Next Q&ERA! Submit your questions for Image & Form Games (SteamWorld Dig 2, SteamWorld Heist)

[Q&ERA]

Q&ERA offers an opportunity for our community to learn more about the gaming industry from those that are part of it. This involves batches of questions, submitted by users and then selected by staff, which will then be given to industry members to answer. Our intent is to bridge the divide between the gaming community and the gaming industry. We want to encourage engagement between those who talk about games and those who make them. (Note: Questions will be curated as interviewees won't have time to answer every single one. Also, there may be certain topics that interviewees are not able or allowed to comment on.)

Introducing our guests: Image & Form Games, the makers of SteamWorld Dig 2 and SteamWorld Heist!

Image & Form Games is a Swedish video game developer and publisher, founded in 1997 by Brjánn Sigurgeirsson. They are located in Gothenburg, Sweden and consist of over twenty employees. Each of the company's past three games -- SteamWorld Dig, SteamWorld Heist, and SteamWorld Dig 2 -- have received worldwide critical acclaim and commercial success. Before working on the SteamWorld series, the company developed more than 25 award-winning PC/Mac edutainment titles for Scandinavian publishers. They can be found on Twitter interacting with the gaming community at @ImageForm.

How to submit questions:

To submit your questions to Image & Form Games, please send me a private message titled, "Q&A - Image & Form".

In your private message, you may ask up to two questions. To send a pm - click on a user's profile page and then "start a conversation."

Deadline to submit questions:

January 6th, 2018 at 5:00 AM GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a platforming-mining adventure where you step into the boots of Dorothy, a steambot once robbed of her dear friend – now driven by the hunger for answers. Buckle up, grab your gear, and get ready to dig into the highly anticipated sequel to the original SteamWorld Dig. The game released to positive reviews, currently sitting at an 88 metascore on Metacritic. It is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, and PC (Steam).

SteamWorld Heist is a turn-based strategy shooter where you command space pirates in a series of epic tactical shootouts. Strategy fans will feel right at home and get hooked on the game's unique action twist. By aiming your weapons yourself you'll shoot bullet-bouncing trick shots with unrivaled precision. SteamWorld Heist has received positive reviews, with a current score of 86/100 on Metacritic. It is available on PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, iPhone/iPad, and PC (Steam).

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Image & Form Games Team:

Brjánn Sigurgeirsson (CEO / PR & Sales)
Olle Håkansson (Game Design / Programming)
Ulf Hartelius (Game Design / Programming)
Esteban Soto (Level Designer)
Markus Månsson (Level Designer)
Robert Olsén (Graphics / Design / QA)
Jarl Larsson (Programming)
Ola Frid (Programming)
Magnus Martinsson (Programming)
Peter Johansson (Programming)
Pelle Cahndlerby (Sound Design / Music / Writing)
Tobias Nilsson (Art Direction / Graphics)
Björn Håkansson (Graphics)
Agnes Mikucka (Graphics)
Jakob Wahlberg (Graphics)
Oliver Amanda Elm (Graphics)
Peter Broqvist (Graphics / Writing)
Samuel Larsson (Graphics)

Marco Podda (Publishing and Project Managing)
Julius Guldbog (Community Managing / Marketing)
Paulina Lorné Schale (Influencer Relations)

 

[Deleted member 33]

Last time on Q&ERA, Lizardcube and DotEmu answered your questions about Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and what it's like to remake a beloved classic with hand drawn graphics and animation.

If you missed it, those questions and answers can be found in the archives here.

Our admin staff would like to wish our entire community a Happy New Year with many more guests to come!

 

[BringBackSonics]

I'm glad the I&F guys made it over to Resetera. Absolutely loved Steamworld Dig 2 and it ended up in mine and many other's top 10 lists.

 

[Zukuu]

Dig 2 made it into my top 5 and is my favorite indie game of the year. Absolutely amazing and a huge step up from 1. Loved the introduced RPG system as well (I'm a huge sucker for those).

