer Interview Mathew Solie on Disney Infinity, Toy Box Inspiration and Future Potential
Producer sheds light on infinite possibilities
At the time of writing, Disney Infinity has just recently launched in both North America and Europe. With its use of collectible figurines that can be used as playable characters in-game and the inclusion of cross-platform user generated content, the new title from Disney Interactive is making leaps and...
"NOA and NOE, the people at both feel like family"
Brian Provinciano, the founder and main man of Vblank Entertainment, has had an interesting one-game history with Nintendo. The original form of the Retro City Rampage project was a technical challenge to push the boundaries of what was possible on the 8-bit NES. What became the full game was...
"We already talk about Jett Rocket 3"
When Jett Rocket was released on WiiWare it was impressive on a number of levels. Most importantly, it was fun, a 3D action platformer that was not only a new IP but also enjoyable to play, earning 8/10 in our review. On another level it was an accomplished technical effort, with attractive visuals impressively...
Developer Interview Phil Tossell Talks Tengami and Japanese Papercraft
Ex-Rare developer talks us through his new experience
Back in April, we got the exclusive scoop on Tengami's Wii U release. Two months later, we caught up with the game's developer and former Rare coding guru, Phil Tossell, to talk about the Japanese-themed pop-up adventure. Nintendo Life: We're here with Phil Tossell of Nyamyam Games. You may know...
Developer Interview Richard Perrin Talks About Journal and Nintendo's Approach to Indies
"Nintendo are leagues ahead of where they’ve been in the past"
We recently caught up with Richard Perrin - the creator of Kairo and the white chamber - at the Rezzed PC and Indie Games Show at the NEC in Birmingham to find out what's happening with his latest creation, Journal. Richard is currently focusing on the Windows version of the game, but...
Developer Interview Renegade Kid on Mutant Mudds Deluxe and Looking Forward with Wii U
"It is all about the games"
Mutant Mudds Deluxe will not only bring the return of the highly-rated 3DS eShop title on a HD platform, it'll also be Renegade Kid's home console debut. Since the studio was founded in 2007 it's focused, primarily, on Nintendo's DS, DSi and 3DS systems, with recent diversions to PC and iOS in the form of Mutant Mudds...
Developer Interview Next Level Games And Nintendo Talk Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
We speak exclusively to the team behind the 3DS adventure
The 3DS is enjoying a bumper 2013 when it comes to must-have releases, and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (or Luigi's Mansion 2 if you're outside of North America) has been one of the best titles to hit the handheld this year. The game has received overwhelmingly positive reviews and has set...
Developer Interview Two Tribes on Toki Tori 2's Adventure So Far, and What's Still to Come
Original Toki Tori may get Wii U re-release
Toki Tori 2 was one of the first titles confirmed for the Wii U eShop, even before it was officially confirmed to be called the eShop. Though it arrived outside of the launch window, that was due to the development team opting to improve key elements that weren't up to the studio's standards ahead of a...
Developer Interview System 3 On Bringing Putty Squad To Wii U And 3DS
Veteran UK developer talks about Putty's return and future projects
Today saw the confirmation that System 3's Putty Squad is coming to the Wii U and 3DS. We got in touch with the UK-based studio to talk about the game, how it differs from the Amiga version and what the company's plans are for the future. We spoke to studio founder Mark Cale, who...
Developer Interview Yacht Club Games - Kickstarter Can Show The Demand for Indie Titles
Sean Velasco shares his thoughts on the crowdfunding platform
Over the weekend you may have seen a feature that we posted considering the increasing relevance of Kickstarter. The crowdfunding website has exploded in popularity in the past year, with many projects subsequently emerging that'll make their way to Wii U and/or 3DS. We spoke to two...
Developer Interview SnowCastle Games On Holding A Festival Of Magic On Wii U
"We miss the more thoughtful approach to turn based combat"
Nordic developer SnowCastle Games is bringing its epic RPG Festival of Magic to the Wii U eShop, adding yet another promising title to the console's expanding roster of independent releases. We spoke to studio founder Bendik Stang about the development of the game, its influences and the...
Developer Interview Island Officials on Kickstarting "Orion's Odyssey"
"Nintendo has been nothing but supportive"
You may not have heard of Island Officials, but this New Jersey-based development studio has been supporting Nintendo handhelds for years, and is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund its DSiWare puzzler, Orion's Odyssey: A Pattern Blocks Adventure. We chatted with Island Officials' Ryan Morrison...
