SteamWorld Heist doesn't have a firm release date beyond 'December' quite yet, but the Image & Form title had a welcome boost in exposure in the most recent Nintendo Direct broadcasts. In North America it had a prominent role in an eShop segment provided by Bill Trinen, while in the European presentation the studio's Brjann Sigurgeirsson appeared himself to introduce the game.
Grabbing a minute of time in a Nintendo Direct broadcast is about as effective as publicity can get, particularly with the ability to remind viewers of the rather popular SteamWorld Dig while introducing the new concept. We've been impressed with SteamWorld Heist in our preview time, but certainly understood the need for its turn-based approach to be given a greater limelight to persuade fans of its predecessor to jump on board.
With the title now just weeks away and with Image & Form having made its appearance on Nintendo Direct, we caught up with Sigurgeirsson on the phone to gauge progress and see how that cameo came about.
Thanks for joining us Brjann. To start off, you weren't quite able to give a final release date but the messaging did say "December"; is that a relatively firm window?
Hello! Yes, the game is coming out very soon, but the final date does depend on the Nintendo approval process. The game is actually ready, it's done - we're not working on it any more. It's finished!
So, you must all be very excited to have featured prominently in the Nintendo Direct - how did that come about?
It's been just remarkable for us. As far as we know it's only been done (appearing in person as per the European broadcast) once before I think with the Shovel Knight guys. Getting the opportunity to do this says something about the game I think - Nintendo has reviewed it quite thoroughly, and we're lucky enough to have a game that comes out in conjunction with a Nintendo Direct. If we'd been aiming for Q1 / Q2 next year we wouldn't necessarily have been in a Direct.
We were really happy when Nintendo asked us to produce a video to talk about the game.
You say it's rare for Nindies to have that kind of exposure, beyond sizzle reels and trailers, but do you think that'll happen more in future Nintendo Directs?
Yeah, I think so. The line is starting to blur with the so-called 'Nindies' that are medium-sized developers that can actually put a huge number of hours into making games. Normally you'd see great efforts from Nintendo first-party games and smaller efforts from Nindies, but maybe that gap is narrowing a little.
If you remember we were also in a Direct with Dig in 2013, where they did something different - we sent a script and footage and Shibata-san (NoE President) narrated for about 45 seconds. That made a tremendous difference I think for Dig, that kind of exposure. After that there was a sizzle reel with 5-10 second clips of other games, so it seemed significant for the 'importance' of Dig.
Then when Sean Velasco appeared for Yacht Club Games and Shovel Knight it seemed groundbreaking. Nintendo is exactly that, Nintendo showing off Nintendo games, with third-party stuff often shown in a short segments. So when Sean did that I wondered if they'd ever let us do something similar - I then decided to nag Nintendo so we could do the same thing!
I really hope Nintendo keeps opening up for these things - the games from third-party publishers are so good that they deserve the attention.
You mention the gradual closure of the quality gap between first-party titles and stronger Nindie games. Where does Heist sit on that scale, in your view?
Well, I really think SteamWorld Heist is on par with some first-party games. He said modestly! But I really think so, with SteamWorld Dig we were our humble Swedish selves, we didn't dare to hope that it was good or great. We were just glad it was done and held together. It's just the way Swedish people grow up, not by our parents but by society - to not overextend, to be careful about tooting our own horn. It's a Scandinavian thing, actually, not just Swedish.
With Dig it was a case of that - we didn't know how to market it as we didn't want to brag. With Heist it's different, as I'm confident that it's a great game and deserves its minute in the Direct.
I hope other developers get this opportunity in future with their great games.
You spoke about when Dig had a boost from a Direct - is it perhaps more important for Heist due to the need to explain the concept to the audience, the switch to turn-based play and so on?
Yeah, that's a crucial point. Heist is very much more difficult to explain. Also, with Dig, it became available on the eShop right after the Direct was shown, so it it slammed in from the side - presented by Nintendo and then arriving on the store.
We were more naïve then, as we didn't know there'd be that impact in Europe with the Direct profile. We thought it would have the same appearance in the Nintendo of America Direct (it didn't) so hadn't talked at all to them (laughs). We thought it was one company!
Obviously we'd run lotchecks with both, but for some reason we thought they were working with each other on Directs and their eShop efforts, doing the same and reflecting each other. So the day after we looked at the sales tracking and saw that Dig was selling great in Europe, and by comparison the numbers were dismal in America. I just thought, what is this?
So we asked an American on Twitter who'd bought the game - could you go into the eShop to look at how it's presented there? He said "it's buried under a sub-category of a sub-category called 'not very interesting games'" or something (laughs). So I asked NoA's eShop team what was up, and they said they'd been unaware it was coming out and scheduled better real estate on that store for a couple of weeks down the line. That's the quickest they could work.
