[Interview] Miss Scripter of Super Tower Rush

[canj]

I had the chance to do a brief interview with Lorena a.k.a Miss Scripter, the developer for the game Super Tower Rush.



1. Basic info -

I am twenty five, and I come from Spain, although I have been outside Spain for a few years now.

2. When did you start/learn how to code and at what point did you decide to create a game? Did you go to school or just pick coding up as a hobby?

I started as a proofreader for Evelend Games, who taught me everything I know about programming and game development. They encouraged me to develop my own game and that's when Antipodes was born. Then Super Tower Rush in collaboration with André came out.
They are self taught, and so am I.

3. What was your inspiration for creating Super Tower Rush?

Japanese arcade games, and also games like Tetris.

4. What problems did you run into working with a partner that lived in an entirely different country?

Maybe a speed problem, which is not a big one until you start getting your work scheduled. Then you really have to be good at coordinating people.
Another funny element of this Japan-Norway connection is the totally different time zones, which force us to sacrifice sleep and others by turns.

5. What is your favorite indie game?

What? Only one? Pixelry then

6. What is your favorite game of all time?

It actually depends on how I am feeling, I have always thought that, since different games are different worlds, one cannot compare.

7. In a primarily male dominated gaming culture, how do you feel about being one of the few female indie developers out there?

I don't feel any different. I know sexism in this industry is a big issue and there are still things left to fix, but neither positive sexist discrimination like extreme popularity regardless the product, nor negative sexist discrimination like underestimation of my work have been the case for me.

8. Have you heard how beautiful New Jersey is this time of year?

I have never had the pleasure to see it by myself.
If you are inviting me over, I'd accept a straightforward offer. I am a nomad after all!

9. Have you ever seen the American classic 1995 film, "Hackers"?

Hilarious.

10. What would you like to see happen for indie gaming in the future?

A decrease of the prices of the tools to get started, or even better, the creation of open source tools, so new developers can bring their innovative ideas to life with no previous investment, which not everybody can make.
I am soon releasing Antipodes' source code, by the way. I hope everyone takes a minute to check it, because it is ridiculously chaotic, one of those things one needs to see by oneself.

11. Anything you would like to add for our viewers?

Yes. Privative sucks. Open Source is the future. Think about any problem. Open source can fix it.
I am still learning, and my games, creations that I'm very proud of, have been the result of that process, but I promise not to stop until I can get rid off all dependence on privative software.

Nice interview. I really like Super Tower Rush, so I'm definitely going to be keeping up with whatever she and André do in the future. And it's always great to see talented/creative people taking such a stand for Open Source. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the interview!
And the game is very fun! I have said that in another post, but whatever

Ohlol, if you so open to open source, why not open code of your game, then?

Thank you guys for your feedback! <3

Toyotame, take a look around you. If I asked you to help me to pay my bills while I finish a game, would you do it?
You wouldn't have to, but you do have to wait until STR is complete, which will only happen once the funding lets us put our other part time projects aside, and also until it becomes open.

I think anything related to basic needs should be necessarily open, and I am working on different projects in that sense in my private life. Anyway, I think about games as a luxury product, and all I hope for STR is the online multiplayer mode to see the light.

We will soon start a funding for STR to make sure we can finish it (without dying of starvation in the process)
After it succeeds, none of us has a better idea but to open it like I am doing with Antipodes.

Of course a decade back in time mom and dad kept me alive while I only managed extra expenses, so I will use this post to remind everyone that doesn't happen since VERY long ago.

Wish us luck, guys!
Love,
Lorena

[PlayerReview]

I hope that you will continue development of the game regardless of funding. Many of my favorite artists could not help but continue to perform their craft, even in the reality of sacrificing their quality of life. They worked their craft because they could not fathom an existence that was devoid of that purpose. I am hoping that those of us that assisted in funding your venture will not have to see you abandon your project as a result of money, but will instead persevere to complete multiplayer as well as flesh out the game in it's entirety. I have a somewhat romantic idea that game makers can't help but make and perfect games regardless of circumstance.

Good luck on your future funding ventures. If only folks like van Gogh had Kickstarter, rather than having to choose between paint or bread.

I think every developer is free of making her code open or not, and make it open at the time she judges convenient. The moment when the game is finished is a good one, as good as any other. Also, it must be said (one more time), that 'open' is not 'free', and it's the sole choice of the developer of make the code open, and we must be grateful for that, whatever be the moment of the release.
Thank you, Lorena for the game, for your sincere words, and good luck with the next steps and the funding!