Rolly :
How long
have you been making games?
Duranik
: We started making games on the Atari ST back
in the 80s, most of this stuff was never released as it where just little
small games. In 1996 we released Impulse on the Atari Falcon, this game is
currently converted to the Jaguar bei MDGames
http://mdgames.de/impulsex_eng.html
Later we created Alpine Games for the little Lynx Handheld System.
Rolly : Where in Germany can meet such Duranik
and talk to him live?
Duranik
: We prefer to stay in privacy ;) But we intend
to visit the German jagfest one day..
Rolly : The team Duranik is only one person?
You are responsible for programming, graphics, etc?
Duranik
: We are 2 brothers, my brother is doing all
the coding, I do all graphics and level design etc.
Rolly :
Is the
home-made games can make a living from this, or can also work elsewhere?
Duranik
: This is just a hobby for us; of course we
both have regular jobs where we go every day. That’s one part why it took so
long to get it finished.
Rolly : How did the cooperation of a
redspotgames - meeting, conference etc?
Duranik
: Well, they knew we were developing something
for the DC, so the bugged as long enough to publish it with redspotgames.
Apart from this the communication is done with email.
Rolly : Native for Jaguar looks very nice, it
was a prototype of Sturmwind?
Duranik
: No, the games have nothing in common apart
from both being shmups. There is no graphics or anything which is shared
between those two projects.
Rolly :
Where did
the idea to create a game on the Dreamcast??
Duranik
: I’m not 100% sure about this anymore, we
discussed if an what we could work on, at the beginning we had the Mega
Drive in mind, but ended up on DC as it seemed easier to get the necessary
hardware..
Rolly :
How was the
DC Sturmwind tests passed since the beginning of a lot of improvements (on
the plus) - are there any changes?
Duranik
: There were probably around 250 changes and
enhancements made since the beta test, as we had the time because of the
production delays, we added lots of stuff that wasn´t planned initially.
Rolly :
The game
engine is based on libraries of KOS or is it something completely different?
Duranik
: Yes, the game is based on KOS.
Rolly : There were some problems with the
programming for DC?
Duranik
: No, the
Dreamcast is a very easy machine to handle.
Rolly :
Soundtrack
produced by the 505 (
http://fiveofive.bandcamp.com/ ) lived up your expectations?
Duranik
: We worked with 505 before and always loved
his work, the soundtrack is great, and there is also a Sturmwind Audio CD
which is bundled with the limited edition of the game.
Rolly :
What makes
Sturmwind from other similar games on the market?
Duranik
: Sturmwind is developed for the "casual"
Dreamcast fan, you don´t have to be a hardcore shooter maniac to see some
later levels. If you have a couple of minutes spare time left and want to
play something without going through a 20 page introduction, than this is
for you.
Rolly : Dreamcast has a huge database issued on
the console shooters, you're not afraid of criticism, for example,
comparisons of the Border Down?
Duranik
: Well of course there will be a lot of people
crying it’s not Shenmue 3 :-), but you have to be realistic what you could
develop with a very small team, otherwise you will not be able to finish
anything. The other point is when we started with the game there were not
many other shooters out, even under defeat was released afterwards.
Rolly : Do redspotgames said something about
release date? Everyone is waiting with bated breath..
Duranik
: We cannot say anything about a release date
apart from "soon". You have to ask redspotgames for a more specific date.
Rolly :
How many
copies is planned to sell? Did you get this information?
Duranik
: No not really, we have some ideas at which
point we would consider it a success.
Rolly : I do not know if you saw but also the
employees of SEGA tested your game and were very impressed! Congratulations!
Duranik
: Oh really? That’s nice, didn´t know that,
thanks.
Rolly : We have heard that it can get Sturmwind
also be DLC? What it might be (ships, levels, and maybe some gallery CG) ?
Duranik
: This is all tied to the SD Card, if you have
a SD Card adapter plugged in your Dreamcast you get lots of additional
features, DLC would be one of them. There is no DLC at the moment this all
depends on the success.
Rolly : How will the support VMU? It will be
something on it to happen? For example, displays the current score?
Duranik
: There is VMU support, weapons will be shown
etc. nothing really groundbreaking. At the beginning we thought about little
VMU games, but to be honest, it’s not really worth the time, no one ever
wrote anything about the VMU display during the whole beta test..
Rolly : Network will be able to show off the
result ranking, eg on the official site??
Duranik
: There is a worldwide leaderboard with
rankings etc. This will be on our website.
Rolly : Is the option for two players is
planned?
Duranik
: It was planned at the beginning but skipped,
now it’s too late to add this. Thinking about this now it would have been a
nice feature.
Rolly : Is there still a chance that you
produce a commercial SEGA Dreamcast game or other console?
Duranik
: We have currently no plans on new projects.
A few quick questions at the end.
Rolly : Favorite game?
Duranik
: Uncharted 1-3
Rolly : Favorite development studio?
Duranik
: Naughty Dog
Rolly : Best shmup?
Duranik
: Under Defeat
Rolly : Best game on the Dreamcast?
Duranik
: Soul Calibur
Rolly : Be the first may be in Poland? Any
opinions about our country? Are you going to Euro2012?
Duranik
: Unfortunately we never have been in Poland so
far, perhaps we have the chance to change this in the future, theres great
stuff coming from Poland for the old 8 bit computers these days. And we are
watching the EuroMundial on TV.
Thanks for the interview and I hope all polish Dreamcast fans will enjoy
Sturmwind.
