Creating an Unpredictable yet Predictable Sequel: Revenge of the Savage Planet

As a member of the Raccoon Logic team navigates through Revenge of the Savage Planet at Gamescom, studio head and co-founder Reid Schneider reveals that the goal was not to create a typical sequel. Given that Raccoon Logic was formed by former Typhoon Studios employees, who previously worked on Journey to the Savage Planet before Google shut down the Stadia project, the team had a unique opportunity to reacquire the Savage Planet IP and create a new title in the series. The game retains its predecessor's colorful and humorous tone, with players exploring an alien world, scanning life forms, and battling hostile creatures. However, Raccoon Logic is attempting to subvert expectations by introducing a third-person perspective, new planets, and a customizable colony area. According to Schneider, the expected sequel would have been more of the same, but the team opted for a fresh approach, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by a third-person perspective to create more physical comedy and surprises. Art director Erick Bilodeau notes that the third-person perspective was considered during the development of the first game, particularly for platforming elements, and the team is now able to convey humor more effectively through character animations. The story also takes a new direction, with the player character being made redundant by their corporation due to the high costs of space exploration. While this may seem like a dig at Google, creative director Alex Hutchinson explains that the story is inspired by the industry's experience with layoffs and studio closures over the past two years. Raccoon Logic has also reorganized its development process, with a smaller team of 30 people and a more structured approach, dividing the production schedule into three phases: conception, production, and polish. This has allowed for a more collaborative approach, with everyone having a chance to contribute and provide feedback on the game. The team expects Revenge of the Savage Planet to be around 15-20 hours long, which is slightly longer than the first game, but with a more finished and polished experience. As for the team's expectations, they are hopeful that there is a real audience for the game, given the success of the first title, but acknowledge that the modern market is challenging, with changing subscription models and purchasing habits. Ultimately, the team aims to create a standalone game that can be enjoyed by new players, while also providing a fresh experience for fans of the first game.