Summary
Alisais an indie survival action-horror game influenced and inspired by the golden age of 90s era 3-D titles in the same vein. Funded via Kickstarter, and initially released on PC in 2021, upon meeting its subsequent stretch goals for additional content (including new scenes, weapons, and alternate endings), an updatedAlisa: Developer’s Cutconsole port was recently released on PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch. With a Very Positive Steam rating and overall reception, the title has been touted by fans as an excellent experience both as a retro throwback to the entries of yore and on its own unique aspects and strengths.
During a Game Rant interview,Alisacreator and lead designer/programmer, Casper Croes, shared some of his thoughts and experiences working in the environment and structure of asmall indie studio in the current industry landscape. He was careful to note the pitfalls that might crop up in this area, as well as pointing out that he isn’t exactly a “solo” developer.
Alisa Developer Emphasizes How Smaller Indie Studios Need to Maintain Drive and Be Mindful of Scale
Gamers may recallThe Day Beforedebaclethat unfolded at the tail end of 2023, and although the situation between its studio, Fntastic, and Casper Croes is nowhere near the same, it still provides a recent cautionary tale about underprepared and inexperienced developers who may find themselves out of their depth and league, at risk of over promising and under delivering if they are not diligent and frugal in their efforts.
When asked about his general process and position, and what it entails, Croes offered some insight and advice on being keenly aware of and working within one’s own constraints and talents, and how this is vital to making sure that a given project stays solidly on track, especially within the sphere ofsolo game development.
Solo development is a slow process but very rewarding! You have to keep your focus on one project at a time, otherwise you’ll never release anything. One project can take years to develop. By the time you get your game finished, other developers might have already created what you were working on. So it can be tough sometimes. It’s better to have a unique style that can stick out. And don’t make the mistake I made, creating a game that is too ambitious for your skill level. Unless you don’t mind spending 5 or 6 years developing it. I learned a lot, though.
Casper Croes: A Not-Quite Solo Studio
Croes was swift to point out that although the studio bears his name, implying he is its sole owner/operator, he also receives a lot of assistance and input from his wife, Arisa, and the two work closely together on all their games. Croes elaborated on the role Arisa played in creating, designing, and testingAlisa,as well as continuing development on their previous and forthcoming titles:
I’d like to say that even though I did most of all the programming and all the 3D graphics, my wife Arisa, who created the music and provided the voice of Alisa, also did a lot of designing and improving on it, for our other game, Phenix Corrupta, and in our future games! My name as the brand might be a bit misleading, but we make the games together with [our] combined brainpower.
These testaments showcase how a dedicated (and married) couple that form their own studio collaborate on creating handcraftedquality indie gamesthat align with their interests and abilities, ensuring that they don’t become overwhelmed, and are able to deliver their titles through a manageable and smooth development process.
Alisa: Developer’s Cutis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
