Inside the Mind of Greg Kasavi: The Creative Director of Transisto
Summary
In this Q&A with the creative director of Supergiant Games, Greg Kasavi, we take a look at the upcoming release of their second game, Transisto. Kasavi discusses the inspiration behind the game, the shift in focus from their previous release Bastion, and the challenges of creating a successful sequel.
Table of Contents
- The inspiration behind Transisto
- Shift in focus from Bastion
- Challenges of creating a sequel
- The importance of surprise in gaming
- The origins of Kasavi’s transition to game making
The inspiration behind Transisto
The interviewer kicks off the conversation by asking about the inspiration behind Transisto. Kasavi reveals that the game centers around a powerful object that grants the player extraordinary abilities, and the team wanted to create a more thoughtful experience with strategic combat rather than just relying on mindless button-mashing.
Shift in focus from Bastion
The interview then delves into the differences between Transisto and Supergiant’s first game, Bastion. Kasavi explains that while Bastion was their take on a fantasy-themed world, Transisto is their take on science fiction. He further clarifies that while Transisto has an action RPG feel, it’s genre-defying and hard to classify.
Challenges of creating a sequel
The interviewer acknowledges that the team is in a better position with Transisto since they’ve already had a hit game, but asks about the challenges of creating a sequel. Kasavi explains that people now have high expectations from the team, and they need to surprise their audience to keep them engaged. He also discusses the importance of maintaining surprise to ensure a positive experience with the game.
The importance of surprise in gaming
Following up on the previous point, the interviewer asks Kasavi to elaborate on the role of surprise in gaming. Kasavi explains that a successful game needs to keep surprising its audience, and that’s what they’re trying to achieve with Transisto. He emphasizes that creating unexpected moments is an essential element of a good gaming experience.
The origins of Kasavi’s transition to game making
The conversation then pivots to Kasavi’s career in gaming. He talks about his interest in video games since childhood and his early dreams of making games. He also shares about his stint as the Editor-in-Chief of GameSpot before turning to game making. Kasavi reveals that it was a lifelong interest, and a friend at Electronic Arts offered him a job as a producer. He later joined Supergiant games about a year after they were founded.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Q&A with Greg Kasavi provides an exciting peek into the world of game making and the creative process behind Transisto. From the inspiration behind the game to the challenges of making a successful sequel, Kasavi’s insights offer valuable lessons to budding game developers and enthusiasts alike.
