I believe it’s protected to say that Whats up Kitty Island Journey () is on the very least one of many extra sudden cell hits of the 12 months. I don’t suppose anybody anticipated a lot out of it, not to mention an enormous exploratory journey sport with puzzles, aspect quests, and platforming challenges. However right here we’re, and the sport is nice. It simply received a really spiffy new replace for the Halloween season, in reality. After having fun with this Apple Arcade sport a lot, I wanted to speak to a few of the individuals behind the sport over at Sunblink. Fortunately, such a chance was accessible. What sorts of video games impressed it? Which character would they most love as a visitor on the island? What are their favourite pizza toppings? All these solutions and extra will be discovered on this interview.
TouchArcade (TA): Thanks for answering our questions at this time! Are you able to introduce yourselves and clarify your function within the improvement of Whats up Kitty Island Journey?
Chelsea Howe, Chief Product Officer (CH): I helped convey a longer-term lens to the sport, so we may plan the place we would like Whats up Kitty Island Journey to be in months and years. I additionally did odd jobs like deciding what number of Coconuts spawn every day and writing customer dialogue.
Tom Blind, Recreation Director (TB): I designed and prototyped the preliminary idea, and oversaw the event all through manufacturing. I could have additionally contributed some code right here and there.
TA: Per TouchArcade custom, I have to ask: what are your favourite pizza toppings?
CH: Margherita! Particularly if there are large contemporary crunchy basil leaves.
TA: What got here first, the concept of the sport or the concept of constructing one thing with the Sanrio characters?
TB: The chance to work with Sanrio got here first, however the thought of a mix between cozy and journey was one thing we had talked about beforehand and immediately got here to thoughts as the proper match for the model. Making use of typical cozy simulation gameplay to Whats up Kitty was an apparent factor to do, however we needed so as to add a layer of depth (actually, within the case of diving), that hasn’t been completed in all these video games earlier than.
TA: The Sanrio model is in fact completely huge globally. How did it really feel to be working with these beloved characters?
CH: Our entire staff fell in love with the characters as we discovered their little quirky particulars. Do you know Whats up Kitty isn’t truly a cat, however a bit lady? Do you know Hangyodon fell in love along with his pet fish when it briefly become a lady? The visible designs are pleasant, however studying the little nuggets of lore actually hooked us, and we strove to incorporate related nods for the followers all through the sport (together with the last word character you discover within the sport!)
TA: Whats up Kitty Island Journey has lots happening with its gameplay. I anticipated, at most, one thing just like Animal Crossing however received a lot extra. Are you able to discuss a few of the inspirations for it and the way it got here to be the sport it’s?
TB: Early on, one sport we performed lots and took inspiration from was A Brief Hike. It actually demonstrated how exploration may very well be enjoyable with out the necessity for fight or different types of motion. We thought we may take that concept and develop on it by creating an enormous world to have adventures in, in addition to make into a brand new dwelling
Since friendship and present giving are essential themes for Sanrio, we needed to make these key parts of development within the sport. We took some inspiration from video games like Stardew Valley on this regard. By participating with the completely different characters you not solely study extra about them and change into higher associates, but additionally unlock new quests to go on collectively.
It was a continuing battle all through improvement to make sure we correctly balanced these completely different facets right into a cohesive expertise. We didn’t need it to really feel like two completely different video games glued collectively. I really feel like we succeeded fairly nicely on this regard. Exploring, adventuring, hanging out with associates, and customizing the resort all feed into one another in order that gamers by no means really feel like they’re simply doing the identical factor time and again.
TA: Which of the characters within the sport was essentially the most enjoyable to work with and why?
CH: My private favourite is Cinnamoroll, however when it got here to telling tales in sport, essentially the most enjoyable have been Badtz-maru and Kuromi. Badtz-maru has an edginess to him: he’s all the time attempting to get forward and can make up wild explanations for issues. Kuromi is the resident conspiracy theorist; she’s the primary one to imagine there’s one thing large happening at Friendship Island, and her love for all issues spooky made our Halloween occasion a delight to write down.
TA: Lots of people loved the Snakes on a Airplane reference within the opening. How a lot freedom did it’s a must to make these sorts of self-aware or referential gags?
CH: One of many good elements in regards to the Sanrio characters is that they attraction to an enormous viewers – they’re really cross-generational. It was essential for us to have the ability to attain out to these completely different age teams and make sure that gamers felt seen and heard as early as attainable within the sport. Sanrio had final approval on your complete script, and we truly labored with a few of the writers from Supercute Adventures, so it felt like that cross-generational objective was actually shared.
TA: What side of the sport are you most happy with and why?
CH: So many individuals play this sport and say one thing like “I didn’t anticipate it to be this GOOD”. The truth that we’ve made far-and-away one of the best Whats up Kitty and Buddies sport is an enormous accomplishment, however I additionally suppose it speaks to the large high quality we have been in a position to pack into this cell title. There’s a lot greater than of us anticipate, and seeing them fall in love with it simply makes the entire studio delighted.
TA: For those who may have entry to characters from some other sport to go to the island, who would you choose and why?
CH: Authorized nightmares apart? Wander from Shadow of the Colossus. Partially as a result of I (very selfishly) need to see a colossus in our artwork fashion, and partially as a result of Wander deserves a while with associates, and what higher associates than Whats up Kitty and her crew?
TA: Thanks once more to your time! When you have any message you’d like to provide our readers, take into account this your free area to take action.
CH: For those who’re in any respect in open world adventures or cozy life sims, we hope you’ll check out Whats up Kitty Island Journey!
And that’s a wrap! Because of Chelsea and Tom at Sunblink for answering my sometimes-ridiculous questions, and to Sydney at fortyseven communications for facilitating the interview. For those who haven’t checked out Whats up Kitty Island Journey on Apple Arcade but, you actually ought to. It’s the type of feel-good enjoyable you don’t see too typically, particularly on cell the place brilliant colours and sort phrases normally include a gem-sack shakedown. Thanks for studying!