Mini-update: Meet the team - Stuart Maine
Hi everyone, this week we'll be introducing you to some of the team currently working on Dizzy Returns, starting with Design Manager Stuart Maine!
Please introduce yourself!
Hi, my name is Stuart Maine and I'm a Design Manager at Blitz Games Studios.
What do you do at Blitz?
Like all the designers here it’s my job to help plan and build the game worlds and the events that happen in them. That means brainstorming, using editors, writing stuff, and lots and lots of testing and tweaking gameplay. I'm responsible for holding and articulating the game’s vision, so that everyone knows what they’re working towards. Of course on Dizzy that vision is in part coming from the Oliver Twins, so my role is to help get that out and into the game.
Are you a Dizzy fan?
Absolutely! I'm a huge fan of the exploration and puzzle solving aspects, but was always pretty bad at the precision platforming and I got Dizzy killed a lot (this is in fact a massive understatement). I don’t think I ever finished one of the classic Dizzy games at the time; the pressure of getting near the end and having all that progress lost if I died invariably meant I’d fall into a hole / fire / crocodile.
How did you first get into video games?
I think our family’s first games system was a Fairchild Channel F (which was a colour system but we only had a black and white TV). After that came an Amstrad CPC 464 and long evenings of annoying the rest of the family with the endless bleeps and bloops of being chased around The Slimy Lower Maze in Finders Keepers!
When did you first discover Dizzy?
I picked up the first Dizzy game at our local newsagent, as they used to have a little carousel of cassettes for the Spectrum, Amstrad and C64. I bought a lot of games in that shop, and most of them were terrible, but every now and again you’d find a game like Dizzy – a complete little world just waiting on the tape for you to start exploring.
What’s your fondest memory of Dizzy?
Well, I really enjoyed playing Treasure Island Dizzy with a friend after school (we’d take turns playing after each of us got killed / drowned / trapped). But I’ll have to go with the very first time I played the original Dizzy and started exploring that dark, creepy world of spiders, birds and chained up skeletons.
What are you looking forward to the most in Dizzy Returns?
The scope of this project means it won’t just be people that have never played a Dizzy game that get to experience something new. This is the first official game for over 20 years, so this is our chance to add something new to the Dizzy canon. The remakes and fan games have been great at keeping the Dizzy name alive since the last game, but this project is an opportunity for fans to experience a brand new Dizzy game by the original creators!
I'm really looking forward to expanding the world and fleshing out it's its history. For instance we can explain Zaks' origins and why he hates the Yolkfolk so much. We will also be able to expand Dizzy's world to include beautiful and exciting new locations. We've even got a very exciting plan for how to tie Dizzy Returns to the classic games, exploring what’s happened over the last 20 years since his last adventure...
What do you do for fun?
I'm your typical geek gamer – I love playing video games and board games, painting Dark Eldar models and I'm currently writing a novel, which is just over 40,000 words so far!
Anything you’d like to add?
I'm really excited to be part of bringing a game from my childhood up-to-date. The plans we have for Dizzy Returns are incredibly exciting and I can't wait to get started on development if we're successfully funded.I'd also like to say a huge thank you to everyone that’s backed the game so far – it’s you guys that are going to make this game happen!
839
Backers
£25,620
pledged of £350,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on December 21.
Funding period
Nov 23, 2012 -
Dec 21, 2012
- First created · 1 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: olivertwins.com
Pledge £10 or more
388 backers
FOLLOWER OF DIZZY: You'll receive a Kickstarter exclusive digital copy of Dizzy Returns for PC • Regular backer email updates, including developer diaries, meet the team interviews and video updates • Access to exclusive digital content (incl. posters and desktop wallpaper) • Our eternal gratitude for backing Dizzy!
