Farmer to Shooter: A Studio's Unlikely Inspiration
A producer of a high-octane shooter credits a cozy farming simulation for shaping his team's approach to game design, revealing how slow-paced hobbies influence fast-paced combat.
Nic Duchesne, a producer at Behaviour Interactive, admits that the biggest influence on his current work is not a war movie or a classic arcade shooter, but a game about watering crops and caring for chickens. Duchesne works on Serious Sam: Shatterverse, a title defined by explosive violence and rapid-fire combat. Yet, he points to Stardew Valley as a primary source of inspiration for his team, a connection that might seem contradictory at first glance.
The inspiration stems from a personal tradition rather than a design document. Duchesne and his wife have played Stardew Valley together for three consecutive Christmas holidays. This shared experience of slowing down, managing a small farm, and engaging in low-stakes activities like fishing has provided a counterbalance to their professional lives. This balance has subtly influenced how his team thinks about player engagement and the value of downtime in game design.
Cozy Hobbies Shape Combat Design
According to reports from GN technics/gaming, Duchesne describes the rhythm of Stardew Valley as a fantasy of having free time. In the game, players start the day with necessary chores, such as watering plants, and then have the freedom to pursue their own interests. This structure of shared responsibility followed by individual leisure resonated deeply with him. It highlighted the importance of giving players a sense of agency and relaxation, even in the middle of a high-stress environment.
This appreciation for pacing has translated into Shatterverse, a cooperative roguelike shooter for one to five players. While the game involves mowing down hordes of mutants, the underlying design philosophy benefits from the clarity and satisfaction found in slower-paced games. The team aims to ensure that every action feels purposeful, mirroring the immediate feedback loop of a farming sim where every task contributes to the overall progress.
Balancing Chaos and Calm
Shatterverse is designed to be accessible and fun, with each run consisting of three levels and ending with a boss fight. The game relies on obvious mechanics: shooting things makes them explode. This simplicity is intentional, allowing players to focus on the flow of combat without getting bogged down in complex systems. The contrast between the chaotic gameplay and the calm inspiration behind it suggests a broader trend in game development, where creators seek to blend different genres to create more well-rounded experiences.
The trade-off in this approach is that the game may lack the depth or complexity found in more traditional shooters. However, the focus on accessibility and fun ensures that a wider audience can enjoy the experience. By drawing inspiration from a completely different genre, Duchesne and his team have created a game that is both entertaining and thoughtfully designed, proving that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places.
