Dredge: A Cosmic Horror Fishing Adventure That Surpassed Expectations
Black Salt Games, a four-person development team consisting of programmer and writer Joel Mason, studio manager Nadia Thorne, lead artist Alex Ritchie, and 3D animator Michael Bastiaens, recently released their first project, Dredge, and it has already exceeded their wildest dreams. This indie game, which combines the seemingly mundane activity of fishing with a sinister and spooky atmosphere, has garnered a 95% positive review rating on Steam and has found a comfortable spot in various top-seller lists across different platforms.
The team at Black Salt Games took a risk when they decided to leave the safety of a large studio and embark on their passion project two years ago. They were initially unsure if a fishing game with a horror twist would be too niche to succeed, but they were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming reception from gamers around the world. “The reception and the response have blown all of our expectations and even our dreams out of the water,” said Mason. “We got some great reviews, which we’re really stoked about; we feel pretty great.”
Developing a game with just four people was not without its challenges. Mason acknowledged that game development is a risky business, and the decision to build a game from scratch was not made lightly. “There’s a lot of luck involved, there was always that worry, but it felt right for us to do this, to focus on a game that’s just us.” However, the small size of the team also had its unique benefits. Ritchie explained, “We get to move pretty quickly, like if we want to change direction or try something new.” Bastiaens added, “Another benefit is that there are less heads talking in a room at any given time, so we can make design decisions a lot quicker.”
Despite the challenges, the team at Black Salt Games was able to keep the scope of the game manageable and avoid turning it into a prolonged project. Thorne emphasized the importance of managing expectations and being realistic about what was achievable for their first title from their own studio. “So we went in armed with that knowledge, and everything we did was to just try and increase the chances of Dredge being a success.”
With Dredge’s unexpected success, the team at Black Salt Games is now considering their next steps. Should they continue to work on updates for Dredge or develop a sequel? Or should they venture into something entirely new? Thorne said their first priority is to address any bugs, glitches, and flaws discovered by the players and ensure that Dredge is fully supported. Bastiaens added that the team’s plan for the next week is to do a breakdown and discuss the future direction. “Alright, here’s how things are going, do we want to keep going with Dredge, do we want to move on to the next project? We’ve got a couple of ideas of where we could take things, whether it’s more Dredge or something else entirely.”
After two years of intensive work on Dredge’s oceans, Ritchie humorously remarked, “I think Alex is kind of done with fish for a while,” to which Bastiaens quipped, “Yeah, [he drew] 128 fish illustrations.” Ritchie concluded, “We got there in the end.”
In conclusion, Dredge has been a surprising success for Black Salt Games, surpassing their expectations and garnering positive reviews from players. The team is now carefully considering their next steps while remaining appreciative of the support from their players. Despite the challenges of developing a game with a small team, Black Salt Games has proven that with passion, dedication, and a unique concept, indie games can make a splash in the gaming industry.
Source: Source: rnz.co.nz
