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An interview with The Final Station developers

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Q: Can you tell us something about yourself?
A: My name is Oleg, for 10 years I have worked as a web designer, and 6 of them I tried to get into the gaming industry. This time it seems it worked.

Q: You are not creating games by yourself, what can you tell us about the team at “Do My Best, Games”?
A: “Do My Best” is just a name for me and my friend Andrey Rumak, it’s only two of us. But of course we are also working with several freelancers (sound, music, promo art).

Q: You are getting published by tinyBuild, but is having a publisher worth it?
A: I can tell, that if we didn’t get the publisher, our game would never have been finished. So yeah:)

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Q: As I can understand, The Final Station is a hybrid of two genres, train simulator and 2D platformer. Can you tell more about it? (I will more than likely add some follow up questions based your answers)
A: Yeah, our hero moves through the world by train, and from time to time he stops at stations. So stations are a large levels (villages, towns, factories) where the hero fights with enemies, looking for supplies and survivors. And when he is in his way to the next station, he needs to control train, configure reactors and of course he has to take care of passengers (heal and feed them).

Q: So you have chosen a post-apocalyptic setting with “zombies”, aren’t you afraid that this genre is a bit crowded and you might have a hard time to differentiate yourself?
A: We’re trying to go away from the word “zombie” a little, but actually I’m ok with it, for me main thing that a game was good.

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Q: There is one potentially controversial question I would like to ask. Based on the trailer, all survivors seems to be white, are you going to include a more diverse cast in your game?
A: —

Q:You might know that our readers are gamers, but they are also Linux users. So they would probably like to know, what is your motivation to port your game to Linux?
A: It’s quite simple, Unity supports export for Linux and Mac, so it didn’t take much time to make it. Also the more people playing our game, the better for us:)

Q: Do you anticipate any problems that may occur during the porting process?
A: I don’t think there will be any big problems, but if they will, I will be glad of any help from Linux community. Thanks!

Q: Will you release your game with day one Linux support or will be there a some delay before the Linux version will be shipped?
A: Right now I can’t tell you, sorry, but I wish it will be day one support.

Q: In the past publishers weren’t interested in Linux ports, so how did you manage to convince tinyBuild of this idea?
A: Their last project Punch Club included the Linux and Mac ports, as well as many previous games. I believe this is a common thing to get additional part of the audience. I can’t imagine any publisher saying something like “No! Anything but Linux!”.

Q: Do you think that Steam support (Steam Machines and Desktop) has helped Linux gain more acceptance as a gaming platform?
A: I think yes, but unfortunately I'm not expert in this theme.

Q: Will The Final Station support the Steam Controller and/or other gamepads?
A: Right now we’re testing the gamepad control, so I think Steam Controller will work as well.



image Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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35 comments
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Kimyrielle Mar 17, 2016
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: Pozzuoli
Quoting: Mountain ManWho really cares if all the sprites in the game have tan colored faces?
People that aren't white?
But why? What does it matter? Other than to someone who is intellectually crippled by political correctness.

Well, I am white, but as a female player I can tell you that the complete negligence of female characters in any role other than damsel in distress throughout the history of gaming did and still does irritate me. I can only assume that coloured people feel the same when playing games exclusively populated by whites. This is less about political correctness (although that's of course a factor as well) and more about relatability. If I have to play a game where females just don't exist, I can't get immersed in that game. Or if I have to play a guy character in pretty much every single game featuring premade characters. It does trigger a "the gaming industry doesn't care about me" feeling in me, to the degree that as long as we're not getting a bit more represented, I more or less refuse to buy games with a premade male character, no matter how good they are.

To be honest, it can't be THAT much asked for to a bit racial (or gender) diversity to your games. It doesn't cost much to paint a few sprites back and a few yellow, but it gives people a feeling that they are actually welcome as customers. I wish race and gender wouldn't be needed to be discussed. Tbh, game devs should really just roll dice and assign a character's race and gender randomly whenever they make one. Because it really shouldn't matter what race or gender you are. But as long as 99% of all characters used in their products automatically default to "white male", I am afraid that the issue won't die.

