I’m diving into a review for Which Way Up: Galaxy Games and had the chance to chat with Turtle Flip Studio about its creation. Join the conversation!
PS4Blog: Good morning! Thanks for speaking with us. Could you introduce yourself to our readers and share a bit about your professional background?
Hello! I’m Nick Cellini, the director at Turtle Flip Studio, a new game development company based in Australia. We were fortunate to receive a grant from Screen Australia, which significantly propelled us toward bringing our first game to fruition. The result of this grant is Which Way Up: Galaxy Games, a dynamic, gravity-defying multiplayer party game launching on March 27!
I’ve spent over 15 years in the gaming industry, honing my skills as a programmer and designer in the realms of games and interactive media. This venture marks my initial foray into establishing my own studio and seeing a game’s journey from its inception to its debut on consoles. It’s been an exhilarating adventure filled with highs, lows, and quite literally, plenty of upside-down moments thanks to our fascination with gravity.
PS4B: Speaking about Which Way Up: Galaxy Games, it’s set to launch on Nintendo Switch. How would you describe it to newcomers?
Which Way Up is what I’d call a local multiplayer party game, heavily inspired by the whimsical gravity mechanics of Super Mario Galaxy, which made waves back in 2007 on the Nintendo Wii. We took that fascinating concept where "up" isn’t always "up" and spun it into a spirited, competitive couch game. Players get to run, bounce, and crash into each other across various mini-games and uniquely designed arenas.
It’s packed with fast-paced action, easy for anyone to pick up, and promises endless laugh-out-loud moments. You’ll find yourself engaged in mini-games like dashing away from a black hole, capturing comets within your territory, or playing a raucous game of hot potato with a bomb while chasing your friends around planets. It’s the perfect recipe for game night fun, sibling challenges, or simply some boisterous time with friends as you navigate the dizzying experience of space.
PS4B: How has the game evolved from the demo available on your Kickstarter to the final version for Nintendo’s console?
For those who’ve played the demo, it offers a glimpse of what to expect, hosting 6 out of the 12 Galaxy Games and 5 of the 7 playable characters. Players also get to explore a snippet of the single-player missions, soaking in the character interactions, some gentle platforming, and the vibrant personality of our crafted universe.
The complete experience launching on March 27, however, is bursting with all 12 Galaxy Games. This includes 6 brand-new mini-games not seen in the demo. Take Hole In One, for instance, where you’re launching golf balls through shifting gravity fields to land that flawless shot. Or Puff Panic, where you dodge fiery projectiles as a baby dragon erupts in a tantrum. Not to forget Bumper Stars, which throws you and your friends into orbit, colliding into each other while trying to avoid the gravitational pull of a nearby star furnace.
PS4B: With the game’s completion, what’s the studio’s next move? Any plans for a new project?
We’re indeed looking forward to taking a breather and basking in relief—launching a game is no small feat, especially for a compact team like ours. Simultaneously, we’re eagerly anticipating how players will respond to our whimsical, organized chaos that we’ve so passionately developed. Watching audiences laugh, compete, and launch each other in Comet Push scenarios epitomizes our dream.
Looking ahead, we have several intriguing projects in mind. We remain enchanted by our Celestial characters and yearn to delve deeper into their universe. We’re toying with a fresh project set within the same world but exploring an entirely new genre, perhaps a single-player game focusing on mining and construction…? It’s still early, and though we’re only sparking ideas for now, our enthusiasm is very much alive—just like our character, Spark.
In this moment, we plan to relish in the game’s launch, watch lively party game chaos unfold, and probably enjoy a well-deserved week of rest.
PS4B: Any thoughts on future updates with new characters, mini-games, or character customization options?
We’re eager to expand the game with additional characters, mini-games, and visual customization options. We’ll be keenly listening to community feedback post-launch and are enthusiastic about the chance to further develop the game.
PS4B: Does the game include AI opponents in multiplayer scenarios?
Deciding whether to feature AI opponents was a major consideration for us. Given we’re debuting with 12 distinct Galaxy Games, it would have required tailoring a unique AI for each game, which is a significant task. Ultimately, we chose to center our efforts on delivering a nostalgic local multiplayer delight for friends and family gatherings.
PS4B: Thanks for sharing your insights with us today. Anything you’d like to add before we wrap up?
I really appreciate the time to chat!
Image Credits: Turtle Flip Studio via PS4Blog.net
