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Indie Spotlight – Crashlands 2: Butterscotch Shenanigans Returns with a Bigger, Bolder Adventure

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Story Highlights

  • Crashlands 2 is an open-world action-adventure RPG with crafting mechanics, a dynamic alien world, a richer storyline, plenty of silliness, and more.
  • Adam Coster, CEO of Butterscotch Shenanigans, shared fascinating insights into the game’s inspiration, development challenges, creative approach, and more.
  • The game is set to launch on April 10, 2025, with pre-registration now open on both the Google Play Store and the App Store.

On April 10, 2025, Butterscotch Shenanigans is all set to debut the follow-up to their indie game, Crashlands, on Android, iOS, and PC platforms. This action-adventure RPG invites you to delve into a vibrant alien open world featuring stunning graphics, engaging characters, lovable pets, and a wealth of content. With its roots in the success of its precursor, Crashlands 2 promises an exhilarating RPG experience with crafting elements that will keep you hooked.

Featured Column – Indie Spotlight

Gaming on Phone’s “Indie Spotlight” highlights up-and-coming small game studios and developers, providing them with recognition and visibility in the independent gaming community. During this section, we provide comprehensive summaries along with insights and opinions from these creators. If you are an indie studio, don’t hesitate to contact us at editor@gamingonphone.com with your questions or submissions.

Game Overview

Hey there fellow gamer! I’m super pumped about Crashlands 2, the long-awaited sequel to my favorite story-driven crafting RPG that dropped in January 2016. Once again, it’s me, Flux Dabes, who’ll be embarking on a new adventure in the world of Woanope! Can’t wait to dive back into this open-world, packed with action, adventure, and a whole lot of crafting fun!

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but share my excitement about Crashlands 2! With its stunningly upgraded graphics, captivating narrative, and a lovable ensemble of characters and pets, it’s an absolute gem that caters to both seasoned fans and fresh adventurers seeking a delightful journey filled with engaging gameplay.

In this extraordinary world of Woanope, you’ll encounter a vibrant ecosystem teeming with intriguing creatures, all while exploring its dynamic landscape. It’s an unparalleled experience that promises endless fun!

Besides the adventure, you can also catch fish, construct a comfy abode, cultivate farms, make friends with diverse characters, find new crafting blueprints, and nurture cute pet companions into powerful creatures in Crashlands 2. This game offers an immersive and extensive experience to today’s gamers, allowing you to craft items, concoct elixirs, and weapons; tailor your gaming style; engage in combat with foes or team up with locals to solve various mysteries.

Why you should play Crashlands 2

  • Sequel to the popular award-winning Crashlands, offering even more exciting content and improved gameplay.
  • Let’s you explore an alien world and perform various activities such as crafting, fishing, building houses, farming, and more.
  • Stunning visuals with enhanced graphics and a great cast of characters.
  • Perfect for players who want to try an open-world RPG experience with action-adventure elements.

From concept to creation: Developer Insights

During my chat with GamingonPhone, Adam Coster – one of the trio behind Butterscotch Shenanigans – spilled the beans on Crashlands 2. We delved into the story behind its conception, hurdles faced during production, a botched collaboration with Netflix, and other fascinating tidbits.

Discussing the studio’s origins, Mr. Coster mentioned that he is the eldest of the three siblings who started it together. He also shared an interesting detail about his middle brother, who had cherished dreams of game creation since childhood. However, he wasn’t quite sure how to actualize this dream, so instead he pursued law school with the intention of entering the gaming industry from a legal perspective rather than as a developer.

After finding Game Maker, one brother chose to focus on it, eventually leaving college to delve into game development. Their younger sibling, Sam, subsequently joined them too. Notably, Mr. Coster was engrossed in a graduate program and working towards a PhD in cell biology at the time. Upon receiving his degree, he opted to join his brothers permanently to develop games instead.

When he came on board in 2014, his brother had previously launched several mobile games, mentioning, “We had Flop Rocket, Quadropus Rampage, and a few more, and they garnered a significant number of downloads.” Nevertheless, these games didn’t show financial success.

He stated that he became part of the team approximately six months after the initiation of Crashlands’ original development. Additionally, he shared that their goal was to penetrate the PC market so they could create games according to their true vision, rather than dealing with the intricate monetization issues prevalent in mobile gaming.

The inspiration behind Crashlands 2

As a passionate gamer, I’m thrilled to share some behind-the-scenes info about Crashlands 2! With the overwhelming response we received for the first game, we knew we had to continue the adventure. After wrapping up our previous projects, we dived right in, initially with a tight-knit team of six. However, as development progressed and ideas multiplied, our team has grown to nine members now, each contributing their unique skills to make Crashlands 2 even better than before!

