Night School Studio prioritizes creating games with broad appeal while maintaining unique execution.
Creating vertical slices early in development helps Night School Studio evaluate the potential and align the game with their creative vision.
Night School Studio aims to balance narrative and mechanics by finding innovative ways to tell stories while providing enjoyable gameplay.
Deep dives
Emphasizing the importance of big bets and scalability
Night School Studio prioritizes making big bets and pursuing projects with the potential for broad appeal. They focus on creating games that have the potential to resonate with a wide audience, even if the execution is unique and unconventional. By prioritizing scalability and aiming for projects that can reach a larger audience, they strive to give their games the best chance for success.
The value of vertical slices and hype demos
Night School Studio recognizes the importance of creating vertical slices or hype demos early in the development process. These milestones allow the team to gauge the potential of the game and evaluate if it captures the desired vibe and player experience. By getting the core mechanics, art, and audio in place, they can determine if the game has the right emotional impact and if it aligns with their creative vision.
The challenge of balancing narrative and mechanics
Night School Studio faces the challenge of balancing narrative and mechanics in their games. While they specialize in narrative-focused games, they also want to incorporate engaging gameplay and player interaction. They strive to find innovative ways to tell stories and create meaningful player experiences, while also ensuring the gameplay mechanics are robust enough to support the narrative and provide enjoyable gameplay.
Trusting their creative vision and taste
Night School Studio places a high level of trust in their creative vision and taste. They have confidence in their ability to make bets and decisions that align with their artistic goals and have the potential to resonate with audiences. By staying grounded in their unique perspectives and passions, they navigate the challenges and uncertainties of game development, making choices that prioritize creative integrity and the pursuit of meaningful experiences.
Maintaining the Vibe of Oxenfree
The challenge of creating a sequel that still captures the vibe of the original Oxenfree game was a central concern for the developers. They wanted to ensure that the story, art, music, and overall feel of the game remained true to the first installment. They aimed to authentically recreate that immersive experience of playing as Riley in a cold, windy world, while avoiding any drastic changes that would feel disconnected or inauthentic.
Introducing New Player Verbs and Stories
One of the main goals for Oxenfree 2 was to introduce new player verbs, allowing them to impact the story in different ways beyond just conversations. The addition of the walkie-talkie as a communication tool enabled players to engage in asynchronous conversations and explore parallel storylines. The challenge was to make these interactions feel natural and enticing, with characters having their own lives and stories that players could connect with. The developers aimed to create a world where events impact the characters, providing a deeper and more immersive experience.
Strange Scaffold'sXalavier Nelson Jr. chats with Adam Hines & Sean Krankel from Night School Studio. Together they discuss releasing their latest game, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals; how new tools are improving the development process; trying to stay unpredictable as a studio; identifying core principles during development; and writing authentic worlds and characters while working with the complex conversation system present in Oxenfree. Be sure to check out Xalavier and Strange Scaffold's newest game El Paso, Elsewhere on Steam.
