Dev Diaries: 1000xRESIST part one
We were invited to show 1000xRESIST at the Day of the Devs Game Awards Edition event in LA this month and the team from Sunset Visitor made the trip down from Vancouver to show it off. It’s the first time the game has been shown at a games focused event like this and they wrote a travelogue about their experiences…
Hey everyone! Remy here, Creative Director of 1000xRESIST. As we’re getting closer to finishing the game, we thought it would be fun to start a dev diary leading up to release. This first entry covers our trip to Los Angeles for Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Edition!
We’ll be doing this as little scripts, interviewing each other to keep it fun and light!
Remy Siu:
... Can you introduce yourself?
Natalie Tin Yin Gan:
I’m one of the two Natalie’s at Sunset Visitor. I’m one of the lead writers on 1000xRESIST; I’m also a dance artist and somatic voice teacher. I used to have a cat but he just died. Remy, tell us about your cat.
RS:
My cat is very old and was very upset that I left for Day of the Devs.
RS:
We’re already off-topic and depressed.
We went to Day of the Devs in Downtown LA – can you tell us what it was like?
NTYG:
The weather in LA was a great distraction from Vancouver’s depressive, dark, wetness. The event was a ton of fun, it was a long day on our feet but well worth it.
(coughing fit)
RS:
Are you okay?
NTYG:
Dust.
I think it also felt so good to be surrounded by other indie game devs who can really appreciate and empathize with the challenges and rewards of making a game, especially for the first time. Despite having to yell over my mask for so many hours, I really enjoyed the great conversations with game enthusiasts, where we could nerd out about game mechanics in relation to storytelling, and the creative process.
RS:
What were some of the questions people asked you?
NTYG:
I really liked answering questions about what influenced and inspired the writing. Other juicy questions: how does our experience in the Performing Arts manifest in the making of this game? Both in practical, production terms as well as in the content/story-telling? And of course, everyone was asking: WHEN WILL IT BE RELEASED?
Remy, who were some folks you were really excited to chat with?
RS:
Yeah we were lucky. Our booth was right between à la mode games (Sorry, We’re Closed) and Fuzzy Ghost (Janet DeMornay Is A Slumlord (and a witch)).
They were pretty great people.
We also got to meet Spencer (from Fellow Traveller) in person!
It’s nice to see real people in the real world.
NTYG:
And lots of folks, like us, were flying in for the event.
What would you say were highlights of the trip for you?
RS:
It was the first time I traveled since the beginning of the pandemic. So getting on a plane felt new and strange again.
Beyond meeting all these new people who love and make games, we got to go karaoke with the Venba development team.
You did a pretty good Backstreet Boys cover. What song was it?
NTYG:
Oh I know you know.
RS:
I don’t actually know.
NTYG:
None other than the iconic, I Want it That Way. But also? Kodai did excellent Green Day and Good Charlotte.
RS:
Okay, okay. REAL QUESTION.
What were your favorite tacos?
NTYG:
The late night quesabirria tacos at 2am in the morning floored me.
RS:
Why did the picture do that?
NTYG:
Aiya. You know how if you hold an image on an iPhone, it sparkles and isolates what’s in the foreground, and turns it into a “sticker”? But, perhaps for the better. Otherwise, our garbage bag features quite prominently. Unless you want to see the bag?
RS:
I want to see the bag and only the bag.
NTYG:
...No. Okay, which were your favorite tacos? I think I already know.
RS:
Yes, after karaoke, just down the block – there was this huge tent set up.
It was so good. Avenue 26 Tacos.
Overall, pretty good trip. Nice to take a small break.
NTYG:
10/10 would recommend!
The organizers took such care of us. The whole event was super fun with such positive vibes. Also in our goody bags, we were gifted absolutely stunning DAY OF THE DEV SOCKS.
RS:
I was very humbled to be next to all these amazing devs and their games and their socks.
NTYG:
That feels like a good end to EPISODE ONE: RS + NTYG TRY TO WRITE A DIARY TOGETHER IN REAL TIME ON A GOOGLE DOC.
RS:
Next time we get to talk about the big graphical update!