Interview: Mystic Box Talks Runespell
By Kyle Mann | August 12, 2011 | Interviews | No comments | Share
Mystic Box recently unleashed the addicting Runespell Overture, an ultra-addicting poker/RPG combo. We got the chance to talk with Mystic Box founder Barry Hoffman about the game, the company’s views on DRM and piracy, and future releases.
How have you guys been involved in the gaming industry before? Any previous titles you’ve worked on?
We worked on a bunch of titles, my partner was executive producer for Obscure 2 amongst others and has been in the gaming industry since early 2000. I myself have been working in the casual multiplayer business since 2005 and lately into social games, next to working on Runespell: Overture.
Runespell is a bizarre combination of Poker and turn-based RPG battles. What games inspired the design?
I think we have been mostly inspired by Puzzle Quest and Magic The Gathering with regards to gameplay. But when we set of to create the Mythic Poker system, we wanted to design pure gameplay without any system around it, this game was of course inspired by Poker, Yahtzee and Solitaire.
What would you say was the most difficult aspect of Runespell’s development?
Working with a team that was all around the world and not in one office. Agile, Jira, Basecamp and a lot of Skype has managed it, but sometimes the timezones can be tough.
Explain a little bit of your design process. Is everything planned out ahead of time, or does a fair bit of the mechanics come through some trial-and-error?
We had thought out quite a bit ahead, but along the way you start iterating and see that some screens need adjustment. In the end we had about 7 rounds of balancing.
What tools did you use to create Runespell: Overture?
Especially the Unity 2.6.1 engine next to the regular tools
As an industry insider, what do you see happening in the independent games market in the next five years?
I do think that more developers will try to go Indie, as platforms like Steam, XBLA and PSN appear. iOS feels like an opportunity but with the current structure of the Store it is more a gamble. For iOS you now still need a publisher with enough marketing power to push your game.
How have Steam and other digital distribution platforms impacted your ability to create games independently?
Without Steam we would not have had an indie release.
What are your personal favorite games and developers?
Dragon Age II, BioWare
What is Mystic Box’s stance on piracy and the ever-controversial issue of DRM?
Well it is sad that DRM is needed, but it is also fact of life due to piracy. On the other hand it took 2 days to see the first torrents threads start on Runespell and on the first patch it was I believe 20 minutes. I think you should deal with it as a fact of life. But this does not mean it has not impacted us. Due to piracy we will definitely consider the online multiplayer approach next time.
What does Mystic Box have planned beyond the release of Runespell: Overture?
As an Indie we are currently working on assignments next to doing our own projects. But yes, we do have some concepts that should become clearer in the near future. We are currently working on a spin off of Runespell that will be running online, next to this we are reviewing options for updating RSO and we are working on some small new concept to test the waters of iOS. Although I do think iOS is a gamble, we want to try it out by investing some of our budget into this platform. And of course we will work on DLC or a sequel in future. As a small team we consider every step in the process, which might take more time in the end, but we will get there. I can tell you this though: To speed up things we will definitely involve our community a lot earlier in the process next time, instead of releasing the game two months after the first signs of life.
