NYKRA is an upcoming game from ENDESGA which is currently live and Kickstarter and Steam Greenlight (links at the end). This week I caught up with Seth from ENDESGA to find out a little more about him and the game.
Are you a full-time developer? If not, what do you do?
I develop anything for NYKRA whenever it is physically possible. So at the moment I work a part-time job to pay for the essentials – since I do everything GameDev-related myself!
What is your earliest memory of playing video games? What was your favourite?
My earliest memory involves playing “Alex Kidd in Miracle World” on the Sega Mark III. It was definitely one of my favourites. Then much later on, I got my Gameboy!
How did you get into game development?
When I was about 8-9 years old, my father (who is a computer engineer) basically told me that you can actually MAKE games! I remember feeling confused, because I thought only big companies could make games! This lead to him bringing out his ZX-Spectrum. After a few months of learning, my father said he found a program called “Game Maker”…
NYKRA has been a dream. From the very moment when my dad told me that I can make games, I knew I’ve always wanted to make something with all my knowledge and might. I’ve always been obsessed with Sci-Fi, space, old tales, and technology. So things went from there.
Is this your first game? If not, tell us briefly about your best game to date.
I have, though, been part of
Ludum Dare numerous times, but only to keep my mind fresh!
Tell us a little about Nykra and where the idea for the game came from.
I’ve always been a fan of “the beginning of everything”-type stories. And my parents have definitely fueled my ambition, by buying me books like “1001 Facts about Space” that I would read a million times. So you take those 2 things, mash them up with 6 years of constant creations, drawings, designs, and sketches, and you get NYKRA.
It’s a game that is a direct reflection of me. You’re a soul trying to tinker and create things, while the galaxy around you is telling you to do something else, to fix something, to do anything but what you want to do. So Keu and Eo experience just that, along with the odd hacking and looting here and there.
How many are in the team developing Nykra and who are they?
I am ENDESGA. My name is Seth, and I’m currently doing everything you see. I’m the artist, programmer, designer, creator, manager, and promoter. I generally try to keep a “we” format going on, because I do have a musician helping, but at the moment I am completely lone making NYKRA 🙂
I really like the pixel art style you’ve gone with, is there a reason for opted for pixel over other styles?
I’ve always loved pixels. Even when playing Alex Kidd I would analyse the way the characters were drawn. If you hunt down the old screenshots of NYKRA (was called NIKRA back then) you can see that my style has definitely changed!
Why did you choose to use GMS for this project?
I have been hopping, recreating, redesigning, and everything on GameMaker since Game Maker 6 (I think!). And I’ve been polishing things all the way up to GM:Studio. So here I am, with 10 years of experience under my belt, I’m fortunate enough to have been given access to the Closed Beta of GameMaker Studio 2!
How does GMS2 compare with GMS 1.4?
It’s different. It’s like stepping out of a small pool to a big warm spa. I’ve always been a fan of GML rather than D&D, and GMS2 really brings it to a whole new level.
Put simply, it feels professional. Much more professional than even GM8.1 (those were the days…)
Aside from GMS2, what other software are you using?
I use Aseprite and Photoshop for art (Aseprite mostly for pixels), and well… That’s about it!
What does your hardware setup look-like?
Now this is a humorous question, because I’ve been dying to upgrade for many years. I have a 1080p monitor, an i7 Asus mid-range laptop, and a Wacom Intros Pro Medium tablet. I’ve always told myself that having mid-range things is the way to go; so I can create NYKRA at a level that is efficient to most of the people playing it! Rather than having a colossal tower and 4K screen!
How have you found the support for the game so far and how does it feel to be almost green-lit on Steam?
The support is overwhelming, in the most heartfelt way possible. I’m constantly happy and motivated, and I’m glad people love NYKRA as much as I do! And almost being
Greenlit (at the moment I type this) is beyond amazing as well <3
What top tip do you have for aspiring game developers getting started with GameMaker Studio?
Plan, design, go crazy. Follow decent tutorials, and don’t be afraid to ask people. In fact, my DMs are always open, so feel free to message me if you have a solid question I could answer! (
@ENDESGA) If you have a dream, go make it!
What’s your favourite indie game?
I have many favourites! Nuclear Throne has definitely been a big one for me, along with FEZ. There are so many gems out there!
END
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Seth for taking the time for this interview. The game looks beautiful so far and we’ll be keeping a close eye on the progress. If you’d like to help make this game a reality then head on over to the Kickstarter page and show your support too (link below).
If you’re a developer using GameMaker Studio for your next project and would like to appear on this blog then please get in touch or comment below.
Links
You can support NYKRA on the Kickstarter page
here.
Check out NYKRA on Steam Greenlight
here.
Follow the Dev updates
here.
Follow Seth on Twitter
here.
Grab Aesprite, Seth’s pixel art tool of choice,
here.
