Interview with PAX RISING Primordials Legends: Hollow Hero’s designer - Yasin Karatas
By Drawza
Drawza: Firstly, please introduce yourself and your game?
Yasin: I'm Yasin, one of the directors at Toybox Games Studios. We're developing our first game, Primordials Legends: Hollow Hero. It is the tale of Brunt, our combat wombat, on her first adventure in a fantasy world.
What is your background?
I have a Bachelors of Interactive Entertainment, with a major in Game Design.
What made you decide to journey down the path of game development?
From a young age, I always enjoyed playing games. They gave me a sense of wonder and joy. I wanted to evoke those same feelings in others, which led me down the path of game development. I believe many of my industry peers can relate to this story.
What previous games have you created/worked on?
As a group we have made several smaller titles for the Global Game Jam. Personally, I have worked on many of the Aussie sporting titles, AFL23, Cricket24 and TIEBREAK to name a few.
What were your inspirations?
Hollow Hero is hugely inspired by GoW 2018 and classic games like Zelda and Banjo Kazooie.
Talk us through the genre and main themes of Primordials Legends: Hollow Hero
We are huge fans of action/adventure games. Exploring diverse worlds and fighting a variety of enemies with a hint of puzzles makes for a great gameplay experience.
These are the things we enjoy playing, and we believe that players are going to love the unique wombat mechanics in Hollow Hero as they explore the fantasy world of Eridal.
How did you come up with the look of the game?
We are big fans of fantasy games and are hugely inspired by titles like Fable and Zelda. Our team has some incredibly talented artists, and what they create feels like magic to me.
They did an amazing job of bringing the fantasy world of Eridal to life!
How long have you been working on this game?
We have been developing this game for 4 years now. Time is definitely flying but we are enjoying the ride.
What goes into making a game?
A lot of Hard Work, Coffee and Sleepless nights.
What is it like to have the game showcased at events such as PAX Aus?
Showcasing your game at any expo is always exciting. Once you get over the nerves, you start to enjoy seeing everyone's reactions to playing your game.
Showcasing at PAX Aus is particularly special, as it was our first expo. Seeing people's responses to all the new additions always boosts our confidence that we're on the right track.
What advice have you got for upcoming game developers?
The best advice I received and will give Is, regardless of the level of quality the game is, to release them into the public. Let the world see the fun you have created, over time you will begin to accumulate a library of games that you can see your skills evolving over time.
How many PAX Aus events have you attended (as both a developer and as a regular attendee)?
I’ve been attending PAX since its inception. I believe we’re at 10 PAX events this year, but I’ve been to many as both a fan and a developer.
Check Out the Steam page for Primordials Legends: Hollow Hero
Be sure to check out Primordials Legends: Hollow Hero and other PAX RISING games
And make sure you check out all the indie games that will be on display during PAX Aus 2024 in October.