Developer Interview Dark Tonic Games On The "Awesome Potential" Of The Wii U
"Nintendo has been making it easier and easier for smaller studios"
Dark Tonic Games may be a young studio, but it's made up of seasoned developers with plenty of experience under their belts. We can exclusively reveal that Dark Tonic has been approved as a Wii U eShop developer, and we've secured an interview with Creative Director Eric Boosman...
Developer Interview Rex Rocket Creator On Bringing Pixel-Heavy Action To The 3DS And Wii U
"3DS and the Wii U are two of the best platforms we could hope to get on"
We recently reported on the Kickstarter campaign for Rex Rocket and the chances of the game making its way to the 3DS and Wii U eShops. Creator Rob Maher got in touch with us to talk a little more about the project, as well as future ideas for Nintendo systems. Nintendo Life:...
Developer Interview Ubisoft on the Expanding Rayman Legends and Wii U's Free Challenge Mode
The upcoming Wii U eShop app sounds promising
When Wii U was preparing for launch, a good number of gamers were particularly excited about Rayman Legends, at one time a Wii U-exclusive launch title. Unfortunately for those eager fans, both promising selling points fell by the way-side, with an initial delay to Spring 2013 being extended to...
Developer Interview Dakko Dakko On Creating The Ultimate Social Arcade Game For This Generation
"Wii U is great fun to develop on", says Scram Kitty developer
UK studio Dakko Dakko has Nintendo at its heart, thanks to the fact that founder Rhodri Broadbent has ties with the famous video game veteran — he worked on Star Fox Command during his tenure at Dylan Cuthbert's Q-Games in Japan. Dakko Dakko's next project — the wonderfully titled...
Developer Interview Ambient Studios On The Possibility Of Bringing Death Inc. To Wii U
"Vote with your wallets!"
Last week, we reported that Ambient Studios — the team behind Kickstarter title Death Inc. — were considering bringing the game to the Wii U eShop. Soon after the story went live, Ambient director and co-founder Jonny Hopper got in touch with us to explain a bit more about his company and the long-term aspirat
Developer Interview Renegade Kid and a History of Nintendo Development
From DS FPS games to pixel-perfect platforming
Renegade Kid is a development studio founded in 2007, but is comprised of staff with far greater experience in the game industry. After early days of pushing boundaries with three FPS titles on DS, the team has gradually moved into self-publishing download games, rising to greater prominence with the...
Developer Interview Bertil Hörberg On Being a One Man eShop Developer
"I've always had a thing for Nintendo's portables"
The 3DS eShop — along with its online store predecessors on Wii and DSi — has attracted a number of small developers that would have likely remained anonymous in previous generations. The evolution of download gaming has transformed our consoles to include smaller, more diverse experiences at...
Interview Curve Studios' Jonathan "Bidds" Biddle
We speak to the developer who’s making quite a splash
One development studio that has made a valiant contribution to Nintendo’s digital download services is undoubtedly Curve Studios. Having first released Hydroventure for WiiWare to much critical acclaim back in 2010, the development team has recently returned to its original idea and expanded...
Developer Interview Zen Studios On Portable Pinball Success And Wii U
The pinball wizards have more to come
Zen Studios is an experienced indie developer that, despite its varied projects, is possibly best known for its pinball games. It's a team that wasn't entirely unfamiliar with Nintendo hardware in past generations — it developed Ghostbusters: The Video Game for DS — and it's become best known to fans of the...
Developer Interview Tomorrow Corporation on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
It's Little Inferno just for Wii (U, and PC)
So, Little Inferno, what can be said about it? Our own review stated that "it's as much a sandbox or digital toy as it is a game", with the simple fact that the experience can basically be summarised as burning stuff. There's money to earn and collect, as well as puzzle combos to figure out, but it's a...
Developer Interview WayForward Technologies on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
High and Mighty
Californian developer WayForward Technologies is a long-time supporter of Nintendo and its hardware. Often noted for its proficiency with 2D, the company has worked on all manner of titles on several Nintendo platforms, from licenced games to its own original properties such as Shantae and the Mighty series. For the launch of the Wii...
