Remap Radio Remap Interview - Volgarr the Viking
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Apr 9, 2025 Christopher Dershmitt, CEO and creative director of Crazy Viking Studios, dives into the philosophy behind Volgarr the Viking. He shares insights on creating a 'hard but fair' gaming experience, discussing design choices like minimal UIs to encourage player learning. From the challenges of 2012's Kickstarter to the evolution of 2D game mechanics, he reflects on the arcade-era difficulty and player feedback for sequels. Christopher also teases upcoming projects, including an ARPG-style continuation and a kid-friendly retelling of Volgarr.
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Difficulty With Purpose
- Christopher Dershmitt frames Volgarr as intentionally hard but fair, avoiding unavoidable "gotchas."
- He designed the game to teach perseverance and skill rather than punish unknown actions.
Learning By Playing Instantly
- Dershmitt intentionally removed menus and tutorials so players learn by playing in seconds.
- The opening room teaches movement, attack, upgrades and platforming naturally without explicit instructions.
Arcade Roots Shape Design Taste
- Christopher recalls growing up on Atari and arcades where skill replaced wealth to keep playing.
- Those experiences shaped his taste for skill-based, challenging games like Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts.