Very similar to Vampire Survivors’ titular vampire, the sport’s creator, Luca Galante, is commonly nowhere to be discovered. When Vampire Survivors gained a BAFTA for Game of the Yr again in 2023, it was a handful of Galante’s colleagues at Poncle who took to the stage to just accept it. At conference panels, Galante is understood for utilizing screens and decoys fairly than addressing the viewers himself. Within the NoClip documentary chronicling the success of Vampire Survivors, Galante opted to have a Muppets-esque puppet resembling the sport’s iconic vampire mascot made so he would not have to look on digicam himself. And it’s a very cool puppet.
Even after I arrived within the small, walled metropolis of Lucca, Italy to preview Poncle’s new sport, Vampire Crawlers, the myth-making of Luca Galante continued. A number of Poncle devs I spoke to recounted, with sheer amusement, how they liked taking part in up Galante’s mysterious persona. When followers requested if Galante was round, they’d typically comment, “He may very well be. He may very well be me.” Matteo Sapio, the chief technique officer at Poncle, laughed as he advised me, “It is all very humorous as a result of truthfully, sure, he’s good, however he is additionally a really form and regular man. He simply actually values his privateness.”
Think about my delight then, when an hour after assembly Luca, I discovered myself sitting beside him on an outdated sofa, each of us chatting animatedly about our love of Ultimate Fantasy whereas taking part in Vampire Survivors collectively on a hulking CRT TV.
Opposite to how he presents himself, Luca Galante is an keen conversationalist. Although he speaks calmly and thoughtfully, it isn’t with out immense ardour for his work, the neighborhood it has fostered, and video video games as an entire. After taking part in round half-hour of Poncle’s new sport, Vampire Crawlers, I proceeded to spend almost an hour speaking to Galante about his work on the sport, what it has been like leaving his solo-dev days behind, and, most significantly, after we’ll be capable of play Vampire Crawlers from the consolation of our houses.
GameSpot: So, what impressed the choice to set Crawlers in the identical universe?
Luca Galante: That was one thing that we determined very early to do as a result of the success of Vampire Survivors was so large that, amongst different issues, I noticed a chance within the title Vampire Survivors. It was considerably of a enterprise determination, to only preserve engaged on that IP and thought. If I wished to make a sport like this, and make a brand new IP to go together with it, it is simply going to be one among the many different a whole bunch of deckbuilders on the market. The Vampire Survivors title provides us the energy and the power to inform individuals, “This is a Vampire Survivors deckbuilder. You will see components that you simply’re already accustomed to on this sport, and it’ll seize the sensation of the unique.”
There’s something of deeper purpose as effectively although, which is that I wished to maintain bringing the core ideas, the core concepts of Vampire Survivors, to different genres. I began Vampire Survivors for enjoyable. It was one thing I used to be simply doing for myself. And to me, what makes Vampire Survivors what it’s is the truth that it is easy to play, makes you’re feeling good, and tries to keep away from frustration. I wished to switch all of that into this sport.
It is also an enormous aid to not must give you new settings, new characters, and new all the pieces to make a brand new sport. As a result of I do not like to take a seat down and create new issues on goal. I want for issues to be intuitive. I just like the inventive course of to be one thing that comes naturally. For this sport, what issues to me most is the sport’s mechanics. The truth that I can use present settings and characters provides me the liberty to give attention to that.
Whenever you first began engaged on Survivors, it was basically simply you making that sport. What has it been like working with a workforce?
After I began Vampire Survivors, it was just for enjoyable. It was just for myself. However already at that time, it wasn’t solely my very own stuff that I used to be utilizing. I had a Castlevania-themed asset pack, mainly. Nicely, medieval gothic, actually, however it was very clearly impressed by Castlevania. The music I used to be listening to was really Castlevania music. After which once I commissioned musicians to do music, I used to be utilizing that music to encourage me.
So even when, yeah, I developed the sport as a solo developer, I at all times had the inputs of different individuals from the start. And now I want different individuals to have the ability to preserve Vampire Survivors. With so many platforms, it’s really very advanced to deal with releases and QA. Even simply passing concepts with somebody who is aware of the sport simply in addition to me is essential. It is a course of I actually like.