Back to Heist there are two main challenges. The game's harder to explain, so the Direct will help. On the flipside it's not coming out with the Direct, so there's no benefit of that. With the release date we want to ensure there's as little time as possible from the broadcast to our release.
The Direct should at least help build momentum for your own marketing, though?
Absolutely. We have our social media plans in order, so we'll try to ride the wave as much as possible. We're getting 100% of the support from Nintendo that we could be hoping for.
Any final messages for our readers?
We're really positive about SteamWorld Heist and think it's a great game. Compared to our confidence in Dig we're just on another level with this one. I hope people decide to take a chance and try it out, I think they'll see it's one of the most interesting games they've played.
For two years we've been making something really exciting, so I hope you'll all enjoy it!
Comments 41
This game is going to be awesome! I played it at a show and was super impressed. Can't wait
Looking forward to this. Big budget games get too much hype and are often disappointing, so it's a real treat to find a very pleasant surprise in a decently priced game where the development process is to make a really good game rather than cash in on a franchise, shoehorning in things that don't really fit to keep it fresh.
Can't wait for this game and will get a Wii U version if n when it drops.
Has this game always been on 3DS and not WiiU?
If that's the case, I kind of feel insulted. They put a game out on Wii U, lots of people buy it, and then they follow up with a sort of sequel on another platform? Gee, thanks for nothing.
I suppose at 50m 3DS sold and and only 10m Wii U sold it's the wise choice, but I still feel like the guy who got dumped at the Prom for the more attractive boy after bringing the girl to the dance in the first place.
@rjejr We made SteamWorld Dig for 3DS first and then Wii U SteamWorld Heist is 3DS first (just like Dig). HD versions on Wii U and most other current-gen platforms will follow soon after.
@imageform You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to this game. Day one purchase for me! SteamWorld Dig on Wii U was one of my surprise hits of the year last year. Keep up the good work guys!
I'm very excited for this game but are there any plans to put it on WiiU?
Edit: Just saw the response. I'll wait for the WiiU version then.
@rjejr Point that rage somewhere else lol. They are paying homage to the 3ds first because that's where Dig was so successful! I for one am glad as I will be getting it day one for sure.
@rjejr Your talent for seeing the negative in EVERY situation never ceases to amaze me.
@rjejr @Damo Lol, even the editor's know you oh too well!
@imageform Can you speak of a price yet? Not that it matters as I would pay 30$ for this but price matters to a lot of people and yes even me. I've seen far too many games price themselves out of the market and wonder why they have poor sales. In retrospect 19.99 wouldn't be a price I would shoot for as it could spell doom.
@rjejr do yourself a favour and go buy Steamworld Dig, I even have an extra code cause I had it before the Humble Bundle.. but you kindda... to give you my code lol
@Ryu_Niiyama It's probably gonna be some time between the versions, but you decide Thanks for the love!
@RJBurgess You rule! Thank you
@Spoony_Tech Hi! It's gonna be a big game. It's not just the overall quality we believe is on par with some first-party games. The length and content is as well. There's easily 20-30 hours of varied gameplay on your first playthrough
Price will be announced soon!
@imageform I don't doubt anything you're saying I just know far too many people that won't spend more then 14.99 and they would just assume wait for a sale. Shoot they may not go over 11.99 tbh. I just don't want to see it struggle as it is far different then the last game and might appeal to less people then in the past. I'm not seeing the interest in this game like I thought I would. Plus Dig filled a nice void left by a lack of Metroid and it filled it well.
This doesn't really look like my kinda thing but I'll get it if it reviews well.
Real question: will this soundtrack be a rip off of another movie's soundtrack like Steamworld Dig's
Don't get me wrong, I loved SWD. The soundtrack was just a blatant steal, though
@imageform I'm ok with the wait. I prefer the gamepad interface over the 3ds because if this is anywhere near as fun as Dig I'll sink a Sunday afternoon into it. Not a much fun to do that on a small screen, even the XL.
Edit: Thank you for your hard work, you guys are one of my favorite indie devs.
Please make Dig 2 next!
@Nintendian We hear you
@Ryu_Niiyama OK! It's quite a long game, 20 to 30 hours!
@Haiassai The soundtrack is composed by Steam Powered Giraffe with additional background tunes by other artists
@Spoony_Tech I understand Thanks for caring!
@imageform
Any chance of a retail release with both games included?
@Malanta No plans at the moment. But we'd love to if we get the chance
@imageform
Well I am sure plenty of people including me would snap it up if the chance comes up ^_^
@Malanta Good to know! Have a great day
Day onesies!
