Interview with PAX Aus showcase winner Untethered’s developer Luna Verratti

By Drawza

Firstly, please introduce yourself and your game?

Sure! My name is Luna Verratti, I’m a solo game developer based in Melbourne, and I’m working on Untethered, which is a first person space survival sandbox game, in which you keep yourself alive to build and expand a network of space stations.

What is your background?

Well I’m only 19 so I don’t necessarily have a “background”… I dabble in all sorts of art forms, including music, sound design, filmmaking, and of course, game development. I’ve studied music for a while (I have a strong passion for choral music), but I’m currently studying engineering.

What made you decide to journey down the path of game development?

I never really made the conscious choice - it just called me, and so I followed it. I love programming, designing, modelling, music and sound, so it’s a perfect mixture of disciplines for me to work with! The ultimate digital art form.

What previous games have you created/worked on?

I’ve made several small games for fun, but this is my first commercial project.

 What are the core concepts?

One core design pillar of Untethered immersion. The game has very little UI - in regular gameplay you see almost none of it. You interact with the world directly - through switches, buttons, gauges, monitors, and other “physical” controls. I really want it to have a realistic, tactile feeling, just like working on a real space station.

What were your inspirations?

I love space. I love space exploration. I love stories of survival. I love engineering. So I just couldn’t help myself but make a space survival-sandbox game. Some of my inspirations include films like Gravity, The Martian and Apollo 13, and games like Subnautica, Satisfactory and Kerbal Space Program.

How long have you been working on this game?

The date I have written down as the start date is October 19th, 2022 (almost 2 years ago). I’m not 100% sure what actually happened on that day, but I’m pretty sure it began with me downloading some models of NASA spacecraft and messing around!

How does it feel being announced as a winner for PAX Aus 2024 Indie Showcase?

You can probably guess. Incredible! Im so excited to watch people play the demo, to meet other devs and industry professionals, and to just be around s many wonderful likeminded people in person, an experience that is unfortunately not all that common when it comes to games.

What is it like to have the game showcased at events such as PAX Aus?

Well I haven’t done it yet, so I’ll find out!

 What advice have you got for upcoming game developers?

Oh that’s a hard one. I’m reluctant to give advice as I am myself yet to ship a commercial game, but thinking about what I wish I had done while making Untethered, I’d say plan the early stages better. I think I’d have arrived where I am sooner if I had developed a better strategy for designing, prototyping, and iterating sooner, as I found myself still adjusting core gameplay ideas much later in the process than preferable. But beyond advice on game production specifically - keep making stuff! I can’t recommend game jams highly enough. You have to fail to improve, and game jams are the best way to do that.

What advice have you received that you have held on to throughout your journey?

I think I have to go with “fail fast, fail quickly”. I’ve made many small games, and many bad games, in order to build my confidence as a developer. Low cost failures are beneficial. The concept still applies for working on a big project. Got a feature idea? Make it as quick as possible, with the assumption that you’ll get rid of it. Test it. If it works, then make it properly. If it doesn’t? Ditch it. Move on.

Have you had any mentors in the gaming industry?

Nope! Basically all my knowledge has come from YouTubers like GMTK and Brackeys, and then applying the knowledge to small games.

How many PAX Aus events have you attended (as both a developer and as a regular attendee)?

This will be my first! I was planning to go last year, but couldn’t make it. So my first PAX will be as an exhibitor - only slightly terrifying…

Check Out the Steam pages for Untethered

Be sure to check out Untethered and other PAX Aus showcase winners here

And make sure you check out all the indie games that will be on display during PAX Aus 2024 in October.