There are loads of particulars on the unique characters and weapon icons–all types of stuff, that wasn’t how I initially thought of it. I merely went to the pixel artist, Glauber Kotaki, who’s unbelievable. I am so joyful working with Glauber; you haven’t any thought. I’d simply give Glauber some concepts, and he would work on them and make them higher; he’d add much more components to it. We had this ping pong of concepts going forwards and backwards, simply attempting to make one thing fascinating, and do one thing that individuals will be capable of admire.
It is lots tougher, in fact, and it is a a lot slower course of now. But it surely’s a distinct form of enjoyable. And truthfully, once I wish to do something–especially over the weekends once I’m alone–I shouldn’t have to fret about really operating the businesses or having conferences. I can nonetheless sit down with my machine, open the mission, and do no matter I need. It is one of the best of each worlds.
I am glad that you simply introduced up Glauber as a result of it leads into my subsequent query. I really feel like there’s at all times this pure urge to alter a lot of the unique sport with a sequel or spin-off to make it extra “trendy.” However Crawlers nonetheless feels so quintessentially Vampire Survivors, particularly visually. What was the reasoning for retaining that look?
The concept was sensible and technical. I believed, “Let’s use the very same belongings. As a result of if we alter them, individuals are going to complain. If we alter them, it’s going to enhance the price of this mission.” And I am not an entrepreneur. I am not a risk-taker. I do not wish to find yourself having loopy budgets for video games and placing the corporate in danger.
Truly, the preliminary thought was to run the advertising and marketing marketing campaign of the sport on the truth that it’s recycled. Sure, it is tremendous low-cost. Sure, we’re milking these pixels like there isn’t any tomorrow, or one thing like that. However then as we really began to work on the sport, you begin to fall in love with what you are doing. You begin to wish to do extra.
So lengthy story brief, we ended up repurposing the outdated belongings within the 3D settings, however we additionally obtained new icons. We obtained new animations. The one factor I believe we’ll preserve precisely as it’s proper now [are] the characters as a result of I believe that makes most sense. There is not a powerful purpose to alter the characters. Everyone has their very own thought of what they appear to be, so I actually don’t wish to change them. Even when we now have to do drawings or animation for sure characters, we attempt to let whoever is drawing them interpret them and shouldn’t have very strict guidelines to stick to.
As a result of it was a lot enjoyable for me to work with this stuff on this world, I simply need that anybody else who works on this sport to have the identical experience–to put their very own spin on issues.
Additionally, the concept of conserving the identical UI, or no less than conserving it very near the unique, is that there is no such thing as a must reinvent all the pieces. I really need the fog to be on the gameplay ultimately. All the things else ought to be acquainted, however on the identical time really feel contemporary.
That is smart. You needn’t reinvent one thing that clearly works.
I do not know if it really works, truthfully! Fairly often I ask myself if I used to be profitable regardless of sure issues being terrible. I do not know. However the one factor I can do is simply preserve going with what I believe is sweet, mainly. After which I look forward to the participant’s enter, in fact. If loads of gamers inform me that the affirm button is in an ungainly place, I will rethink the positioning of that button. However till I get that suggestions, I am simply going with my intestine.
One thing I seen once I first began taking part in Vampire Crawlers is that, to a sure extent, it is slower and extra strategic. Which is fascinating after we reside in a time once I really feel like all people has a really brief consideration span–everything is compulsive, everybody simply desires to faucet on one thing. Are you nervous engaged on one thing a bit slower paced?
As at all times, I exploit myself as a decide. After I was speaking to the workforce, I advised them that I am making the sport mainly for me. I advised them, “You are making this sport for me. I’m participant primary. I’ve to like this sport. This is the idea I actually wish to see executed.” I at all times use myself as a solution to resolve if the sport goes in the fitting route or not. So I am certain that there are different individuals, like me, that love Vampire Survivors and can love this sport.
I do not know if it will be as many gamers. Most likely not. I do not care, truthfully. As a result of if I begin excited about that, if I begin excited about what are gamers anticipating or what is going to the vast majority of the gamers need or want, I simply find yourself doing one thing common. One thing that tries to make everybody joyful. I might fairly attempt to be unique and take a little little bit of threat. However so long as I am assured that the sport works for me, I do know I can push that concept.
