Burn! Zombie Burn! is making a splash on the PlayStation Network (PSN) and a South Park game is brewing for XBLA. We have a lot of stuff going on here and we need some answers!
Ollie Barder, a Senior Designer at doublesix, was kind enough to answer our questions as we rooted around in the rummage pile of moldering flesh, discarded weapons and pools of goo.
2old2play: How about starting by telling us a little about you and doublesix?
Ollie: Well, I’m a senior games designer at doublesix and we’re a developer that specializes in making digital download games that offer that “one more go” feel.
2old2play: What platforms have you designed for and which are you looking toward?
Ollie: Apart from Burn Zombie Burn! for PSN, we also have a South Park game for XBLA on the way. We’ve also developed two games on the iPhone and we’re keen to pursue working on WiiWare at some point. So we’re very much a developer that likes working on multiple platforms.
2old2play: What genre of games is your company focusing on?
Ollie: We don’t have a specific genre focus here ... the team likes a wide variety of games and we like to make games we want to play. With Burn Zombie Burn! for example, a lot of us love the classic shooters and felt that there was space in the market that we could fill.
2old2play: How will your company excel in this industry?
Ollie: Primarily, by making the kind of games we want to play as gamers ourselves. We work in branch of the industry where there is more freedom to experiment, less pressure to conform and yet a lot of nostalgia for classic gaming thrills. This combination is very rich to us – it allows us to make new games, but ones that don’t need to find an audience. Another wonderful aspect of digital download is that you’re in direct contact with your customers and you can match what we are making with what they want.
2old2play: How has your company benefited from being a developer who makes games for all platforms instead of specific systems?
Ollie: It means your creative options are more open as different platforms have different functional strengths. We are free to focus concepts to the specific platform and audience that suit it best or we can use our cross-platform experience to make titles for everyone.
2old2play: Will you be bringing games you have done for Sony to Xbox and vice versa?
Ollie: In the case of Burn Zombie Burn! Sony has taken it exclusive so that won’t be going cross-platform. Likewise, South Park is being published by Microsoft so that won’t be exactly cross-platform either. That said, in future we will be making cross-platform titles that will reach gamers on all platforms.
2old2play: Which do you prefer, working with original IP or realizing someone else's in a kickass way?
Ollie: At doublesix, we want a healthy mix of work for hire and creating our own IP. There will be more original games, but as to what they are and when they are coming - I’m afraid my lips are sealed!
2old2play: Thanks for taking the time to let us behind the velvet rope a little Ollie. We look forward to more great things from doublesix.