Also Rusty deserves an Amiibo just as much as shovel knight! Maybe they can each dig a hole into each other's universe, that'd be cool!
@Spoony_Tech I've posted on here 50x a day for the past 5 years, of course they know me. And I've been a constant thorn in @Damo side for the past few, here and on PS. Can't remember when it started exactly, we started off ok w/ the kids in common and everything, I think my consistent criticism of everything just wore him down. I can't help it if all I can recall from high school and college is "critical thinking" courses. If you want to make something better, first you have to analyze it's weak points. I just never moved on to the "making it better" parts.
And for the record, I do enjoy things. And if you read everything I've written over the past few years I'm almost always in line w/ TW. He's just a whole lot better at putting it into words than I am. I'm a math guy, hence the calendar, and price, obsession.
Also, if you read ALL the comments on here over the past 5 years, you'll probably also notice a trend. 5 years ago everybody was happy, even me, (I still miss happy James) but over the past couple of years there has been more and more complaining and grumbling and guys like Q. This year was the worst. So you could just say I'm ahead of the curve.
Sorry Damo, it's not personal, and it's not intentional, it's just who I am. And in case either of you are wondering, yes, sometimes it does suck to be me.
@imageform Oh thanks for that. You know I never had any interest in Dig. Even after buying the Humble Nindie bundle I dindt even start it for a few months. But after I started I didn't want to stop. Really good job of pacing and discovery and travel options. I actually just told my 13 year old son last night he should take a break from SMM and play it. So that's why I was looking forward to this one, and bummed I wasn't going to get to play it.
Sorry.
@Sonic4life Well yeah I did play it, all of it, even beat the final boss. And I rarely beat thf nal boss in games these days, I just get there and get hammered and give up. Took me 13 tries to beat the final boss in Spaltoon. And I beat the final boss in Xenoblade Chronicles but I think I was way leveled up beyond where I was supposed to be from doing so many side missions. Took me 2 tries in Dig I think, but I would have given it a few more. Then gone and dug up the place to buy more upgrades, like I had to do in Splatoon. .
December release window for this was probably my personal highlight from the direct. Been hyped for this for a long time.
@rjejr - as a SteamWorld Heist ambassador and huge fan of SteamWorld Dig, I'm pushing everyone to support the game, so I'm sure you will happily pay full price for the Wii U version when it arrives........RIGHT!
Anyway can't wait for the Wii U version myself. My 3DS seldom gets used although I will probably dable with Heist some when it releases until it arrives on my Wii U
@Gerbwmu "full price" is a fool's errand.
Though if Nintendo ever gets "My Nintendo" up and running I might consider it. "Full price" is only half the story, but I usually do require some type of incentive, yes. What that incentive is can vary. I will pay full price for gifts for others, but not myself. I've been conditioned by the marketplace.
And besides, "full price' is really just the beginning these days, isn't it? "Pay-to-start". DLC, amiibo, Season Passes, pay to play online. People complain all the time about "free-to-start", but I find that preferable to "pay-full-price-to-start".
No DLC for Smash. Remember that?
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-we-have-no-smash-bros-premium-dlc-plans-b/1100-6423752/
@rjejr - I am well aware of your bargin shopping mentality....I think it is one of many things we have in common. Hopefully I will know soon exactly what I get for being an Ambassador, maybe free will be the right incentive.
My oldest son is asking for Smash Bros for the holidays.....I'm hoping he isn't concerned with DLC because it seems like there is an abundance out there currently.
@Gerbwmu "abundance"
Well I'm pretty sure it costs more than the game to buy it all, if that's what you mean. Well actually maybe only if yo buy it for both 3DS and Wii U like we usually do, only 1 version would be a few $ cheaper. Though w/ that SSB ND in Dec, and the poll winnrs, and FFVII. I'm thinking way more than the game by Christmas.
Not counting amiibo of course. My kids never use those. Leveled them all up to 50 in 4 hours. 2 hours each day. The worst leveling system I've ever seen. One or 2 levels every single battle. It's like nobody at Nintneod had ever played a JRPG before. My kids buy a $13 amiibo, I want them to spend 50 hours getting it to level 50. OK maybe 25 hours. But not 4.
These guys are very friendly n nice i hope this game gets alot of support and they also do a discount system for if and when a Wii U version is released.
@imageform hi I love the music for Dig. Where can I get steam giraffe music from to listen to please?
@rjejr You know I've got mad love for ya.
@Damo Well I know about the mad part, but the love part is up for debate.
@Sonic4life I'll take that extra code if it's still going
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