PAX West 2016: Formal Sheep遊戲團隊訪談

01-28

訪談背景：

The Rabbit and the Owl

Formal Sheep 是位於加州 Sacramento 的一家獨立遊戲公司，於2016年由 Gary Chao 和他的團隊共同創建。他們的第一部遊戲 The Rabbit and the Owl 在 PAX West 2016 展出，我們藉此機會對他們的團隊進行了訪談。

遊戲介紹：

The Rabbit and the Owl 是一個黑白色調的解謎類遊戲。兩個遊戲角色－象徵白色的兔子和象徵黑色的貓頭鷹，以合作的方式在森林，沙漠和城市中進行探險，以一種時而夢幻時而靜謐的風格講述虛擬世界Yril的故事。

Q：這幾天PAX West會展的感覺怎麼樣？明年有沒有參加GDC遊戲大會的計劃呢？

A：嗯，PAX實在太棒了。在這兒，我們遇到了上千個玩家，大部分都挺喜歡我們的遊戲。在觀摩了許多玩家的試玩後，我現在對我們的作品有了更多的信心，也感受到很多大家的鼓勵呢。這是我們頭一回參加PAX，因為忙於展示，我們無暇去嘗試別家的遊戲，有一點點小遺憾，但我們仍然十分享受這個過程呢。關於下一年的GDC，如果我們不能以遊戲開發商的身份參加，也至少會作為普通與會者參與其中吧。

Q：問個終極問題，你為什麼會想要從事遊戲製作呢？在成為遊戲開發者的過程中遇到過哪些收穫和挑戰？如果不從事遊戲開發的話，你會選擇哪種職業生涯呢？

A：我想製作遊戲，因為和其它娛樂媒體相比，遊戲帶給了我太多太多。製作自己的遊戲，是我一直以來的心愿。作為遊戲開發者，意味著你擁有無限的創作自由和想像空間。同時，也意味著你需要犧牲很多去完成遊戲的實現。我目前沒有固定的收入，很多地方需要開源節流。如果我不做開發的話，我想我仍會想辦法從事遊戲產業的其它方面吧。因為我實在是太熱愛遊戲了，我必須參與其中。

Q：你最崇拜的遊戲開發商或獨立遊戲開發者有哪些呢？

A：我最崇拜的可能就是Jonathan Blow了，他開發了Braid和The Witness。Braid是我玩過的第一個獨立遊戲，它給我帶來了很多啟發和影響，促使我走上獨立遊戲開發的道路。

Q：你最喜歡的遊戲有哪些？它們如何影響了你們的遊戲風格？（The rabbit and the owl 讓我想起了一個叫做 One and One Story的遊戲，它也是關於兩個遊戲角色以互助形式完成的探索解謎類遊戲。）

A：在我腦海中，排名最前的應該是Braid，Limbo，Antichamber, Stardew Valley, Dark Souls, 還有 FTL。所以你可能猜到了，對我影響最大的其實是Braid啦。

Q：在敘述遊戲故事線的時候，有沒有受到一些文學作品的影響呢（小說，電影什麼的）？

A：肯定是有的，比方說Dark Souls，比方說Children of Men，可能還有其它的，只是我一時想不起更多的例子。這些影響當然也是一點點積累，逐步滲透進來的。

Q：The Rabbit and the Owl的角色造型超級可愛啊，和遊戲黑白風格的基調形成了有趣的對比。這種設計風格的影響來自於哪裡呢？

A：謝謝誇獎。其實是我們的設計師創造了這些可愛的動物，我僅僅在適當的地方做了一點兒必要的修改。主要的設計影響還是歸功於他的個人創作風格，我覺得它和我們的遊戲太搭啦！

Q：有沒有什麼是你希望The Rabbit and the Owl擁有的，但目前還沒有實現的東西？

A：（開心臉）其實我們想要的基本都實現啦！

Q：在開發The Rabbit and the Owl的過程中，有沒有什麼有趣的故事和我們分享？

A：嗯，我在去拉斯維加斯旅行的路上遇到了現在的設計師，Andrew。他是我朋友的朋友，聊天時發現他在學習美術，並且有志於從事遊戲設計，我倆有好多共同話題。我們共同的合作經歷，在我們之間建立了永遠的聯繫。

Q：在The Rabbit and the Owl開發過程中，你們遇到的最大的挑戰是什麼？

A：最大的挑戰應該是多任務處理，以及不同工作角色之間的切換。我需要不停的鼓勵自己去同時做好自己不喜歡的（比如商業推廣和發布）和自己喜歡的工作（比如遊戲開發）。這種角色的交替有時讓我覺得很疲憊，但我知道這些付出最終都是值得的。

Q：對下一個遊戲有什麼計劃嗎，有沒有什麼特別想參與制作的遊戲類型？

A：我絕對想要嘗試製作RPG類型的遊戲。但是，即使是作為我們的第二個遊戲，這種類型遊戲的製作規模和挑戰仍然是巨大的。我還沒來得及仔細構思它的樣子，只是有一些跳躍的不成熟的想法。下一個遊戲到底要做什麼還得好好想想呢。

