Time to catch up with our friends at Yacht Club Games!
It feels like it has been forever since I've conducted an interview for GamerFudge.com. So much so that the last time, we were still GamerHub.TV but I'm getting off track. Yacht Club Games will always hold a special place in my heart. The original Shovel Knight was one of the first games I receieved a review code for. It was also one of the first and only games I discovered a glitch in while reviewing. Yacht Club games was one of the first interviews I ever did for the site. Yacht Club has always been nice enough to take time out with me at PAX East when they're attending as well. Mina The Hollower is coming out soon so what better time than now to welcome Yacht Club Games back to the "Let's Sit And Talk" interview series.
1. Can you introduce yourself for our readers?
Hello! My name is Celia Schilling. I’m the Marketing Director at Yacht Club Games. We’re a small studio so I wear a lot of hats. I handle marketing, community, PR, biz dev, licensing for merch, cameo licensing, and more!
2. What is something you know now that you didn’t know when you first started out? Has the industry changed since you first started? Is it easier for independent developers now?
When I first started out, I didn’t realize how quickly the games industry could evolve. Back in the day there used to be a huge divide between AAA and the indie space and there was a monoculture with games. Over time that gap has started to close and there’s so many subsections of fandoms playing tons of different genres. In addition to that the public as a whole is now viewing indie in the same regard as the big guys. It’s amazing and inspiring to see how far our industry has come. As for difficulty, in some ways it’s easier but in other ways it’s harder. I think there’s just a new set of challenges that indie studios now have to face.
3 Was it always the plan to go with a game like an old Game Boy Color/Legend of Zelda style game with Mina the Hollower?
Yes! Back in 2019 (when we were wrapping up Treasure Trove) we started to map out what we were going to do next. Everyone was pitching projects and my colleague, Alec, shared his secret project. It was a top down castlevania game starring a mouse with a big red nose! Obviously there’s been some cosmetic and mechanic changes since then but it still stays true to its GBC inspiration. We all had handheld on the brain and so it was serendipitous!
4 Is there more pressure with the success of Shovel Knight to hit it again with Mina the Hollower?
I think in difference ways. The video game industry as a whole is going through tough times and your studio is only as strong as your last game. Our team has so much fun together and Mina succeeding would mean that we can continue to create incredible games together. So, we're just focused on making the best game possible. If it resonates with the fans as strongly as Shovel Knight then we did our jobs.
5. Will there be any cameos from previous Yacht Club titles in Mina The Hollower like a certain knight who is all for Shovel Justice?
Nope, we decided very early on that Shovel Knight and Mina’s worlds would be separate.
6. Is there a franchise/series that you guys would love to work with if you ever got the chance or is all about new properties?
Oh gosh, a lot. We love a ton of different franchises but I think for right now we’re focusing on our studio’s projects.
7. There was a rumored/April Fools joke for Shovel Knight 64 so my question is will it ever happen. Also, does Mina The Hollower signal the end for Shovel Knight?
Haha, everyone asks that! Who knows! We’ve done NES and GBC-inspired, maybe we gotta focus on a SNES style game first?
8. Will there be an Amiibo for Mina The Hollower like Shovel Knight?
I’d love to see that happen but that’s up to Nintendo!
9. I have played the Mina The Hollower Demo and loved it. The music and classic feel fit perfectly together. Is it welcoming to players who aren’t as familiar with the gameplay style or is there a learning curve?
Our game design philosophy is to teach by doing. The set-up naturally shows players how to move through the environment, so it feels intuitive rather than being explicitly told. Mina’s gameplay is closer to a modern game like bloodborne so though GBC mechanic knowledge is helpful, players will have to keep their wits as sharp as their mace to survive Mina’s world of monsters and mystery. We’re confident that players of all generations will enjoy Mina the Hollower’s adventure!
10. Does fighting with a shovel really work and have you had to fight with one before?
You’d have to ask our blue burrower! He’s trained in the ways of Shovelry.
11. Anything else you’d like to share with our readers before we wrap up.
We’re beyond thankful for everyone’s ongoing support and we’re beyond excited to get Mina into everyone’s hands as soon as possible.
BONUS ROUND!-These are the hard-hitting questions folks.
Mario or Luigi?
Definitely Luigi! (We need a return of the year of Luigi!)
Hot Dog or Hamburger?
Hamburger
Ketchup or Mustard?
Ketchup( I put it on everything)
Water, Fire or Grass Pokemon Starter?
Always picked Fire since Gen 1
Go to the movies or watch on TV at home?
I like streaming movies at home cause you can pause it at any time.
Suit of armor with a shovel or a mouse with a grappling hook?
That’s a tough decision. Both are too cool to pick only one.
Well, there you have it folks. That's going to wrap up this installment of "Let's Sit and Talk!" I want to thank Celia Schilling the Marketing Director at Yacht Club Games for talking some time out to conduct this interview with us. I have to say that I also put Ketchup on everything but Squirtle is my all-time favorite Pokemon but that's ok. Anyway, Keep an eye out for Mina The Hollower coming out soon as well as the next "Let's Sit and Talk interview!