Soren interviews Justin Ma, co-founder of Subset Games, known for FTL and Into the Breach. Topics include Justin's bombed interview, AI limitations in FTL, and the debate over unlimited undo in Into the Breach. They also discuss game design approach, unexpected success, feedback from beta testers, creating unique game mechanics, design challenges, and running a two-person company.
The development of FTL started as a small prototype and unexpectedly became popular through positive feedback and Kickstarter success.
The game FTL was designed with challenging gameplay and impactful decision-making, drawing inspiration from games like Spelunky.
The beta testing phase of FTL allowed the developers to shape the game's balance and design based on player feedback and desire for more challenges.
The unexpected success of FTL brought excitement and stress, pushing the developers to adapt and deliver a game that lived up to the expectations of a larger audience.
Deep dives
Development and initial challenges
The development of the game FTL started as a small prototype that the creators did not expect to become popular. However, after receiving positive feedback from industry figures and being featured on onlive, they decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign. The campaign was a huge success, surpassing their target funding by a significant amount. This sudden success brought new responsibilities and expectations, as they now had to deliver a game to a large number of backers. They struggled with technical challenges related to distribution and fulfilling their promises, but managed to get the game on Steam for their beta testers.
Game design decisions and influence of Kickstarter
The game FTL was designed with the intention of creating challenging gameplay and emphasizing decision-making. The developers drew inspiration from games like Spelunky and aimed to make every decision feel impactful. Kickstarter played a significant role in the game's development, giving the creators the validation and financial support they needed to continue working on the game. The Kickstarter campaign introduced them to a large number of beta testers, who provided feedback and influenced the direction of the game. However, they also felt the pressure of meeting the expectations of the backers.
The evolution of the game and player feedback
The beta testing phase of FTL allowed the developers to interact with players and learn from their experiences. The feedback from the beta testers helped shape the game's balance and design. For example, the developers made the game progressively harder and added challenges that pushed players to sacrifice their favorite characters or make tough decisions. The beta testers also influenced the inclusion of unlocks and additional content based on their desire for more challenges and hidden elements.
The unexpected success and impact
The success of FTL on Kickstarter and its subsequent release on platforms like Steam exceeded the expectations of the developers. They initially saw it as a small, niche project but were surprised by the positive reception and the number of players who wanted to play the game. The unexpected success brought both excitement and stress as they had to adapt to the new demands and deliver a game that lived up to the expectations of a larger audience. Ultimately, the success of FTL led to new opportunities and helped solidify the developers' reputation in the gaming industry.
Importance of gameplay-focused design
The speaker emphasizes the importance of prioritizing gameplay-related aspects, such as weapons, events, enemies, and gameplay mechanics, over aesthetic elements.
The core mechanic: Power distribution
The podcast discusses the design of the power distribution system in the game, highlighting its versatility and impact on gameplay, as well as its representation through a single bar with multiple functions.
Value of asymmetry and deceptive simplicity
The podcast explores the value of asymmetry in gameplay, where the player's ship functions similarly to enemy ships, creating a sense of strategic thinking. It also highlights the game's deceptive simplicity and how it creates depth, surprises, and opportunities for learning.
Impact of predictability and undo mechanic
The podcast discusses the game's predictive AI and how it contributes to player decision-making. It also explores the role of the undo mechanic, which allows players to fix mistakes and view the outcome of their actions. The mechanic is described as a strategic resource that adds depth and interesting choices to the game.
In this episode, Soren interviews independent game developer Justin Ma, co-founder of Subset Games and best known for his work on FTL and Into the Breach. They discuss how he bombed his first game industry interview, why the AI in FTL can’t behave like a human, and whether Into the Breach should have unlimited undo. This episode was recorded on March 24, 2022.
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