The real treat for me was that, upon finishing the demo, I got a chance to speak with Suda51 and extract as much from him as I possibly could. After geeking out and asking him to sign my copy of Shadows of the Damned (preparation!), we got down to business.
MF: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions.
S51: My pleasure.
MF: It’s no secret that your games are different from so much of what’s available today. What do you think it is that makes your work stand out from the pack?
S51: I’m not sure, but I try to create a new game and a new experience every time. Before, every time I played a game, it was a new experience. I want to bring that to gamers now.
It's like a demented family photo.
MF: Where do you start building a new game? Do you begin with a broad overview of a story? Is it a character that you shape a world around? Maybe it’s a key gameplay mechanic you want to bring to life?
S51: It varies. For Lollipop Chainsaw, I came up with Juliet first, then her chainsaw. Everything after came from that.
MF: What is it about your characters that make them so memorable?
S51: Thank you! It’s nice to hear that they are memorable. I think it’s because they are all flawed. Whether they aren’t so smart or something else, they are more human. It makes them interesting.
MF: What was your favorite game to make?
S51: (laughs) That’s a hard question… Every one!
MF: What do you want people to know about the game before they go and purchase it?
S51: Pop some popcorn, get a candy bar, go get the game and, as soon as you get home, order a pizza! It’s important to set the right scene. Oh! Don’t for get the wet wipes so you don’t get your controller messy!
Juliet is definitely a memorable character, like most of Suda51's creations.
MF: Switching gears, what gave you the idea for Diabolical Pitch?
S51: I’ve always wanted to involve players as much as possible. When the Kinect was announced, I brought my plans to Microsoft. They loved it! I also have many more ideas for motion control.
MF: So… what can you tell us about Killer is Dead.
[At this point, one of the friendly PR people quickly reminded Suda that they aren’t talking about that yet.]
S51: (laughs) It’s a secret! Expect a lot!
Lollipop Chainsaw will be dancing into your heart on June 12, 2012 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
