Bit Bot Media and FreakZone Video games teamed up for a online game adaptation of Richard O’Brien’s cult basic musical Rocky Horror Present. Now accessible on Steam and Nintendo, the sidescrolling 8-bit recreation, options chiptune renditions of the songs everyone knows and love, together with Time Warp!, and I caught up with Bit Bot’s Joshua Viola to study extra concerning the making of the sport:
It is laborious to imagine it has been 50 years for the reason that begin of Rocky Horror Present. What was your first expertise with the present and why does it imply a lot to you?
Joshua Viola: I reside in Denver, and simply exterior the town, now we have some of the unbelievable amphitheater venues on the planet—Crimson Rocks. In case you’re not accustomed to it, severely, cease what you are doing and Google it. It’s breathtaking; nestled between towering pink stone cliffs, proper in the course of nature. The seating is open-air, so that you’re beneath the starry evening sky, and the acoustics are naturally flawless. Crimson Rocks has a program known as Movie on the Rocks, the place they present basic movies outdoor, and the viewers actually will get into it. That’s the place Rocky Horror is available in. Seeing the movie there for the primary time, surrounded by so many passionate followers, was an absolute blast. It’s the sort of expertise that stays with you.
After seeing the trailer for the sport, it simply made a lot sense and I am stunned it hadn’t been finished earlier than. How did the thought for this recreation come about and the way did you group up with Freak Zone Video games?
Joshua Viola: Rocky Horror Present actually felt like the right match for the sort of expertise, and many of the credit score goes to Sam Beddoes of FreakZone Video games. He poured a lot ardour into the design, and it really shines by. Initially, I had a special Rocky Horror mission in thoughts, however when that did not come collectively, I used to be already collaborating with FreakZone on one other recreation. That is when it hit me—we might do one thing comparable for Rocky Horror. Sam was instantly on board after I pitched the thought, and the remaining is historical past!
The sport seems like lots of enjoyable, with quite a lot of gameplay. What are you able to inform us concerning the character or characters you play as and the challenges you may face?
Joshua Viola: You will get to play as Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott, primarily reliving the long-lasting moments from the musical—with an 8-bit twist. It’s such a enjoyable strategy to expertise these scenes, and we’ve included loads of playful gags and parodies for avid gamers too. The gameplay actually provides a recent layer to the Rocky Horror expertise.
I beloved listening to the music from Rock Horror Present within the 8-bit model sound. What was the method for adapting the present’s iconic songs for the sport?
Joshua Viola: That’s all because of Sam—he’s a chiptune grasp! In case you’re not accustomed to his earlier work, he developed the Indignant Video Recreation Nerd Adventures video games and composed the rating for that collection as effectively. He completely nailed it once more with this mission.
Are you able to share the sport’s launch plans with us? Will or not it’s accessible on Steam and all main consoles?
Joshua Viola: The sport is [now available] on Steam and Nintendo, with Xbox, PlayStation, and cell variations to comply with. Regulate the Bit Bot and FreakZone social channels for the official launch date, after which we are able to all do the Time Warp once more!
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From the press launch: Richard O’Brien’s iconic musical Rocky Horror Present is being reimagined as a retro online game, simply in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 stage manufacturing. The Rocky Horror Present Video Recreation is obtainable now as a digital launch on Nintendo Change and Steam, with different consoles and cell platforms coming at a later date. The sidescroller adaptation will characteristic 8-bit graphics and chiptune renditions of the beloved basic songs, together with the fan-favorite “Time Warp.”
The Rocky Horror Present Video Recreation faithfully recreates scenes and dialogue from the unique stage play, permitting gamers to step into the footwear of Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott. Every stage is meticulously designed to seize the essence of the unique units in a nostalgic 8-bit format. Gameplay combines difficult however rewarding platforming and lightweight fight parts, akin to choosing up and throwing objects at enemies and different experiments from Dr. Frank N Furter’s laboratory.
“As a longtime fan of The Rocky Horror Present, it was an honor to adapt the legendary musical right into a online game,” says designer Sam Beddoes. “Now each new followers and veterans can take pleasure in an entire new tackle the story and music in crunchy 8-bit goodness.”
The Rocky Horror Present Video Recreation is designed and developed by Sam Beddoes of FreakZone Video games and produced by Joshua Viola and Klayton (Celldweller) of Steel X Leisure/Bit Bot Media. The Rocky Horror Present Video Recreation might be printed by FreakZone Video games (Indignant Video Recreation Nerd Adventures and Spectacular Sparky) and Bit Bot Media, a brand new, cutting-edge multimedia firm from Klayton (Celldweller/Scandroid), the multifaceted musician recognized for his contributions to main movement footage, TV, and video video games together with Transformers, Malignant, and Killer Intuition, and Denver Submit bestselling author Joshua Viola (Soul Reaver, True Believers). This would be the first ever online game launch from Bit Bot Media, whose Kickstarter marketing campaign for The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Useless Shall Rise graphic novel has raised greater than 1.4 million {dollars} and is presently the fourth most funded graphic novel and comedian ebook mission of all time on Kickstarter.
“The Rocky Horror Present is a novel expertise that transcends conventional leisure, and we needed to convey that magic to avid gamers—whether or not they’re already followers of the IP or discovering it for the primary time,” says producer Joshua Viola. “For these accustomed to Rocky Horror, they’re going to get to relive it in a recent, thrilling manner. For newcomers, it’s an unforgettable introduction to a cult basic, delivered with a twist solely a online game can present. However past all that, it is merely a blast to play. At its core, it is a true platformer, and we have made positive the gameplay is each bit as participating because the musical itself.”