 

[Vareon]

Dig 2 was very great wherever you played it and a near perfect title for Switch. Congrats for the team!

I'll think of something to ask.

 

[FallenGrace]

I love these interviews. I haven't played Steamworld dog 2 yet though. I'll try and think of an interesting industry question anyway.

 

[Nicko]

Wonderful!! I'm so thrilled I&F will be the next Q&A! They are my absolute favorite Indi developer! Steamworld Dig 2 was my #3 GotY behind Zelda and Mario. I will be sure to submit a question or two!

 

[ResetGreyWolf]

Vilket vackert gäng <3

Looking forward to this interview :)

 

[Thorsten]

Awesome :)

 

[FallenGrace]

Ok so I bought Steamworld Dig 1 based on people's responses here and looking up reviews, it sounds great. The last interview had me pick up Dragons Trap too for that matter so this is certainly drawing my attention to games ha ha.

 

[Deleted member 278]

Love these guys so much, nice to see them take part in this :)

 

[StrmSrg]

I really enjoyed the first game, and Steamworld Dig 2 managed to surpass it in terms of:

1. Scale and number of caves
2. Movement options
3. Meaningful upgrades to your armor, water, etc.
4. Complexity and number of dungeons
5. Character dialogue
6. Trinket blurbs
7. Music (especially the hub)
8. Memorable set pieces
9. Funny voices

You guys should be proud of yourselves because this game is my indie of the year by a long shot

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Loved Steamworld Dig 2, were there any movement upgrades you tried and tossed out before the grappling hook and jetpack?

 

[Zan]

Loved Dig 1 and 2. How's Heist? Might pick that one up on Switch.

 

[jorgejjvr]

Awesome, dig 2 is one of my favorite games this year

 

[Fredrik]

Haven't played Heist but both Dig games are awesome and so unique, I'm super-impressed by everything from the gameplay to visuals to controls, can't wait to see their next game!

 

[New Fang]

Loved Dig 1 and 2. How's Heist? Might pick that one up on Switch.

Click to shrink...

Recently bought and finished Dig 2 on Switch and thought it was incredible. Had never loved a Metroidvania before this one. Figured I'd trust them with any genre going forward, so I bought Heist last night. An hour in I think it's great so far. :)

 

[Cantaim]

Oh shit Image & Form? I'm legit excited for this one I absolutely adore their SteamWorld series (even the tower defense one)!

 

[Putty]

I did a few pieces of music for SWD back in 2010 with on the DS with Olle H. Lovely guy, so pleased to see them doing so well now. Back then things we're quite a bit different!

 

[BrokenMill]

Awesome! I love both Digs and I just bought Heist for the third time (Switch version)

 

[Watershed]

Wow, great dev to have a Q and A with. Sweet!

 

[Deleted member 8688]

The grammatical errors in the English text in SWD2 were pretty disappointing in a game which was otherwise quite polished. Just one example: "upgrade the pickaxe to increase it's digging efficiency".

Can it be fixed?

 

[kaicooper87]

never liked the first one
but SteamDig 2..now this i call great sequal
really liked it

 

[DarkDetective]

This is awesome! I really like their work.

Most of the commenters here seem to have played Dig and/or Dig 2. To them, I want to say:

Don't sleep over Heist. It's different from the Dig games, but it's an amazing game that combines turn-based strategy with skill-based gun aiming. The gameplay is slick, the story and characters are awesome, the score is a pleasure to listen to, and the graphics are as great as you expect (if you like Dig 2's art style, you'll love this too). Not to forget the shipload of hats (with funny descriptions!).

 

[Elhav]

Asking for a friend: Why are there no torches or ladders available in the shop like in the first game?

 

[Cerium]

If you want your questions to be answered, please follow the directions in the OP!

 

[jariw]

Great choice of studio! I'll absolutely send you my questions later.

The Q&A for Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap turned out to be really amazing!

 

[Oreiller]

Loved Dig 1 and 2. How's Heist? Might pick that one up on Switch.

