"We essentially rebuilt the first TJ&E game — We even referenced the original level generating algorithm! — and then we continued to build and tweak and add from that. "

What prompted you to bring back ToeJam & Earl for a fourth entry after the series had spent so many years in hibernation?

There were a few reasons we reawakened the property. Rogue-likes are very popular now, 90s nostalgia is in high demand, etc. But I think the main catalyst was an article that Greg (co-creator) read in 2014 that was titled something like “Now is the time for a new Toejam & Earl“. Humanature Studios was primed to start a new project and with the success some older IPs had seen getting funded through Kickstarter, we felt we had a pretty good shot at bringing TJ&E back.

Are you making any efforts to modernize ToeJam & Earl, or do you want to retain everything from the previous games to give fans something they’re familiar with?

Yes and no. We essentially rebuilt the first TJ&E game — We even referenced the original level generating algorithm! — and then we continued to build and tweak and add from that.

We’ve modernized the game in key areas so it can stand strong in the current market. For example, the pacing of the game has been sped up quite a bit from the original. It retains the laid back feel that fans know and love, but it doesn’t take nearly as long to accomplish the game’s goals. We’ve also included save states, as well as items that persistent through multiple playthroughs.

What are the biggest challenges related to working on a property that’s been dormant for so long, in terms of attracting the attention of new audiences?

I’d say the biggest challenge for us has been striking the balance of catering to longtime fans while creating something that still feels new and exciting for the younger audience that might have no idea what Toejam & Earl even is.

What prompted you to bring back Jam Out from Panic on Funkotron? Can players expect it to be the same mini game it was back then, or are you making any significant changes?

For every Game 1 fan we’ve encountered, there has been another fan that prefers Panic on Funkotron instead. We didn’t want them to feel entirely left out, so a number of features from Panic on Funkotron have made a return in Back in the Groove. Coin meters, trees with hidden items, the Hyperfunk Zone, and yes, the jam out game!

The jam out game will feel familiar, although it now has more of a Guitar Hero style note track and you can participate in head-to-head jam out sessions during coop playthroughs.

"Nearly all the playable characters are recognisable faces from the older games. Latisha, who was a playable character in ToeJam & Earl 3 has made a return. And for the Panic on Funkotron fans out there, they’ll be happy to see that both Lewanada and Peabo are now playable!"

Will Back in the Groove feature Joycon support on Switch for local co-op?

Yes, absolutely!

Will there be a good mix of old and new characters in the game’s nine playable ones? Can you talk to us about any of these, returning or new?

Sure! Nearly all the playable characters are recognisable faces from the older games. Latisha, who was a playable character in ToeJam & Earl 3 has made a return. And for the Panic on Funkotron fans out there, they’ll be happy to see that both Lewanada and Peabo are now playable!

Can you speak a bit about how randomly generated levels will be implemented in Back in the Groove?

All of our levels in Back in the Groove have been randomly generated. For the Tutorial and Fixed Worlds, we handpicked levels from the generator that will always be present in those modes. In the Random and Hard modes, the game will pull levels from our randomly generated pile so that every playthrough is unique and unpredictable!

Do you think there are any unique advantages and/or disadvantages inherent in making a game that is crowdfunded?

Crowdfunding is unique in that you have a direct line of communication with your fans from day one. If you’re crowdfunding a brand new game, that’s great! You’ve already started to build an audience. In our case, our backers were already devoted fans and so we had the opportunity to hear all of their input and suggestions from the get-go. It was a bit challenging to sift through all of the thoughts and opinions of our backers and utilize them in a way to fit the vision of the project, but it ultimately served crucial to what the game has become. I’m super grateful for what those fans have contributed.

Music is obviously an important part of any ToeJam & Earl game. How much of a focus has it been for you during the development of Back in the Groove?

Development for the Back in the Groove soundtrack started almost immediately after our Kickstarter campaign had finished. We felt is was integral for establishing the mood and feel of the game, even in it’s earliest stages. We’ve capped off at nearly 30 unique tracks and they’re all funky as heck!

The game is coming on both the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X- what kind of differences did you find between the two consoles?

Honestly? We have’t see a huge difference. Maybe that’s due to the nature of our game, as it’s not meant to push these systems to the limit.

"As a studio, we have a tendency to focus less on the hardware and platforms and more on the content. We like to see games that appeal to a broader audience, including non-gamers and families. We hope to see more of that in the next gen!"

Next gen is coming sooner or later. From a development perspective, what is your biggest expectation from PS5 and Xbox Scarlett?

As a studio, we have a tendency to focus less on the hardware and platforms and more on the content. We like to see games that appeal to a broader audience, including non-gamers and families. We hope to see more of that in the next gen!

Do you think cross platform play will be one of the defining features of next-gen consoles?

Possibly. It’s not a feature we tend to focus on as a studio but it’d be nice to bring more people together, regardless of their platform of choice.

What is your take on the ongoing drama of loot boxes and microtransactions?

It’s always worth considering where the developers are coming from when they introduce a new source of revenue for their studio. Game prices have stayed roughly the same for years, while the cost and expectation of making a game has skyrocketed. I’m entirely in favor of creative avenues for sustaining a studio while they continue to make the content people love. As long as those avenues do not impede the core game experience.

The odd little indie title Doki Doki Universe will be finally be available soon for PlayStation owners. HumaNature Studios has announced the game’s release date for PS3, PS4 and PS Vita as December 10th, and has confirmed that it will support cross buy. This means you can purchase it for one platform and immediately play it on others.

Doki Doki Universe is odd, for sure, as you play as robot QT3 as he works to learn about humanity. There will be personality quizzes to take and depending on which version you go with, you’ll wind up with a few different features overall.

The full game will retail for $14.99, and will include 31 personality quizzes along with Doki Doki Mail messaging and a Story mode. meanwhile, the Starter Pack will be available for free and comes with 16 personality quizzes along with a tutorial planet, Doki Doki Mail and QT3’s home planet. Stay tuned for the game’s release next week.

(Source)

According to Greg Johnson, founder of HumaNature Studios, the previously announced adventure game Doki Doki Universe has an updated release date, and will now be releasing across multiple platforms. Doki Doki Universe was original slated for a “sometime in 2013” PS3 exclusive release, but now the game will release this December, and across PS3, PS4 and PS Vita.

Doki Doki Universe will be partially free to download for all from the PlayStation Store, and will include a number of fun, interactive features, such as personality quizzes, and a mail application, which will allow players to message other gamers in game.

Based on the now published trailer, we can expect very cute and fin animated graphics which will accompany a warm hearted and heart warming story experience.

The rest of the game, which includes the role-playing story driven element, but is equally as interactive, will be available for purchase via download from the PlayStation store as well.