We sat down with Jools Watsham, founder of AtooiLLC. Learn about their recent Kickstarter campaign for Chicken Wiggle Workshop, their upcoming Soccer Slammers game, a tease for some physical games on the Nintendo Switch and more!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi, my name is Jools Watsham. I have been making games professionally since 1993 and I am the owner of Atooi. I mainly focus on game design and art.
Were there defining moments growing up that led to you pursuing a career in the video game industry?
When my Dad brought home a Sinclair ZX Spectrum to our home was my first proper introduction to computers and games. Since then I have always had an interest in them.
Prior to forming Atooi LLC., you were the Co-Founder and Director of Renegade Kid LLC in which you helped to create such popular games as Mutant Mudds, Xeodrifter, Dementium and more. What made you want to start your own studio?
After years of working for people who I felt were not doing a good job I wanted to try it myself to see if my ideas would pan out or if I was delusional. The day we started Renegade Kid was incredible. I immediately knew that going indie was the right thing to do.
In August 2015, Atooi LLC was born and your aim was to honor the games of retro-year, but invoke modern elements of gameplay. Why leave Renegade to form a new company?
The Renegade Kid era was a fantastic period for me. We accomplished some great things that I am very proud of. My friend and business partner, Gregg Hargrove, and I still meet up for lunch today and remain good friends. The reason we decided to end Renegade Kid and move onto other ventures was for rather boring reasons. It was becoming increasingly more difficult to make ends meet financially. Gregg and I sat down one day to discuss what to do in the future, and the result of our conversation was to end the company and try new things. It was not an easy decision for either of us, but now we’re both in good situations and have our sights set on the future.
Many of your titles have appeared on multiple platforms, but do you have a favorite console to (a) play and (b) work with?
It used to be the Nintendo DS, then the Nintendo 3DS, but today it is the Nintendo Switch.
For those wanting to enter the developer side of the industry, what advice would you give them?
Do it! Just realize that it is more than just a job. It should be your passion. It should be something that you have no choice but to do. I think that is true for everyone’s calling. Get paid to do something you love and you won’t work a day in your life.
Let’s shift our focus to discuss your upcoming project, Chicken Wiggle Workshop. For those unfamiliar, Chicken Wiggle released on the Nintendo 3DS back in August 2017 to much praise (check out our review here)! Starring a chicken and worm, this puzzle platformer quickly became a hit with its retro style gameplay, custom level editor, and more! However, as you’ve stated, fans wanted this on the Nintendo Switch and made their voices heard!
This leads us to your current Kickstarter campaign that finished above your initial goal of $30,000. However, what made you decide on Kickstarter to roll out this title?
The sales of Chicken Wiggle on 3DS were very low, which was very disappointing. We poured our hearts into the game over 16 months. It is a game that I am very proud of, but, it was a commercial failure. I wanted to bring Chicken Wiggle to Nintendo Switch, but did not want to make the same mistake as the 3DS release. Did the game not sell well on 3DS due to the audience moving on to Switch or was it because the game is not appealing? The wonderful thing that Kickstarter provides is a way to reduce or remove the financial risk of development. That is why I brought the Switch port to Kickstarter. Let the people decide! If people want it they can put their money down. If they don’t want it, then no harm, no foul. We can all move on and go about our day. Thankfully, enough people spoke with their cash and said yes to bringing Chicken Wiggle Workshop to Nintendo Switch.
What can new and returning players expect to see in the Nintendo Switch version?
I was very careful to make sure the Kickstarter was a very simple and focused proposition: A direct port of the 3DS game to Switch with HD artwork and a new orchestral soundtrack, thanks to hitting to the first stretch goal. Players will be able to switch between the original pixel art and the new HD art. Switch players will have online access to all of the levels created on the 3DS version, which is over 1000 levels, and play them as never before with the new HD art and new music.
While your titles have started out digitally, a few had been ported to the PS Vita and PS4 physical realm thanks to Limited Run Games. Are there plans for your current Nintendo eShop digital titles, Chicken Wiggle included, to make that same leap?
Yes, we will be offering some Nintendo Switch titles in physical format in the near future.
Is there a new project you’re working on that can be teased today?
Right now we’re finishing up Soccer Slammers for the Nintendo Switch. Soccer Slammers is 2-on-2 soccer with chibi voxel players and no referee! Power-shots, slam-tackles, and a whole lot of fast-paced fun for 1 to 4 players local play. We’re aiming for a June 14 release, which is when the World Cup kicks off.
What upcoming game(s) are you most looking forward to?
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze. I bought it for Wii U, but never played my Wii U. So, I am looking forward to playing it properly on Switch.
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to share?
If anyone is interested in staying up to date with my work, you can follow me on Twitter by using the links below. Cheers!
Follow Jools and Atooi
https://twitter.com/JoolsWatsham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GBtdPeAU7k
