Here we are, back with another developer interview! This time with Gemtoken Games
the creator of Loot Goblin. Before we start we’d like to thank the Gemtoken Games
Team for participating in our interview and for answering all of our geeky questions! Thanks!
/// Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about Loot Goblin! Could you kick-start this interview by telling us a little about your studio, yourself, and what drew you into the gaming industry?
Gemtoken Games is a platform for bringing ideas to life. It’s a small independent game studio located in Toronto, Ontario and is run solely by myself (for now). My goal is to create many games that strike a satisfying balance between the familiar and totally new!
As for me, I’m a fresh university graduate who always wanted to create my own stuff. I’m a programmer by trade, so getting into the games industry was such a natural choice after years of working on technical projects. It just felt like time to make something fun and exciting.
Today, I maintain the studio as a solo venture, and after operating for less than a year, have finally been able to launch Gemtoken’s first game, Loot Goblin!
/// Ok, let’s start talking about Loot Goblin. What are the highlights of your latest game?
Loot Goblin is a frantic loot grabbing frenzy! Play as titular Loot Goblin in his quest to grab as many coins and gems as possible. With simple controls, drag, aim and release to go running across the treasure room. Ricochet off the walls and avoid enemies before time runs out while massing a hoard of sweet loot!
In between rounds, you can use the coins you collect you buy and customize Loot Goblin with different hats, upgrades, and abilities. Additionally, you can work to top the Leaderboards with massive highscores, and boost your score multiplier by completing Quests in-game. You can find the game here on Google Play.
/// What was the core idea or inspiration behind Loot Goblin? And perhaps more importantly, where do you find inspiration for your games in general?
The visuals are definitely inspired by 3D games of the 90s. The character in Loot Goblin takes inspiration particularly from icons like Crash Bandicoot; with vibrant colors and a low-poly appearance. Gameplay-wise, I really enjoy mobile games that are simple in nature, which is why the controls are easy to understand and the goals of the game are straightforward.
Like many others, I tend to get inspired by the things I play. As a game developer, I constantly wonder how different game concepts and ideas I’ve encountered can be pushed or twisted in different ways to make something completely new.
/// How long was Loot Goblin in development for? And are there any interesting and/or exciting moments or experiences you would like to share with us from that time?
The game was in development for roughly 6 months before launching on Google Play. Probably the most exciting thing about development (for me at least) is that it is a completely solo project. Nearly everything that exists in the game today, from the graphics, music, code, animations, and more were done entirely myself and I am extremely proud of the end result.
It was such a rewarding journey to start from scratch and learn the skills necessary to make the game a reality.
/// What software, developer-tools, or black-magic(?) did you use when making Loot Goblin? Is there anything you would like to share with the developers who read Edamame Reviews?
Loot Goblin is made in Unity, which I can absolutely attest to as my favorite platform for new developers looking to make their first game. In terms of other multimedia, I use Blender for 3D modeling and animation, LMMS for the music, and Paint.net for image editing and text.
I suppose if I had to give any advice to other devs, I would say that there are tons of open-source, free software to help on your journey, so explore these options as much as possible!
/// Is there any secret “developer-advice” you can give our lucky players who read this interview?
Well, if it’s players of Loot Goblin looking for gameplay strategies, I would say: keep practicing and make sure to upgrade your powerups! No cheat codes in this game 😉
However, if it’s developer advice you seek, in addition to what I said above, I would add that game development is an ongoing process. Always keep looking for feedback, and continue to improve once the game comes out.
/// What can we expect to see in Loot Goblin or from Gemtoken Games
in the not so distant future? What do we have to look forward to next?
For Loot Goblin players, there are many more updates to come! So far, the game has seen additional hats, loot patterns, quests, and leaderboards. In the future, I would like to include more customization options, new items to collect in-game, and possibly seasonal events as well.
As for other plans, Gemtoken Games is already hard at work on its next project. It’s a secret for now, but I can’t wait to share more details when the time comes.
/// Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to our awesome team of Writers, Developers, and Supporters who keep Edamame Reviews up and running?
I want to give a huge thanks to Edamame Reviews for the coverage they provide for indie developers such as myself. Visibility is sometimes a difficult task for smaller studios, so the efforts made by your hard-working team are highly appreciated!
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Find it on Google Play