This series features interviews with the developers behind intriguing new indie games. In this installment, we bring you a mini-interview with the developer of “PARKSIDE: DECAYED SOUL MANIPULATION,” a retro-style immersive FPS sim developed by Banana Hardsoft and released for PC on July 31.
Set in a fictional dystopian city in California in the year 2038, this game is an immersive FPS sim. Players take on the role of Alexander Petrovich, an unemployed hacker who has been abducted by a cult devoted to the mysterious entity known as the “Divine Rod,” and must carry out illegal and dangerous missions.As of this writing, the game does not support Japanese.
“PARKSIDE: DECAYED SOUL MANIPULATION” is available for 1,800 yen.
――First, please introduce yourself. What is your favorite game?
Banana Hardsoft I’m Banana Hardsoft, an independent game developer from New Zealand who created *PARKSIDE: DECAYED SOUL MANIPULATION* (hereinafter *PARKSIDE*). I’ve been making games as a hobby since I was a child, but *PARKSIDE* is my first commercial release.
It’s hard to pick a single favorite game, but I really love the original *Deus Ex*.
――Please tell us about the game’s features.
Banana Hardsoft: While the game’s story follows a linear path, I wanted to create a game that players can easily relate to, one that’s full of fresh ideas and allows for the free combination of various playstyles. There are no restrictions on the upgrades you can acquire from the start, and there’s no need to memorize complex skill trees.The only real limitation is the amount of experience points you can spend. This is one of the elements that makes *PARKSIDE* a unique title.
――Were there any works that influenced you while developing this game?
Banana Hardsoft: I grew up playing immersive sims and dark-themed shooters, and watching a lot of apocalyptic action movies. As a result, I’ve been influenced by a truly vast array of works.*Deus Ex*, *Half-Life* 1 and 2 (including that infamous beta version), *E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy*, *Fallout*, *Pathologic*… these are just a few of the works that have been a huge source of inspiration for me.
――Could you share one episode that left the deepest impression on you during the development of this game?
Banana Hardsoft: During the development of this game, I became a father. My daughter will soon turn one. When she was still very small, I spent a lot of time working on this game while she slept on my lap or right next to me. It was such a peaceful and wonderful time, and it’s become a truly cherished memory.
――What kind of user feedback have you received since the release? Please share any that particularly stood out to you.
Banana Hardsoft: We’ve received an enormous amount of feedback, and I’m truly surprised that some people have even said *PARKSIDE* is “my favorite immersive sim ever.” I’ve also heard comments like, “It has the best level design of any immersive sim.” That’s such incredible praise—I can hardly believe it myself!
I’m a modest person, so I’m just deeply and sincerely grateful that so many people have enjoyed my game.
――Taking user feedback into account, could you tell us about your plans for future updates?
Banana Hardsoft: We’re planning to create a free expansion pack that adds new missions and content. Aside from that, we’re focusing on adding a few more charming NPCs and fixing bugs. When it comes to bug fixes, the community has been a tremendous help.
――Could you tell us about the status of Japanese language support for this game? Is volunteer translation possible?
Banana Hardsoft: We’re currently writing the code necessary to support localization into other languages. We’ve received requests for translations and are working diligently to make this a reality! Personally, I’m especially eager to translate *PARKSIDE* into Japanese, because I want Japanese gamers to be able to enjoy the game’s charm and world.
――Is it okay to distribute or monetize this game?
Banana Hardsoft: Yes, of course!
――Finally, please share a message for our Japanese readers.
Banana Hardsoft: We’d be thrilled if you’re interested in *PARKSIDE: DECAYED SOUL MANIPULATION*! If you enjoy immersive sims, please give the free demo a try on Steam! There are still a few bugs (though fewer than in the full version), so we’d appreciate your understanding on that point!
――Thank you very much.
◆ About “Spotlight on Indie Mini-Q&A”
This series features email interviews with indie developers about their games shortly after release. To ensure it runs regularly, we’ve standardized the questions, with the goal of sharing the voices of as many developers as possible. Please also enjoy our other interview articles—we already have over 1,000 of them!