In that dev's defence - his name sounds Eastern European, but diversity and representation is largely a North American hot topic. I don't think he meant any ill will by making his game white-only. Eastern Europe is so predominately white that it probably just didn't occur to him to add a black guy and an Asian girl to the game. But yes, in all honesty, I feel that if you are going to sell a game globally, some awareness about the issue can't hurt, even if it's not a topic in your home region. I actually liked the interviewer asking the question and wish it would get asked again if needed. *shrug*


Last edited by Kimyrielle on 17 March 2016 at 5:55 pm UTC
scaine Mar 17, 2016
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The style looks similar to the Quantisized Bit games that came out yesterday, albeit the gameplay in this looks a bit more laid back. Any idea on price? Looks like my kind of game.
Mountain Man Mar 17, 2016
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: ricki42
Quoting: Mountain ManBecause the question is entirely predicated on the fallacy of political correctness.
Political correctness isn't a fallacy, it's [[...] a term primarily used as a pejorative to describe language, policies, or measures which are intended not to offend or disadvantage any particular group of people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness). You calling something PC doesn't invalidate it. It's just a lazy way of dismissing somebody else's concerns.
You've got it the wrong way around. Political correctness is primarily used as a tool to silence dissenting opinions.
And yet, if we look at the pattern in this case, what we have is someone asking a question and being told to shut up on the basis that the question is "politically correct".
Look, the interviewer had every right to ask the question just as the developer had every right to wisely ignore it, and I have every right to point out that it was a stupid question. Do you understand how this whole freedom of speech thing works yet?

Quoting: Purple Library GuySo tell me honestly--would it weird any of you out if the game just happened, without any particular explanation, to have all black and brown people on the train, including the main character?
It wouldn't bother me in the slightest. That is if I even noticed because I don't fixate on things like that.

But I can guarantee you that the politically correct hooligans would find some reason or other to be offended by it, even if that reason didn't make a lick of sense (which most political correctness doesn't).


Last edited by Mountain Man on 17 March 2016 at 7:49 pm UTC
Purple Library Guy Mar 17, 2016
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: ricki42
Quoting: Mountain ManBecause the question is entirely predicated on the fallacy of political correctness.
Political correctness isn't a fallacy, it's [[...] a term primarily used as a pejorative to describe language, policies, or measures which are intended not to offend or disadvantage any particular group of people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_correctness). You calling something PC doesn't invalidate it. It's just a lazy way of dismissing somebody else's concerns.
You've got it the wrong way around. Political correctness is primarily used as a tool to silence dissenting opinions.
And yet, if we look at the pattern in this case, what we have is someone asking a question and being told to shut up on the basis that the question is "politically correct".
Look, the interviewer had every right to ask the question just as the developer had every right to wisely ignore it, and I have every right to point out that it was a stupid question. Do you understand how this whole freedom of speech thing works yet?
And I have every right to tell you your reaction is stupid (or nasty, or unconsciously racist, or whatever) and we can go on forever (I also have every right to say the moon is made of green cheese). But in that case, you shouldn't be complaining about political correctness, which is merely someone exercising their free speech rights to say it's nasty for people to say or do certain things. And you certainly shouldn't, by the standard you're espousing, be saying people shouldn't do political correctness. If it's free speech for the goose, it's free speech for the gander. You're inconsistent. You have the right to be inconsistent, but that doesn't make it reasonable.