Click to shrink...

Heist is a really cool turn-based strategy game (kinda like a 2D Xcom game but much more lenient). It's different from Dig but it's just as good.

 

[Mivey]

It's awesome how quickly these keep coming. You guys are great.

 

[Brazil]

Oh my God, yes. I've gone on record to say that Image & Form are my favorite indie devs, and that was before Dig 2. I'll definitely have something to ask this time!

 

[Jader7777]

I don't want to submit a question, but I just wanted to say that the Steamworld games are fantastic, very well made and are just a blast to play. You really hit the nail on the head producing a fun and quirky adventure. I'd love to see a Heist 2 game, the tactical ricochet shooter genre is something I need more of in my life. Thanks for the great games, keep up the great work!

 

[Etc.]

Someone will ask about it better than me but I hope they'll try another lore in some next games soon.

 

[Blackpuppy]

Just finished Heist last night and here I see a Q/a coming up soon with the developers!? What a small world.

Anyway, Heist was awesome. Spent close to 30 hours on the main game alone. All my characters are maxed out and I'm missing just one star. Now on to the DLC!

 

[TI92]

Sent some questions in, hopefully I did it right !

 

[Pandy]

Loved these guys since Dig 1. That, Dig 2 and Heist are among my favourite games of the last few years. Will try to think up a decent question or two for them.

Spoiler

(I tried and failed to love the tower defense game, sorry guys! In fairness I came to it after Heist, so my expectations were probably too high. You've really improved!)

 

[electricblue]

Love your games and the art style.

 

[Stencil]

Just started playing yesterday this after hearing so many rave reviews. Never played the first one. Given my inexperience with the game, I asked a pretty straightforward Q, so if it doesn't get included I won't feel bad but am thankful for the opportunity to be involved, regardless. Thanks for the game!!

 

[Illusion]

What was the strangest idea that wasn't added to the game??

 

[House_Of_Lightning]

Gerstmann put Dig 2 on his GOTY list. I really liked this Xbox 360 indie game called Miner Dig Deep. I wonder if Dig 2 will scratch the same itch.

 

[Deleted member 18807]

Hope someone asks about how hard it was to port to Switch!

 

[Zeb]

Oops, will send it in pm.

 

[panama chief]

PM sent

 

[FallenGrace]

This is awesome! I really like their work.

Most of the commenters here seem to have played Dig and/or Dig 2. To them, I want to say:

Don't sleep over Heist. It's different from the Dig games, but it's an amazing game that combines turn-based strategy with skill-based gun aiming. The gameplay is slick, the story and characters are awesome, the score is a pleasure to listen to, and the graphics are as great as you expect (if you like Dig 2's art style, you'll love this too). Not to forget the shipload of hats (with funny descriptions!).

Click to shrink...

Its on sale at the moment. I only just bought the first game and have yet to play them. I am tempted though....

 

[Deleted member 864]

Awesome, one of my favorite Indie developers.

 

[Deleted member 5535]

I still need to play Steamworld Dig 2 but the past ones are really great.

 

[Filipus]

Excited for this, just started playing dig 1 last week so this Q&A was perfect timing!

For Dig2 would you say you would need to finish the first one to fully appreciate it? I have seen nothing of the game at all (I'm like the Into The Wild guy)

 

[JustJavi]

Haven't played their games yet, so can't ask any questions. But totally love the idea of the thread

 

[Mabec]

Dev threads like this is why I will be a returning visitor to RE. Kinda reminds me a bit of Gametrailers "Bonus Round"

 

[RedOnePunch]

Steaworld Dig 2 was probably my favorite game this year, so this got me excited. It's just such a perfect little game.

 

[Easy_D]

Not really a question. But making the first Steamworld Dig free via Origin (I think) was a good thing really enjoyed the hours I spent with it. That said, god damn is 2 a massive refinement, from art/music to controls.

It's perfect on Switch and I gotta hand my thanks to whoever implemented touch controls for the UI, makes navigating the map effortless in handheld mode.