Developer Interview Broken Rules on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
Taking flight
While the launch line-up of download-only games on the Wii U eShop features some multi-platform releases or exclusives from studios well-known to Nintendo enthusiasts, Chasing Aurora is potentially in a category of its own. Broken Rules had previously released its highly regarded PC title And Yet It Moves on WiiWare, but may not...
Developer Interview Shin'en Multimedia on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
Neo beginnings
Shin'en Multimedia is a developer likely to be well-known to Nintendo download enthusiasts, with the company having made multiple appearances on Wii and 3DS, in particular. Some of its releases, such as Jett Rocket and Art of Balance TOUCH!, have been among the best titles on WiiWare and the 3DS eShop, respectively, while the small...
Developer Interview Neko Entertainment on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
The cat meows
Neko Entertainment has been ever-present on Nintendo consoles since it was formed in 1999. Based near Paris, France, the developer has created both retail and digital download games for most major systems of the last decade, from Nintendo 64 right through to Wii U. In something of a coup for the outfit, Neko secured a place in Wii U...
Developer Interview Frozenbyte on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
A not-so frosty reception
Over the last few months, Nintendo has displayed a significant shift in its attitude towards digital distribution and online in general. On 3DS we've seen the addition of downloadable retail games, a more regular stream of demos and downloadable content for first party titles. Wii U looks set to extend this approach...
Developer Interview ZombiU Producer Talks About Beginnings, Reactions and Survival Horror
"Some players are not into survival, and that’s totally fine"
In terms of high-profile third-party exclusives on Wii U launch day, ZombiU was comfortably the biggest show in town. While a number of multi-platform titles brought their HD shine to a Nintendo platform for the first time, those looking for a new experience that was hardcore in nature...
Developer Interview Gaijin Games Gets Drunk with Wii U Power
WiiWare champs set their sights on the future and rhythm aliens
While plenty of developers have stepped up to take a swing at WiiWare, only a pinch have started from scratch and built good names strictly based on their output for the service. Perhaps the biggest success story in this realm is Gaijin Games: as a brand-new studio, the three-strong...
"Wii U is a revolution of the social space of the play situation"
Spin The Bottle certainly isn't your average run-of-the-mill video game - but then the studio behind it is unique, as well. Spawned from the development hotbed of the Copenhagen Game Collective, KnapNok Games is all about creating unique experiences with modern technology, with a...
Developer Interview Shin'en Multimedia on Nintendo, eShop Development, 3DS and Wii U
Blasting onto eShop
With the 3DS eShop continuing to grow, and the Wii U equivalent already shaping up with an increasingly encouraging range of confirmed titles, there’s plenty of positivity around Nintendo’s download offerings. Like any platform it still has its detractors and issues, such as the occasional broken mess on the release schedule...
Developer Interview Nyamyam On Tengami, Life After Rare And Nintendo's Stance On Indies
"I think the hardware capabilities of the Wii U Game Pad are a good match for Tengami"
Last week, we revealed that UK studio Nyamyam was impressed with the Wii U eShop and the potential it offers for independent developers. Keen for more knowledge, we got in touch with Nyamyam's Jennifer Schneidereit to talk about Wii U, Nintendo and Tengami - the...
Developer Interview Pwnee Studios Talks About Cloudberry Kingdom and Wii U
"We have learnt to expect bizarre events"
With all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming release of the Wii U console and its retail launch titles, it’s easy to forget the assortment of potentially fantastic Wii U eShop titles also heading our way. One of which is Cloudberry Kingdom, a platformer which promises to supply the gamer with...
Developer Interview Nnooo Talks About Working With Nintendo and Moving to the 3DS eShop
Stepping into a new generation
As the 3DS eShop continues to evolve and expand its library, Nintendo is currently preparing to introduce the Wii U eShop — it's assumed that'll be its name — and continue to expand its download gaming options. It's been a rocky road, of course, with the DSi and Wii online stores both being flawed in terms of both...
Developer Interview Frozenbyte Talks Trine 2, Wii U eShop and Working with Nintendo
An ice chat
The excitement for Wii U isn't limited to the second screen, the possibility of five player games or the chance that Nintendo is getting its groove back with third party publishers: there's also the small matter of its approach to digital distribution. WiiWare started well before floundering and DSiWare hosted a few gems among its...
