PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:

I am developing games individually under the name “studio BBQ”. I used to be a musician and bassist. I started game development four years ago and have been doing most of the work alone.

Rooted in the retro games of Japan where I was born and raised, I aim to create emotional works that can only be developed by an individual. So far, I have released three 2D pixel art action games: "dragon's tower," "7days heroes," and "10min heroes," available on smartphones, Steam, Xbox, PS, and Switch.

TELL US ABOUT 7DAYS HEROES.

I have only made three games so far, but I think "7days heroes" will be my signature work.

"7DAYS HEROES" is a pixel art 2D action game where you control a squad of four characters to fight zombies. It is primarily a side-scrolling gun shooting game, but you can challenge various stages by utilizing the characteristics of the four characters. Although it's an action game, I focused on the story, aiming for an experience similar to watching a movie. Fortunately, a publisher (Dolores Entertainment) approached me, allowing the release not only on iOS and Steam (Windows) but also on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.

I prefer imagery, music, and atmosphere over game mechanics, so I started the project by drawing a picture. I developed and completed the ideas from that picture.

I expanded my ideas by drawing and animating pixel art and creating music.

The game is influenced by NES-era games like "Battletoads" and "EarthBound." As I love music, I also get inspiration from my favorite tracks.

People often ask if I was influenced by "Cave Story," but I hadn't played it until recently. After playing it, I found it to be a wonderful game and felt a sense of sympathy.

HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN

It took about two years to complete "7days heroes." For me, the development journey was very enjoyable. Most of my life is not spent making games, so the time I spend on game development is very happy for me.

WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

I started making games by self-study, so I wanted a game engine with rich tutorials and one that many people use.

I chose Unity because I plan to make only 2D games for the time being.

I am also interested in Godot, GameMaker, and Pico-8, but for now, I am fully occupied with Unity.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?

For "7days heroes," implementing the system to switch between and control four characters was incredibly challenging.

When the characters move in a formation, it would be boring if they moved perfectly in sync, so I made slight adjustments and changed layers. Therefore, the workload felt many times more than just four times the effort.

Testing new implementations and fixing bugs involved all the characters... This hurdle stood in my way until right before the game's completion, but I was truly happy when I overcame it!

ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?

I am still on my journey, so I can't say anything too grand, but I think it's important to stay positive. Indie game development is free, and you don't need to be hindered by anyone.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

As a spin-off of "7days heroes," the pixel art 2D survivor "10min heroes" will be released for iOS in July 2024. This game is a simple action game with no story and is free, so I hope more people can enjoy it. If you're interested, please play it, and I hope it brings you a positive feeling!

--Akira Abe

❤️

7DAYS HEROES on Steam