So I am not apprehensive about that. I do know that some individuals is not going to prefer it, some individuals will prefer it, and a few individuals will adore it. Some individuals will completely hate it at first, after which perhaps attempt it later and go, “Hmm, perhaps it isn’t that unhealthy.” That occurs fairly often with Vampire Survivors. It’s totally straightforward to underestimate it due to the visuals, proper?
However there’s a little bit of compulsion with the “Play All” button. It’s totally fascinating as a result of, usually in these sorts of video games, you find yourself being overpowered. And when you’re overpowered and also you get right into a struggle with, I do not know, 5 bats, you realize you are going to kill them instantly however you continue to must play playing cards. It will get a bit boring, since you already know the end result. To repair that, I made a decision to attempt to put in a “Play All” button. Should you press it, the sport will simply attempt to play all of your playing cards instantly.
On high of that, the sport accelerates. So that you get this rush from finishing the struggle instantly after which it simply strikes in a short time after that, which I personally completely love. I discover myself mashing the “Play All” button even after the struggle has clearly completed.
I genuinely admire that you simply heart what you take pleasure in when making video games. I really feel like you possibly can’t make artwork whenever you’re self-conscious or whenever you’re overly involved with what all people else thinks. You are going to make one thing that is common, since you’re contemplating the typical.
After the sport is out, I am positively going to take note of participant suggestions locally. Vampire Survivors is the right instance of a sport that obtained launched in early entry as a result of I wished participant suggestions. Again then, it was largely a solution to get in contact, in some way, with different followers of Castlevania, joke collectively, and say, “Yeah, I see this reference” or one thing like that. However then it turned one thing extra.
Then I began to plan the whole model of Vampire Survivors. I’d use the neighborhood suggestions and participant suggestions to decide on what can be the subsequent a part of the roadmap so as to add to the sport. I knew the steps, however not the order. So I’d let the neighborhood dictate what would come subsequent for the early-access model of Vampire Survivors. For this sport, it will be very completely different although; this time I wish to launch a sport that’s complete to start with.
That makes this sport a bit riskier from the get-go, however the plan is already that, as soon as we launch it, we’ll take heed to participant suggestions. As soon as once more, we’ll use that to resolve what ought to come subsequent for this game–what options individuals need added or in the event that they wish to see DLC, as an illustration. If they need collaborations, or spin-offs of this sport as an alternative.
There are a lot of conversations round participant entitlement as of late. My perspective is that, to an extent, gamers are entitled to sure issues. They’ve invested time and money into this sport and our studio. They immediately contribute to my success and my livelihood. I believe that entitles them to shine and responsiveness. I believe that entitles gamers to a very good sport.
Deckbuilders are clearly a preferred style proper now, however what impressed the choice to say, “Okay, we’re doing a deckbuilder subsequent” when there have been so many choices for this spin-off?
Truthfully, it was not our first selection. We really began off with a set of 5 completely different tasks. We labored with a number of indie groups, experimenting slightly bit, and what occurred is just that Vampire Crawlers was the sport that instantly jumped out at us. From the preliminary prototype, the workforce simply nailed it. It was nice instantly. They instantly understood the concept, the idea, and so that is the one which progressed. It wasn’t some form of strategic determination; it is simply the one which naturally, organically went sooner than another.
What had been a few of the different concepts?
Oh, they had been actually in all places. Positively not a soccer sport or one thing like that, however I am a giant fan of RPGs, so there have been really, a pair really completely different RPGs within the works. Should you play Vampire Survivors, you’ll find loads of references to all types of different video games. So when you suppose you’ve got seen a reference of a selected sport in Vampire Survivor, there is a fairly good likelihood that I am engaged on a spin-off of the style of that sport.
I used to be questioning, as a result of I believe the very first thing that I went to was like, “Oh, this might work so effectively as a metroidvania.”
Precisely, that is only a excellent match. I imply, it simply makes a lot sense. It makes too a lot sense. It could nearly must be known as Castlevania, proper? If we had been to do one thing like that–which I’d like to do one thing like that, by the way–but if I had been to do it, I’d simply go to Konami and ask for permission to make use of Castlevania at that stage. It simply makes an excessive amount of sense.
