Interview with Revolved developer James Gagnon

Every puzzle game creator's dream
By Russell D. Carroll [March 6, 2005]

Q:  For everyone reading out there, who are you and what was your involvement with Revolved?
A:  My name is James Gagnon, I am the Project Manager for Revolved. My primary involvement with Revolved was handling the task management, PR, and managing the business aspects. However, as independent game developers, most of us on the team had our hands in multiple areas of the games development.

Q:  What do you think makes Independent games distinctive?
A:  Independent games tend to be more innovative. Independent developers are without the shackles of the corporate environment and without the risk of losing millions of dollars if their games do not succeed. This allows the developers to be more creative and introduce new gaming concepts that aren’t necessarily familiar to gamers.

Q:  How did your studio get your start in working with independent games?
A:  We knew the best way to secure a publishing deal was to deliver a finished product. Since we didn’t have any established up front funding it was natural for us to depend largely on the independent community. It’s been a great experience starting from the ground up and we are all glad we didn’t attempt to skip the step.

Q:  What is the most innovative feature of Revolved and how is it innovative in your mind?
A:  The pace of the game is the most innovative feature of Revolved. Players are never forced to wait for pieces to fall or combos to fully execute before being able to move again. Players can freely move game pieces from one side of the board to the other. This keeps players focused on the action and captivated by the results of their moves. The open ended pace of the gameplay also allows the freedom for players to set up and later execute complex combos.

Q:  What do gamers appreciate most about Revolved?
A:  Our casual market enjoys the bright explosive display that Revolved rewards its players with.

The more hard-core puzzle crowd really enjoys the depth of the game. There are many complex gameplay elements within Revolved that are there for the experienced players.

Q:  What was the single most difficult part of Revolved to program?
A:  The gameplay was challenging to develop since there are so many states that each game piece can be in. We didn’t want to restrict the player; keeping true to this posed many challenges for us.

Q:  Other than your own game did any one of the IGF finalists or Student Showcase games stand out to you? Why?
A:  Alien Hominid is a blast. I appreciate the art and creativity within the game. Others here at Alter Ego Games Studio really enjoy the PDA games that AH has to offer. The PDA games would be an excellent port to cell phones.

Q:  How do you think Independent Games will evolve in the future?
A:  Games are becoming more complex with each year that passes. It’s going to be hard for independent developers to keep up when writing games from scratch. One alternative is the introduction of more mods into the independent scene.

Q:  What is the biggest challenge facing Independent games?
A:  All of us sacrificed our lifestyle on many levels in order to release Revolved. Independent developers are commonly forced to sacrifice time and money while developing their product. Unfortunately this results in many great games never making it out the door.

Q:  As one of the leaders of Independent Games, what is next for you?
A:  Revolved has opened up many business opportunities for us. Winning the Slamdance Game Competition provided us with some great exposure as well that has resulted in more work for us. We are in negotiations regarding a Game Boy Advance version and discussing PSP and DS development. Revolved will also be available at your local Target, OfficeMax, and other major retail chains. Soon you will be able to go online and play Revolved to compete for cash. Expect to see Revolved available for your cell phone as well.