Narratio Studios Exclusive Developer Interview for Powerless
We had the extreme honor of sitting down with Narratio Studios’ Co-Founder and Game Designer, Lauren Anne Marie Carter, to talk about the studio’s new Interactive Doomsday Simulator, Powerless. Do you think you could survive without electricity? Find out when you explore London after a catastrophic solar flare plunges the city into darkness and renders all electronic devices and transport useless. Read our in-depth interview with Lauren below and get the inside scoop on this addictive new game!
Hey Guys! Please give us a quick introduction of Narratio Studios. What’s your mission?
We want to use the power of words and our players’ imagination to create meaningful experiences. We’re all about telling diverse stories and using mobile to reach as many players as possible.
Give us a fun fact that others may not know about you!
I drove to Singapore (from London) in my Jeep. That was pretty fun!
How did you get involved in developing indie games?
It all started when my business partner and I, we were both writers / creative people working in video production at the time, wanted to put our storytelling skills to the test and create a narrative game. I think the idea of creating a product that we could own and sell, rather than provide a service to clients and brands, was very appealing. We’re both entrepreneurs at heart, Ryan even more than me, so the idea of setting up a new business was fascinating.
What are your hobbies when you’re not developing kick-ass indie games?
I really like painting and audiobooks. Usually at the same time…And dogs. I love dogs and going for nice walks.
How many titles have you released to date and for which platforms?
Just the one — Powerless. It’s out on iOS, Android, MacOS and will be out on Steam on the 18th December!
Let’s chat about Powerless now. It’s such an amazing concept with incredible visually aesthetic imagery. How did you come up with this amazing idea?
Thanks!
Powerless went through about 3 years of development, mainly because we were trying to do it alongside day jobs and because the format of the game changed quite dramatically 3 times. The heart of the game has always been about exploring our dependencies on electrical power and exposing our weaknesses. There are so many games about zombies and intergalactic wars and monsters, but there aren’t many about real life natural/man-made disasters. A solar flare, which is what causes the Powerlessness in our game is a real threat and may actually happen in our lifetime.
I made this video actually which shows the development process in 60 seconds:
What types of challenges have you encountered building Powerless?
I’d say the biggest challenge was self-belief. It takes a lot of mental energy to remain focused and determined in the face of failure, doubt and the myriad of setbacks that hit you almost daily.
What was your budget for Powerless?
It wasn’t big by any means. Most of it was done for free by myself and Ryan.The whole project has been self-funded, and self-hustled.
What lessons have you learned through the stages of development of Powerless?
1. Don’t be afraid to show people your work. All feedback is useful.
2. Communication is everything.
3. Apostrophes and sleep are equally important.
Anything you want to tell the Plexstorm community before we sign off?
If you like Powerless, please leave us a review or tell your friends!
The full version of Powerlessis currently live on Steam and ready to purchase and download for $4.99. Be sure to visit their official website and engage with them on their official Steam page and social media pages below as well!
Website: https://www.powerlessgame.co.uk
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/984150/Powerless/
Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram
Mac App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/powerless/id1444553746?mt=12
iOS App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/powerless/id1175937159
Android Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.narratio.powerless
As always, thanks for reading and keep on streaming! ❤
