Interview with Rupert Ochsner by Peter ward
Shoot, slash, switch and snatch to unveil the mystery of the 5th season in the most nostalgic 16-Bit action platformer ever to be made!
THE FACTS
Game: FOX n FORESTS
Developer: Bonus Level Entertainment
Genre: 2D Action Platformer
Kickstarter: July 13th until August 13th 2016
Release Date: September 2017
Platforms: PC, Linux, Mac (Steam and DRM free) – confirmed / Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft – tbc
Distribution: Digital Download
Price: 15 USD (on Kickstarter)
Players: Singleplayer – confirmed / Asymmetric Multiplayer – tbc
Age: E for Everyone, USK 6+, PEGI 7, OFLC PG – tbc
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/foxnforests/fox-n-forests
Steam Greenlight: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=642132442
Website: www.foxnforests.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/foxnforestsgame
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOXnFORESTS
FOX n FORESTS is a 2D 16-Bit style action platformer with adventure and puzzle elements, empowering you to switch seasons on the fly!
Set within a mystic forest and its surroundings, FOX n FORESTS is a stunning fable offering pixel perfect Retrotainment and rewarding challenges!
The game is inspired by the glorious days of 16-Bit and all time classics like Super Ghouls ’n Ghosts, Wonder Boy in Monster World and ActRaiser 2 as well as the Castlevania and Zelda series.
You play as Rick the Fox and your weapon is a magic melee crossbow that can not only be used for ranged and close up combat, but empowers you to seamlessly switch between 2 seasons per level, completely changing the whole environment and resulting in amazing secrets, tricky skill tests and thriving exploration.
Pixel perfect platforming, screen filling bosses, rich bonus levels, powerful potions, bags of loot, stuffed shops, clever backtracking, challenging skill tests, a magic melee crossbow to shoot and slash enemies, upgradeable shots, not 4 but 5 seasons to explore, stunning 16-Bit pixel art, a catchy chip tunes soundtrack and tons of humorous retro charm combined with the luxuries of modern game design will make FOX n FORESTS a worthy revival of games from the Golden Age.
Easy to learn, difficult to master, impossible to not fall in love with!
Bonus Level Entertainment is reinventing 16-Bit!
We are an independent game developer, founded by Rupert Ochsner and Holger Kuchling, located in Munich, Germany.
Bonus Level Entertainment is a team of passionate industry experts, talented newcomers and experienced veterans who worked on hundreds of titles combined so far. We want to bring back the glorious days of 16-Bit and merge our love for retro gaming with the luxury of modern game design.
FOX n FORESTS is a co-development between Bonus Level Entertainment, staff at Independent Arts Software and talented Freelancers from all over the world!
For the last 6 months we have been working very hard on the prototype, the trailer and getting the Kickstarter campaign up and running. The planning and game design of FOX n FORESTS reaches back to Spring 2015. The idea itself is inspired by Ikaruga and was born over 10 years ago: it’s never too late to make a dream come true 🙂
THE INTERVIEW
What is your first gaming experience?
Bomb Jack on the Commodore 64. Before we had a VC20 but I was too young to properly operate that tape deck.
What got you into programming games?
The passion for games that I have and the feeling that I want to give something back and work on stuff that hopefully makes people happy.
What development tools or coding did you use?
I started as Animator and Level Designer, then worked as Senior Brand Manager and Game Director, so strictly speaking I still do not know anything about code, but admire everyone who does.
What hurdles did you have making your current game?
Giving up my career at Deep Silver, living without a solid income for months to have the time and creative freedom to come up with a solid game design and project plan as well as finding the right partner, which I thankfully did with Holger, my ex-boss at Independent Arts Software. He and the staff there are such amazing, talented people! Without them FOX n FORESTS would have never been possible.
After the completion of the game what game will you make?
If I say something wrong here my team might kill me as everyone is full of cool ideas for 16-Bit games. So for now we focus on FOX n FORESTS. And if it is successful a further installment would definitely make sense.
What other games have you made?
All together I have worked on over 30 titles, like Dead Island 2, Saints Row IV, Galileo, Musiic Party, Maya the Bee or even My Pet Hotel, where we secretly placed some Easter eggs in the form of funny pictures of ourselves. And I can tell you, the Publisher was not happy about that. Still, some made it into the final game.
My favourite computer was my Amiga and console the Megadrive do you have a favourite?
I was a total Super Nintendo nerd back then but now I have many retro consoles at home and love each and every single one for their great titles, like the Megadrive/Genesis for Wonder Boy in Monster World.
What is your favourite retro game?
Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts AND Final Fantasy 6.
Do you still game on the current consoles if so whats your favourite game?
Yes of course and my favorite game at the moment is still Mario Maker. But to be honest, I haven’t had time to play it recently as we are so busy with our game, so I do not even know if my favorite levels are still online. ID 0873-0000-0089-0365 / ID 2BA6-0000-009F-A8CC
Whats the worst game you have ever played?
That is a dangerous question to ask a developer, so I am going to be diplomatic here and say: my first own game. It was a simple platformer called “Mr. Mouse” done in Flash but hey, it had a world map and credits!
Finally what game or feature would you like to see on Retrogamesmaster in the future?
It would be amazing to see a feature about 16-Bit side-scrolling shooters.
Have you got demo i can try and steam key so can feature at later date?
We will have a hands-off prototype running at Gamescom this August and are planning to have a hands-on demo ready next year. Closer to our launch in September 2017 we will also be sending around Steam keys to press.
Thank you so much for this feature and supporting FOX n FORESTS! Only if we are successful on Kickstarter we will be able to bring back the good old 16-Bit days.