Beat Hazard, from Cold Beam Games, Is one of the more unique titles to appear in the shmup scene. The enemies, firepower, and seizure-inducing pyrotechnics are all generated from your MP3s, meaning it can be as frenzied or as calm as you choose. The game became a personal favorite after its appearance in Xbox Live’s Indie section. After the announcement of Beat Hazard Ultra, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to speak with creator Steve Hunt.
Kombo: You have worked as a part of development teams stretching back to 1995, and released Beat Hazard as an indie title earlier this year. Why the move to indie development?
Steve Hunt: Well, I’ve now gone full circle from writing games at home to working for the big boys all the way back to making games back in my bedroom. I had plenty of experience working for mainstream developers and publishers for the last 15 years (DID, Rage, Warthog, Juice). Over that time I’ve found as budgets have gotten bigger that it’s become harder and harder to take creative risks. Job security has gone out of the window too. I’ve always wanted to go Indie so I would have the freedom to try all the wacky ideas I’ve had and to experience being my own boss. So when I was made redundant from Juice games I thought it was time to give going Indie a go… I’ve not looked back since.
Kombo: You recently announced a sequel, Beat Hazard Ultra. What made you decide to pursue a sequel, rather than a completely new title?
SH: Well it’s sort of an upgrade rather than a sequel. But, I’ve done it because I feel Beat Hazard had a lot more to offer. I want to really expand the game to its full potential. I’ve got lots of ideas for other games, but it seems a shame to run off and start doing something else when there is so much to do with Beat Hazard.
Kombo: Can you tell me about some of the new features of Beat Hazard Ultra?
SH: I’m expanding the game in all directions. There are going to be more bad guys, from bosses to small enemies, each of these will require a different technique to defeat. I’m adding more power-ups that will add greater depth to the gameplay. For example: there will be a ‘subvert’ power-up that when fired at an enemy will cause it to fight on your side until it dies! (Can this be done on a boss? Hmm… I’m not saying yet… but how cool would that be?)
I’m adding new game modes like Invaders where the game acts like traditional Space Invaders and you move from left to right at the bottom of the screen and shoot the bad guys as they come in from the top. The biggest addition is online play. This is one of the most requested features and I think it’ll be a blast.
Kombo: Were you a fan of shmups before starting on Beat Hazard, and if so, what titles and styles are your favorites?
SH: Yes I was. I remember playing R-Type and Nemesis in the arcades when I was a kid. My modern favorite is Ikaruga. It’s such a cool game. I’m not great at it though. I’ve never managed to finish it.
Kombo: Shmups have ridden a rollercoaster of declines and resurgences for three decades. What is it about the genre that has given it such staying power?
SH: For me they have a trance-like quality. With so much carnage going on they’re beautiful to watch. I think the feeling of becoming more and more powerful and taking on a ridiculous amount of bad guys is so engaging. It seems it’s a fundamental part of gaming.
Kombo: Likewise, indie development has rapidly moved into the spotlight again. Do you think the scene is heading in the right direction, or is this the ‘cool’ phase before burnout?
SH: I think the Indie scene is here to stay. It’s digital download technology that’s made it possible for this to happen. It allows developers with some time and vision to cut out all the nonsense and middlemen and make a product that can be judged by the players. In fact, I think making Indie games will get easier and easer. Middleware like Unity3D makes the barrier to entry lower and lower for potential developers.
Kombo: Finally, what is the craziest song you’ve found to use in Beat Hazard?
SH: The craziest ‘song’ I’ve seen is the guy who did Beat Hazard abuse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj9NYLAybxw It can’t be counted as a song, but it sure is nuts!