Regarding this substantial task at hand, he articulated, “Our plan was to create a game that is undeniably Crashlands 2, ensuring the original Crashlands fans receive what they desire. However, it must offer a unique and distinct experience compared to the initial Crashlands.

As a passionate admirer, I’d like to share that during our nearly five-year journey in creating Crashlands 2, the team has made sure to prioritize its independence. This means that players can dive into the sequel without having played or being familiar with the original game. To quote the developers, “We are now almost at the finish line after all this hard work, and we’re eager to share it with you!

Major challenges the studios faced while developing the game

In response to questions about development hurdles, particularly in light of the Netflix incident, he clarified, “The main issue was essentially managing scale.” He further explained that the core gameplay mechanics of the original version remained largely unchanged after the initial six or so hours of play.

He mentioned that a key focus in developing Crashlands 2 was to ensure everything felt significant throughout the game. Previously, some elements seemed disposable, such as when you’d obtain a cool armor set only to discard it an hour later because a new one had appeared.

Instead of simply increasing the power level as a common strategy in game design, where numbers increase incrementally, they aimed for each item to possess its own distinct qualities and differences.

They too chose to depart from the repetitive nature of the initial game’s procedural system. He clarified, “There’s a monotony to it that can become somewhat dull, and we aimed to create everything meticulously.” Moreover, he disclosed that the team intended to make movement less linear by enabling players to move horizontally as well as progressing through levels.

As an enthusiast, I can express that our goal was to craft a tale that would resonate more profoundly and offer a richer experience compared to the initial version. The incorporation of these complex elements indeed made the development process quite intricate. To ensure the narrative met our vision, we opted to engage a skilled writer for this project, aiming to create a much more layered and immersive storyline.

The main difficulty encountered during development was succinctly described as, “In essence, the primary hurdle was the enormous scope and intricacy involved in blending open-world creation, narrative-driven elements, and every aspect being meticulously crafted rather than generated algorithmically.

How Crashlands 2 builds on and evolves upon the original game

He mentioned that fans have a unique expectation for the sequel – they desire it to be both strikingly familiar and refreshingly new. To cater to this, the studio decided to bring back two cherished characters, specifically Flux and her trusty sidekick Juicebox, who will once again take center stage in this installment.

Additionally, he clarified that they had to name it “Crashlands” instead of something else, as this helps identify it as part of the series. Consequently, just like in the initial game, it starts with a crash landing, providing a sense of déjà vu and making you feel like you’re beginning anew.

As I dive into this new world for the first time, it feels eerily similar to stepping back into Crashlands, but with a stunning upgrade in visuals. But as the adventure unfolds, I quickly realize that there’s a lot more depth and content to explore than I initially thought.

The team sought to evoke a sense of familiarity for returning players, followed by reinventing the gameplay. While preserving the fundamental mechanics, they refined and elevated every design aspect. In summary, “We brought back most of the design elements, but we reimagined them all with an aim to make everything even better,” he stated.

The game engine used for the original Crashlands and this sequel

After Mr. Coster brought up Game Maker earlier, I found myself wondering if that was the same engine behind Crashlands and if they’re using it for this sequel. So, I decided to inquire about it.

He replied, “We’ve been sticking with Game Maker all along, and here’s why: It’s the platform we initially chose, and since we’ve put a lot of effort into it, changing engines feels quite challenging, which is a sentiment I can totally empathize with.

He underlined the point that “This 2D engine is reliable, and for our team, working swiftly on 2D projects while maintaining focus is highly advantageous.” Furthermore, cross-platform compatibility is crucial for them, as he pointed out, “GameMaker has been supporting us throughout this journey, and it’s significantly improved over time.

Mr. Coster also voiced gratitude for a significant GameMaker update that brought numerous necessary features, saying, “Without these features, I’m not sure we could have created Crashlands 2 with it.” Moving forward, he noted, “We’re currently using it, and we plan to continue using it for the next project as well.

The development time for Crashlands 2

According to Mr. Coster, once the project is fully developed, it’s expected to take approximately 4.5 years in total.

He clarified that approximately a year was devoted to creating the necessary tools, followed by another year spent on determining the game’s concept and constructing its fundamental structure.

He remarked, “Around about a year’s time is essentially when we can expect to have most of the questions answered and build almost everything.

The studio’s philosophical approach to creating new games

Regarding the methodology of game creation at the studio, Mr. Coster outlined that their strategy revolves around creating an atmosphere of delight, enabling players to enjoy themselves and momentarily escape from their everyday stresses while engaging with their games.

