DANIEL REMAR
Daniel Remar is a Swedish video game designer/creator. He makes a bunch of D.I.Y free indie games such as IJI & Hero Core.
DANIEL REMAR: “Games are a creative medium like any other.”
[interview.ak / pics.daniel docs / August 2012]
What inspires you to create independent games from scratch?
Mostly what I played as a kid, but also the fact that I played a lot of DOS freeware and shareware on the PC. I want to give something back and entertain people by making free games.
What games that makes remarkable impact on your life?
I've enjoyed a lot of games, but Cave Story gave me the extra push to start working harder on my hobby games, and finish Iji (back in 2005 or so). Immersive games like Super Metroid, System Shock and the Zelda series really fascinate me, and get my imagination going.
I've been playing your Hero Core games. I guess it's safe to say that it was a metroid vania. what did you think of the metroid-vania genre?
To me they've always just been "Metroid" games - Hero and Hero Core are closer to the original Metroid and Zelda than anything else. I like the free-roaming aspect, and the loneliness and fear that the setting often has. I usually don't like back-tracking though, so I cut down on that as much as possible in Hero Core with the warp-anywhere functionality and no penalty for dying.
So what are the tools that u use creating IJI and Hero Core?
They were made in Game Maker 5.3A. Hyper Princess Pitch was my first game that was coded so it's possible to compile in both Game Maker 5 and 7 for better compatibility.
Why doesn't you port your games to mac? I think there's a lot of demand?
It takes a lot of work and time depending on the game. The old versions of Game Maker are not fully compatible with the new ones. I'll try to get around to it though.
What is your next projects?
I'm slowly working on a game that still has no name, a nonviolent adventure platformer inspired by Zelda: Majora's Mask and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. It's mostly about going on little adventures, talking to people, and learning to understand others instead of judging them. But it's still very early in development.
Top 5 favorite platformers?
That's a very specific question, it's hard to say :) If we're just talking "traditional" platformers, it's Super Mario Bros 3, Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Super Mario 64, Wario Land and Mischief Makers (okay, maybe not so traditional). Gianna Sisters DS is also very nice, but not as long-lasting as the others. Can you call Dance Dance Revolution a "platformer"?
Favorite console?
Either SNES, N64 or PC. They're the ones me and my friends have spent the most time on anyway!
What did you think of the booming of independent gaming community? There's also a documentary about this..
I think it's great. Games are a creative medium like any other, so it's cool that nowadays anyone with a PC and some determination can make themselves heard. I haven't seen the documentary though.
What did you think of Braid, Bastion & Limbo?
Haven't played, haven't played, cool at first but drags on. I actually don't play very many modern games, indie included - too busy planning and making my own. :p