That or, truthfully, if I had been to do a metroidvania, I’d in all probability do one with the Legacy of the Moonspell characters and setting. Or Tides of the Foscari. I’d attempt to transfer slightly bit away from Vampire Survivors.
One other function that actually units Crawlers other than Survivors is the inclusion of this type of hub. Are there plans to develop that extra? Are there another options you are excited for individuals to see?
There are video games that offer you slightly customizable village, however that, for me, is one step too far. If the core of the sport is taking part in playing cards, and I additionally add slightly technique to the village, then I actually begin branching a bit an excessive amount of. The village will most certainly keep the way it [is] proper now, which is simply this circle of buildings. Nonetheless, it being a circle signifies that, every now and then, we are able to make a brand new constructing pop between others. So it’s nonetheless expandable and any function we give you over time, we’ll be capable of match it in there.
The fight system is the core expertise. All the things else is an adjunct; it is an excuse to justify the fight system. So I am actually curious to see how far we are able to push it and what individuals wish to see from this.
Nonetheless, I believe Crawlers has loads of potential as a result of, regardless that the purpose of this sport shouldn’t be exploration, the truth that there’s this exploration opens up loads of doorways. I am actually curious to see what individuals will consider the exploration. Will they need extra? Will they need much less? Will they need greater dungeons?
There are additionally, in fact, infinite menus of unlocks and new stuff to attempt. I believe we’re placing collectively all these modular components in order that the sport ultimately might develop simply as a lot as Vampire Survivors. We do want limits to ship the primary model, so early on we stated, “Okay, let’s carry over X quantity of characters.” After which, per standard, we doubled that quantity. That is a quite common theme at Poncle. We begin with a really low aim as a result of we all know what we’ll do twice as a lot anyway.
What number of characters did you find yourself bringing over?
I believe we’re going to find yourself with 20 or 21 characters. And each character has a distinct passive skill, a distinct set off skill, and a distinct beginning deck. The characters listed here are much more advanced than in Vampire Survivors. When Vampire Survivors first launched, characters had been merely a approach for gamers to decide on their beginning weapon. They weren’t even imagined to have completely different stats. However as soon as the sport obtained launched, it was a bit too flat, so I added a couple of bonuses to completely different characters.
After which the sport obtained so large that it felt prefer it was low-cost to make a brand new character simply to supply a brand new beginning weapon. Now each character has to carry one thing completely different to the sport. However with Crawlers, from the very starting we established that each character must be completely different and viable. So 21 characters, 21 completely different beginning decks. It is quite a bit.
That is to not point out that within the ultimate model you possibly can really carry as much as three characters with you, permitting you to combine and match their triggers and talents. You may solely play only one card, however due to all of the triggers you’ve gotten enabled, that one card will do 10 various things.
Are there plans to carry Vampire Crawlers to cell?
Yeah, this sport I wished to launch globally on all platforms on the identical day. It is tremendous bold, it is loads of stress for everybody, however I really feel like we owe it to the neighborhood that has been so affected person with Vampire Survivors. They have been so useful and understanding that I really feel like we now have to attempt to put this sport into everybody’s palms instantly. Once more, very tough, however let’s have a look at if we are able to handle to do it.
Do you’ve gotten a launch date deliberate for the sport?
I really wished to launch it this yr, however there was an issue. The sport was not precisely what I wished. Initially, there was not as a lot of the deckbuilding aspect. There wasn’t loads of depth. I noticed that when individuals began taking part in it, they had been saying that they could not wait to see what’s subsequent and the way they may customise their deck. However there wasn’t that a lot of that on the roadmap.
I noticed that there have been expectations. Whenever you’re taking part in a card sport, effectively, by now it is a style that is so well-established that individuals have loads of expectations. They instantly count on to have a deckbuilding aspect that has loads of depth. And so that is the aspect I made a decision wanted to be revamped–that wanted to ship from the get-go. It is one thing that ought to be on the core of the expertise.
Including that large function pushed our launch date to subsequent yr. I am not 100% certain when. I am attempting to keep away from the Grand Theft Auto VI window. Not as a result of the sport is competing with GTA VI, however as a result of the entire world goes to compete in opposition to GTA VI.
The above interview has been edited for readability and brevity.