The developer shared that Crashlands 2 offers greater emotional complexity compared to their earlier releases, but maintains its core focus on being entertaining, ensuring players depart with positive sentiments. He further stated, “It’s all about fun and enjoyment,” underscoring this as their main objective.

In terms of design philosophy, he emphasized that “it’s not just about aesthetics, but also accessibility and personal control.” The studio is committed to this idea because they feel that a player’s progress should be unique and under their control. This is why they developed a cross-platform system, allowing players to save their progress from Steam, mobile devices, consoles, or any other platform, and retain ownership of it at all times.

They’re dedicated to creating cross-platform games that can thrive across multiple systems, offering playability via touch screens, controllers, keyboard and mouse (MnK), and functioning smoothly on diverse machines. In his closing remarks, he emphasized that fun and accessibility are the fundamental building blocks of their games, all while maintaining a touch of humor through amusing jokes and wordplay.

Future expansion or a potential third title in the franchise

Mr. Coster feels that franchises can be a captivating dilemma, remarking, “On one side, if you have a successful game, everyone is eager for the sequel; however, the anticipation for the sequel is also incredibly high.” Recognizing the substantial disparities between both games, he acknowledged, “Replicating that level of difference in the next installment seems almost impossible to me. I can’t even picture what it would resemble.

Although he can’t think of a suitable method to create Crashlands 3 that feels both comfortable and innovative right now, he admitted that “it’s likely that we’ll need to and desire to develop a Crashlands 3 eventually.

As a gamer, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Crashlands 2, but it seems the studio finds the project particularly challenging and time-consuming. Instead, they’re focusing on creating less demanding games for now. But rest assured, while we might not see it next, there will certainly be a Crashlands 3 in the pipeline at some point!

What’s next for the studio and its upcoming projects

In the preceding part, he had provided a partial response, but I probed further by inquiring about future projects. His reply was, “We’re currently engrossed in wrapping up Crash Lands 2 and are trying not to think ahead since it is part of our focus, given its urgency.” He also acknowledged the volatile nature of the industry.

In simpler terms, the success or underperformance of Crashlands 2 during its debut significantly impacts their decision about their next game.

Moreover, he expressed that each team member knows what task to tackle next. He’s particularly fond of Quadropus Rampage 2, stating, “I adore this game. It’s compact in scope, so it doesn’t need to be extensive.” Mr. Coster added that if the release is successful, “new business prospects emerge, allowing us to port the game to additional platforms and such, which consumes a considerable amount of time.

The Netflix partnership fallout and self-publishing challenges

Despite not getting into specifics, which is perfectly reasonable, he offered a wider viewpoint, expressing, “It’s nice that nothing went wrong specifically.” He disclosed that they started collaborating with Netflix in the year 2023, during a period when they were “waiting to officially announce the game once we knew what our launch platforms would be and who our launch partners would be.

The collaboration was formed with the game designated as a Netflix mobile title. He stated that it was an excellent partnership as they were professional and easy to collaborate with, never exerting too much control. Unfortunately, issues arose around October 2024.

Mr. Coster acknowledged that he hadn’t been fully up-to-date on Netflix’s internal adjustments, particularly their transition in gaming services, which was made clearer by their decision to remove six additional titles. In other words, he said they were assessing the games within their collection to determine if they aligned with their new strategy.

As a gamer, I can share that it appears Crashlands 2 wasn’t quite the right fit for Netflix according to their new strategy. Although we parted ways, they didn’t abandon us without support. Instead, they left us in good shape and were incredibly helpful during our journey here, which I’m grateful for since they played a significant role in helping our studio grow in the early days.

Final Verdict from the Editor

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m super excited about Crashlands 2, scheduled for launch on April 10, 2025, priced at $9.99. From the look of it, this action-adventure RPG promises to be far more engaging and jam-packed with content compared to its predecessor. The improved gameplay, visuals, and overall experience have me hooked! I can’t wait to dive into this sequel; it seems like a blast and I’m confident it will deliver an exceptional gaming experience in terms of both gameplay and storyline.

Explore a captivating world filled with memorable characters, adorable pets, breathtaking landscapes, and the freedom to create diverse items and gizmos. Engage in activities like farming, angling, and numerous others, all while outsmarting foes using stealth, traps, explosives, and other strategies. This game is a must-play for those seeking fresh, thrilling experiences or Crashlands franchise enthusiasts alike.

To enjoy the upcoming sequel, consider registering for the game ahead of time through either the Google Play Store or the App Store. The download will be available starting April 10, 2025.

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2025-02-09 17:13

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