Indie Spotlight: Arklight

This week, on the Indie Spotlight, we take a look at Arklight. This game crosses boundaries in simple but fun ways. Arklight allows players to play a breakout, arcade-shooting, puzzle-block variation that seamlessly shows that the industry still has some tricks up its sleeve. For a better look into Arklight, you can read the review for the game by clicking on this link here. Still, we had some questions about Arklight, the independent scene, and a game that never reached store shelves, The Fallen. George from Pi Eye Games took time to out answer our questions, and you can check the Q&A out below. Also, be sure to visit PiEyegames.com for more info on Arklight.

VG Core: The gaming industry is rapidly growing and expanding, do you think the Indie scene has expanded or submersed over the past decade?

George: Pi Eye Games has only been around since late 2004 so I've missed out on most of the decade. I really wish I'd started Pi Eye up a few years ago. I run another games site and it amazes me just how many games are being released these days, around 5-7 a week, and that's just the games I see.

VG Core: A game like Arklight deserves a lot of attention. Has the game been receiving the kind of media coverage you hoped it would?

George: I've had my development head on for a long time and I'm only just starting to look into marketing, so I guess ArkLight has got the media coverage I'd expected, which is not a lot. The review in GameTunnel was a very pleasant surprise (smiles). Over the next year I'll learn more about the marketing side of things and hopefully the games will get out there a bit more.

VG Core: The Xbox Live Arcade is a growing medium for the Xbox 360, do you think Arklight would fit in well with the 360's lineup? And if offered the opportunity, would you port Arklight over as an Arcade title for the Xbox?

George: It's got to be a good opportunity for indie developers and MS have done a great job with it. With the sheer volume of games out there, I'm not sure how easy it'd be to get on there though. Hopefully it'll be a larger and larger part of the consoles to come. I think ArkLight would work well on Live Arcade and it'd be fun tuning the game to work with the controllers. It's not something I've looked into though - I'm too busy trying to sell the PC versions!

VG Core: The lighting and graphics really complimented the centerpiece of the game's focus on a spaceship named the Arklight. Was it difficult coming up with the lighting and electrical effects, most of which seemed to work as a characteristic to the Arklight?

George: Actually the FX were created first for a previous game called 'The Fallen'. Although the game never got past the publisher demo stage the engine became the basis for the PiEye engine.

The energy spheres came about as an easy way to see something on screen for the prototype. As soon as I'd added them they generated a load of ideas for the game's main elements. This is why I like indie development, you don't have to design everything from the start and you're free to follow ideas as you go.

VG Core: The Fallen looks like it could have been a really cool game. What was the game going to be about, and what was the gameplay like?

George: It was a horror survival game which used on-rails shooter gameplay for the combat. You'd be walking along in 3rd person (like Silent Hill) and hear a sound, a wall would explode with some aliens jumping through and you'd literally reach for your gun as the game switched into the House Of The Dead style, 1st person combat. I was kind of proud of the alien system too, the plan was to have no two aliens look the same.

VG Core: Following up on that question, what was it about The Fallen that the publishers didn't like? And would you ever consider picking the project back up?

George: We did get some interest, the most exciting of which was from Konami UK. Unfortunately the size of our team put them off - I guess two people writing a console game wasn't a realistic proposition. Ooops ... still, the engine went on to become the Pi Eye Games engine so not much code was wasted and it was fun to write, we both learned a lot.

VG Core: What sort of elements from the Fallen did you use in Arklight?

George: Not really, due to the difference in genres. There are some elements of The Fallen though which I would like to use in future projects, the animation system would help make some great action games. Although, I haven't looked at the code for a while, so who knows what state it's in (winks)

VG Core: What do you think is the biggest problem in the mainstream of gaming and what do you think is the biggest problem in the independent scene?

George: From a player's point of view I think the retail games industry is only getting better and more exciting. I know some people complain that there aren't enough original games, but that's what the indie scene is about (smiles)

From a developer's point of view the worst thing has to be when your game gets canned. You've got to hate it when that happens, and almost all my developer friends have had it happen at least once. I think the indie scene looks very healthy. I personally haven't found many problems with it and everyone's nice and friendly. It is a lot of work though. At some point I'll have to cut down on my 50-60 hours a week!

VG Core: Would you prefer working in a larger group, like most mainstream developers? Or do you prefer the smaller, independent setting you’re in now?

George:I did enjoy working with larger groups and do miss the interaction a bit (and the football at lunchtimes). When I first started working full time on Pi Eye Games it did take a few months for me to adjust but I'm now fairly productive again and really enjoying it. My family are always around so my work breaks are fun.

VG Core: Thanks George for answering our questions. Do you have any final comments for aspiring indie developers?

George: Well, I don't want to sound to discouraging, but my main advice would be not to give up the day job too soon. I've heard it was easier to make money a few years ago, but these days it's becoming more and more of a hit driven market. I managed to get some contract work for Pi Eye, which allowed me to go full time earlier than I thought. But yeah, it is fun writing games so stick with it and good luck (smiles)


Remember, if you'd like more information regarding Arklight, be sure to visit www.PiEyeGames.com. If you have a game you'd like to suggest for the upcoming Indie Spotlight or you're a developer who wants your game spotlighted, send comments, suggestions or feedback to Cyguration@VGcore.com

Article By: Cyguration