Quoting: Mountain ManIt wouldn't bother me in the slightest. That is if I even noticed because I don't fixate on things like that.
Maybe I believe that coming from you. I sure as hell don't believe it's true of around half the responders on this thread. Sorry, but no, they could swear up and down until they were blue in the face and I'd be like "Yeah, right." Not that I think they're racist, exactly. But I do think they would be eminently capable both of seeing all-white-characters as not racist or problematic and of seeing all-black-characters as an obvious attempt to annoy them by bringing up race, and if the two didn't happen to happen right next to each other and nobody pointed it out, would see no inconsistency. And in a way it's true--it's even the point. In the world we live in, people do just happen to make all-white games (and movies, and so on)--quite often. And they don't just happen to make all-black games--ever. If we are willing to pay attention, that tells us something about the world we live in and who is, and is not, in charge of it, and who does, and does not, have the money to either buy the games or produce them.
Now the real core problem here is who is in charge and has the money, and who is not in charge and is broke. But the representation thing makes a difference. It is not foolish to ask questions about it. Just because you are not willing to think about an issue, does not mean it does not exist. It just means you are not willing to pay enough attention to gain an understanding of what's going on.

Now there has been a reasonable point made: Asking the question was rude, and also basically counterproductive if the point was to do a puff-piece on a Linux game. That may be so--but the "PC bullshit" rage is itself bullshit.


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 17 March 2016 at 9:01 pm UTC
Kimyrielle Mar 17, 2016
Quoting: Mountain ManBut I can guarantee you that the politically correct hooligans would find some reason or other to be offended by it, even if that reason didn't make a lick of sense (which most political correctness doesn't).

For someone who claims not to care about the issue you're remarkably emotional about it. In all quite honesty - in my experience, if someone takes shots at "political correctness hooligans", it's almost 100% of the time coming from a member of the majority group who is actually -happy- with the status quo. I remember when some female gamers pointed out the (factual truth) that females are both underrepresented in games and subject to harassment in online games, the people who stood up and took shots at them in similar ways you just did were pretty much all...guys, obviously happy with how things are.

You claim not to care about whether every single character in a game is representing a race other than your own. At the same time it's obvious that members of minority groups take issue about them not being represented. So if change would make them happier while not making you any unhappier (that's what you claim!), it's actually the most logical course of action to implement that choice, no? So isn't taking shots at a group for wishing for something you allegedly have no stake in just a case of applied hypocrisy? Just curious.


Last edited by Kimyrielle on 17 March 2016 at 8:55 pm UTC
Mountain Man Mar 17, 2016
Quoting: Purple Library GuyBut in that case, you shouldn't be complaining about political correctness...
Of course I can, because the question was asked with the sole purpose of injecting controversy into something that was otherwise completely non controversial. For crying out loud, the interviewer all but admitted it!

"There is one potentially controversial question I would like to ask."

What reason is there to ask such a question other than the desire to create controversy?


Last edited by Mountain Man on 17 March 2016 at 10:13 pm UTC
Mountain Man Mar 17, 2016
Quoting: Kimyrielle
Quoting: Mountain ManBut I can guarantee you that the politically correct hooligans would find some reason or other to be offended by it, even if that reason didn't make a lick of sense (which most political correctness doesn't).
For someone who claims not to care about the issue you're remarkably emotional about it.
This is known as projection. Whatever emotion you're reading into my comments is entirely in your own mind.

Quoting: KimyrielleIn all quite honesty - in my experience, if someone takes shots at "political correctness hooligans", it's almost 100% of the time coming from a member of the majority group who is actually -happy- with the status quo.
This has nothing to do with the status quo and everything to do with a politically correct busybody trying to generate contoversary out of thin air. If all the sprites featured green faces then I could just as easily see the PC brigrade demaning to know why there aren't characters with light green faces and dark green faces and, gee, aren't you a bigot for not better representing racial diversity in your fictional universe?

Quoting: KimyrielleYou claim not to care about whether every single character in a game is representing a race other than your own. At the same time it's obvious that members of minority groups take issue about them not being represented. So if change would make them happier while not making you any unhappier (that's what you claim!), it's actually the most logical course of action to implement that choice, no? So isn't taking shots at a group for wishing for something you allegedly have no stake in just a case of applied hypocrisy? Just curious.
It's not hypocritical at all because you're not understanding the issue at hand. I hope I have been able to clarify, but to reiterate, the developer should not be asked or expected to alter the game's artwork because there absolutely nothing morally or ethically wrong with the way it is currently.