Q：訪談的最後，和讀者分享一張你們開發團隊的照片吧（開心臉）？

A：很遺憾我們沒有團隊相片，因為大多時候都是遠程合作啦。不過這裡有一張我和Justin的照片，他負責我們的遊戲的關卡設計，還幫我一起參與了PAX的布展宣傳。

感謝閱讀。

Interview background:

The Rabbit and the Owl

Formal Sheep is an independent game development company which aims to create thought-provoking, surreal, and fun experiences for multiple platforms. It was founded in March 2016 by Gary Chao. Its debut game, The Rabbit and the Owl, is currently under development and is tentatively set to release in 2017 on Steam for PC and Mac. Formal Sheep is currently based near Sacramento, California.

We met Gary『s team during PAX West 2016, and gladly chatted with them about their story behind The Rabbit and the Owl.

About the game:

The Rabbit and the Owl is set in the world of Yril, an ethereal world where light and darkness prevail. Where a once vibrant land once existed now lies a faded shell of its former self. Remnants of an ancient civilization litter the landscape. Whatever fight and struggle for survival that the people who once lived there has since long passed, for now it is obvious that they lost. Now, two kindred spirits, for reasons unknown, have manifested themselves as the Rabbit and the Owl. You will help guide the Rabbit and the Owl through places like tranquil forests, harsh deserts, and crumbling cities while seeing echoes of the past along the way toward a fateful encounter in the depths of Mt. Rulnar.

Q: How do you like the PAX event so far? Are you guys planning coming to GDC next year?

A：PAX was amazing. We met with over a thousand people, most of which loved the game. After having this many people try the game, I feel more confident and inspired moving forward. This was also my first PAX, and although Im a little sad I didnt have time to see much I still very much enjoyed it. We are planning to go to GDC next year at least as an attendee if we dont make it into the Independent Games Festival.

Q: The ultimate question－why would you want to build a game? What are the ups and downs being a game developer? What are the stuff you would like work on if you are not a game developer (hypothetically)?

A: I want to build a game because games have given me so much, more so than any other medium of content and entertainment. I could not see myself working in any other industry than the games industry. I wanted to build one myself because I have always wanted to. Being a game developer means its great having creative freedom and control to make something only limited by imagination, but it comes at a cost of having a sacrifice a lot in order to make it happen. I dont have a stable income at the moment and have had to keep things as lean as possible in terms of cost. If I wasnt a game developer, I would find a way to still be in the industry. I am simply too passionate about games to not want to be a part of it.

Q: Which is your most admired game company or individual game developer?

A: My most admired game developer is probably Jonathan Blow, who made Braid and The Witness. Braid was the first indie game I have ever played, and it left such an inspiring impact on my path to becoming a game developer.

Q: What are your favorite games so far? Which one of them has the biggest influence on the style of the game? (The rabbit of the owl reminded me of a game called 「one and one story」, which is also about two characters helping each other through a puzzle game.)

A: Off the top of my head, my favorite games are Braid, Limbo, Antichamber, Stardew Valley, Dark Souls, and FTL. As you probably guessed, Braid has the largest influence of my game.

Q: Any literature influences while building the game plot (such as stories, novels, movies, etc.) ?

A: There are certainly some influences such as Dark Souls and Children of Men. There are probably more, but I cant think of specific examples right now. Its all kind of cumulative influences over time.

Q: The characters in the Rabbit and the Owl is super cute, with an interesting contrast to the gray-scaled base tone. What are the influences regarding the art style?

A: Thanks! My artist actually came up with the design of these animals - I only helped shape what animals they should be and tweaked them a bit. For the most part, the artwork is delegated mostly to him with some influence by me. Thats just his natural style, and I felt it fit perfectly for the game!

Q: What are the things you wanted the Rabbit and the Owl to have, but not there yet?

A: Everything I want them to have in the game is already there!

Q: Any interesting/fun stories you would like to share while developing the Rabbit and the Owl?

A: I met my artist Andrew through a trip to Vegas. He was a friend of a friend, and through talking I found out he was an art student wanting to do art for video games and that we had a lot in common. So through this experience, you can be sure we now have an eternal bond.

Q: What are the biggest challenges that you met since building this game?

A: Biggest challenge is definitely multitasking and putting on a lot of different hats. Its really just staying motivating doing the things I dont want to do (like business side) and doing things I do want to do (like game development). This is a constant grind and wear on me, but I know in the end it will all be worth it.

Q: What are the plans for your future games? Any particular type/genre or stories you are interested in building?

A: I definitely want to tackle an RPG of some sort - however those are very large in scope and can be challenging even for a second game. I havent put much thought into the actual game design of the next one yet, just bouncing around ideas. Nothing has really stuck to me for sure that I want to do next.

Q: Would you like to share a nice photo of your team and office that you wanted to be included in the interview article?

A: We dont have a picture together since most of us now work remotely, but heres one with me and Justin, who helps me with level design and was there at PAX with me to help exhibit the game.

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