In Virtual Reality it is important to be immersed in the world you are in. Not only visually, but the sound also is a big part of it. Ever since Stifled was announced to be coming to PlayStation VR, I was intrigued. Here is a game that is taking a different approach to using your voice as the primary visuals. So when I reached out to Gattai Games, Justin Ng was happy to answer some questions about Stifled, Gattai Games and his thoughts on VR.
Justin Ng of Gattai Games
So tell us about Gattai Games.
“Gattai Games is a Singapore-based game studio where developers come together to create Novel and Quality interactive experiences. Also, we like giant combining robots!”
When did you join the team and what is your role on the team?
“I was one of the founding members of Gattai Games! The studio was founded in 2014 and I mainly handle the business/marketing stuff and contribute to game design/art direction/production when I can!”
What made you decide to get into VR?
“In the case of Stifled, we were first driven by doing VR “cheaply” when we worked on our student project Lurking (www.lurking-game.com) which led us to include a microphone input. The idea of putting the player into the world through an HMD came when we found the black/white art style that truly put players into a different world.”
Now that Stifled is out and ever since it was announced, I for one and I am sure that many have been excited about this one. So tell us how Stifled came about?
“Stifled is the spiritual successor to Lurking as I alluded to in my answer above. So Lurking was inspired by this video! We were inspired to make a sound-based game, which started off pretty innocently with the video until we found the black and white art-style that faded to darkness when no sound was made. our Audio Director, Bryan said: This is perfect for a horror game.” and it just clicked for the team.”
What kind of hurdles if you will, did you find when having to use your voice as a way of widening your view and all without getting detected?
“Using your voice can get tedious after a while, and to that, we gave players the ability to make sounds using a key input instead of just using the microphone.”
So for those that may not have played yet, how long is the game? Any trophies?
“It’s about 3-5hrs! And there are a bunch. 2 really hard ones that I think will be a good challenge for the players! (No spoilers though) ”
Do you see Stifled as a series? I can honestly see other directions where this could go.
“We are pretty burnt out after working on the game for about 3 years? That said, there are some ideas floating around in the office which we think could be interesting! (Shameless plug, follow our Twitter/Facebook or signup for our newsletter to stay updated!)”
Did you find any difficulties working with PlayStation VR compared to other headsets?
“Not really, to some extent, the knowledge that every single PlayStation VR out there will be powered by a PS4 or PS4 Pro has been really helpful when it comes to optimizations!”
Why do you feel that Stifled is that one PSVR title that deserves to be in your collection?
“I think Stifled offers a truly unique experience in VR. The ability to experience “blindness” and having the world react to your sound is in my opinion, truly immersive.”
Any future projects that can be discussed at this time?
“No firm details right now, but we’ll definitely be taking a break from the horror/thriller genre.”
I really want to thank Justin of Gattai Games for taking the time out of his busy schedule.
Stifled is out now for PlayStation VR and is also available on the Oculus Store and Steam. A review code was provided.
Also, check out the review.
To learn more about Gattai Games, please visit their site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, follow them on Instagram, join their Discord, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy.
Mr. PSVR, December 12, 2017, theplaystationbrahs.com