Besides, there are more important things to take issue with than whether or not sprites with dark brown faces appear in a video game about a train trying to escape the zombie apocalypse. You ever hear the phrase "majoring on the minors"? Or how about "crying wolf"? Because both are apropos. You want to know why people are becoming increasingly dismissive of accusations of racism? Because of crap like this.


Last edited by Mountain Man on 17 March 2016 at 10:33 pm UTC
Purple Library Guy Mar 18, 2016
Quoting: Guest
Quoting: Purple Library GuyAnd I have every right to tell you your reaction is stupid (or nasty, or unconsciously racist, or whatever) and we can go on forever (I also have every right to say the moon is made of green cheese).

Uh, no. The only logical response to a criticism of a criticism is a justification. To criticize a criticism of a criticism would be ridiculous, it would only prove there was no reasoning behind the original criticism.

Say what? First, the man was talking about rights, not logic. As in "I can say whatever I want cuz right to free speech". Since such rules apply to all, I too could say whatever I want--this is at the level of syllogistic logic, it's not in dispute. Second, it's not illogical to criticize anything which seems flawed. If a criticism of a criticism seems to me flawed, it makes sense to point out the flaw in that c-of-c, ergo to criticize it. There is no point or need in justifying one's stance if the premise from which I would need to defend it is wrong.
So no, you're completely mistaken.
Purple Library Guy Mar 18, 2016
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: Purple Library GuyBut in that case, you shouldn't be complaining about political correctness...
Of course I can,
Of course you can. Free speech and all, we established that. But just because someone can do something does not mean they are justified in doing it.

Quotebecause the question was asked with the sole purpose of injecting controversy into something that was otherwise completely non controversial.
"into something that was otherwise completely non controversial" . . . well, if you mean that the interviewer didn't ask any other controversial questions, I suppose that's a true statement, but so what? What would your point be? What kind of belief system sees controversy as inherently evil? Shortly ago you were defending your right to be obnoxious about attacking things you identify as "political correctness" on the basis of free speech. Even if you consider controversial speech inherently annoying or offensive (in which case you're forgetting the whole point behind freedom of speech, which is precisely to preserve controversial, political speech, seen as the important baby for whose sake the bathwater of rudeness, obscenity and so on must be grudgingly kept), your right to complain about it is identical to a controversial speaker's right to indulge in it. Trying to have it both ways is a contradiction.

For that matter, controversial is in the eye of the beholder. Many would consider categorical attacks on political correctness themselves "controversial". In which case you should be on your own case for the sin of controversy, while simultaneously defending yourself as exerciser of free speech.

If on the other hand you mean that the question's topic should not have controversy attached to it--well, no. You're wrong about that, and at a bare minimum a lot of people disagree with you in good faith and have serious reasons for doing so. Including but not limited to some of the things I pointed out before, which you have carefully ignored. Let us assume that you, too, have serious reasons for your stance, beyond just "I hate this topic and wish people would shut up about it" (although I have not seen them). If you have serious reasons for thinking things like all-white-characters are just fine, and other people have serious reasons for thinking they are problematic, then that is a situation that calls for argument, discussion, meeting of minds--not for the people who disagree with you to just stop. Which is to say, it is a controversy--it is controversial--and no amount of pretending it somehow shouldn't be will change the fact.
loggfreak Mar 18, 2016
Q: There is one potentially controversial question I would like to ask. Based on the trailer, all survivors seems to be white, are you going to include a more diverse cast in your game?

seriously though, stuff like this pisses me off, the more people keep pointing race out, the more people will "cathegorize" people based on it, subconsciously or not. the less people will mention race, the less people will be racist.

maybe the developer just lives in a country where there are not much black people, like most of Europe?
you just make the games with what you know. developers don't sit there thinking "lets make all people white", they do it subconsciously because that's what most people they know look like.

pointing shit like this out constantly will only make the problem worse.
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