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Pledge £20 or more
176 backers Limited (4824 of 5000 left)
SUPPORTER OF DIZZY: Access to exclusive digital game artwork (incl. concept art, character sheets, etc.) • Digital copy of the game soundtrack • Access to the Design Group, which will allow you to participate in game design decisions throughout the project • ‘Supporter of Dizzy’ credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Pledge £30 or more
125 backers Limited (4875 of 5000 left)
FAN OF DIZZY: • Access to the PC beta version of Dizzy Returns • Digital copy of the game design document • Making of Dizzy Returns ebook, filled with gorgeous artwork, as well as insights into the design process • 'Fan of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Pledge £50 or more
38 backers Limited (2462 of 2500 left)
DEVOTEE OF DIZZY: • An exclusive Dizzy Returns Kickstarter poster, designs to be chosen by you, the backers! • Digital copy of the Dizzy Returns in-game map • 'Devotee of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £75 or more
8 backers Limited (2492 of 2500 left)
PROTÉGÉ OF DIZZY: An exclusive Dizzy Returns Kickstarter t-shirt, designs to be chosen by you, the backers! • A set of four Dizzy Returns concept art postcards • 'Protégé of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £100 or more
53 backers Limited (1947 of 2000 left)
FRIEND OF DIZZY: • Limited edition, Kickstarter only souvenir boxed edition of Dizzy Returns – retro style, complete with CD of the finished game and soundtrack • 'Friend of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £150 or more
2 backers Limited (998 of 1000 left)
ADMIRER OF DIZZY: • Private invitation to an on-line live monthly design session with members of the game team - put your questions directly to them! • Printed copy of the Dizzy Returns game design document signed by the Oliver Twins • 'Admirer of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £200 or more
8 backers Limited (492 of 500 left)
SQUIRE OF DIZZY: • Printed hard cover copy of the Making of Dizzy Returns art book signed by the Oliver Twins • A limited edition custom Dizzy Returns USB stick loaded with the PC version, game soundtrack and more! • 'Squire of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £300 or more
8 backers Limited (242 of 250 left)
DISCIPLE OF DIZZY: • An invitation to the private Dizzy Returns launch event (date TBD) – celebrate the game launch with the game team and the Oliver Twins! (Travel and accommodation not included) • Signed, limited edition Kickstarter certificate • 'Disciple of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £400 or more
1 backer Limited (99 of 100 left)
WORSHIPPER OF DIZZY: • Ever wondered what you’d look like as one of the Yolkfolk? A concept artist will Dizzy-fy a picture of you*, and you’ll receive a one of a kind print of your caricature, as well as a .pdf version! • 'Worshipper of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £500 or more
2 backers Limited (48 of 50 left)
LORD / LADY OF DIZZY: • Be immortalised in the best Dizzy game ever! We will include your photo* along with your choice of caption* in an in-game gallery • 'Lord / Lady of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (25 of 25 left)
DEFENDER OF DIZZY: • Come and join the team in Leamington Spa for a day full of Dizzy! You'll meet the Oliver Twins who will guide you through the fascinating history of Dizzy, take a tour of the studio and gain exclusive access to the game in development before anyone else, as well as pick the brains of the Dizzy Returns development team! (Travel and accommodation not included) • 'Defender of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £2,500 or more
0 backers Limited (12 of 12 left)
KNIGHT OF DIZZY: • Appear in Dizzy Returns as an NPC! We'll design and name* an NPC character after you, who Dizzy will meet in-game. • 'Knight of Dizzy' credit in the game • (+ previous rewards)
Estimated delivery: Jul 2013Add £15 to ship outside the UKPledge £5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
HERO OF DIZZY • In a face-to-face design session with the Dizzy Returns team and the Oliver Twins, you'll create a complete quest (including puzzles & items) to appear in the final game! Afterwards you'll be taken out to dinner by the Oliver Twins and key team members in Leamington Spa. Return travel (within UK only) and one night accommodation included • Hero of Dizzy credit in the game • (+ rewards £2,500 and below)
Estimated delivery: Feb 2013Pledge £5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
LEGEND OF DIZZY: Become a part of Dizzy history! You'll work with the game team to create a new big baddy to rival Evil Wizard Zaks himself. We'll write your character straight into the story of Dizzy Returns and the lore of the entire Dizzy universe! Afterwards you'll be taken out to dinner by the Oliver Twins and key team members in Leamington Spa. Return travel (within UK only) and one night accommodation included • Legend of Dizzy credit in the game • (+ rewards £2,500 and below)
Estimated delivery: Feb 2013Pledge £5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
MONARCH OF DIZZY: • Claim your rightful place in Dizzy Returns! Alongside the game team you'll design (and name*) the Lost Princess, a character who will appear in a very important quest in Dizzy Returns. Afterwards you'll be taken out to dinner by the Oliver Twins and key team members in Leamington Spa. Return travel (within UK only) and one night accommodation included • Monarch of Dizzy credit in the game • (+ rewards £2,500 and below)
Estimated delivery: Feb 2013
Comments
Creator Ian Inman on December 3
The more I hear about this game the more excited I get! Good to see that the crew (or at least this member) is a Dizzy fan! I think this is important!
Creator db on December 3
Some cool insights - sounds like the right people are on board.