Luc Bernard on indies and Wiiware
Feature
Indie game developers that actually get their game published are fairly rare, but the do exist. Luc Bernard is one of the few and we talk with him about surviving in the gaming industry.
Luc: Manufactured Beauty is basically a 3D cell shaded game that I am working on – possibly a trilogy – that is a fairy tale about the music industry. It’s going to be a sandbox type game set in Paris, so kind of like Grand Theft Auto but in a “fairytalish” mature cartoony world. I am hoping for it to be a WiiWare title. A retail game takes a large budget and I would rather do a good WiiWare title than a crappy retail one.
Luc: Yes. The DS is different, though, since you can create a great game for the system without a gigantic budget.
Hooked Gamers: Yeah, that was actually one of Nintendo’s main goals with DS. Your DS game, Imagination Is The Only Escape, is set during the Holocaust. Do you see it potentially getting censored?
Luc: If they censor this game, it would be like censoring history; the game is being made for social awareness. I mean, what is worse: playing a game where you are a young child trying to escape the horrors of war with your imagination or playing a game where you shoot people? I am hoping to use every one of my games to put out important messages, so they aren’t just mindless entertainment.
Hooked Gamers: Mindless entertainment... the gaming industry is roughly 99% just that. How do you feel about the gaming industry in general? Is it heading for a casual gaming pit, or will we have a brighter future?
Luc: Well, I see the Wii going for a casual gaming pit if publishers don’t react soon. That is why I like doing games on the Wii. I have no idea if [the gaming industry] will have a bright future since I know that a lot of people may try and stop people like me. It’s a “war”, of sorts. I was told that the industry can’t be changed, but it can if you take risks and I’m here to take risks... something that most publishers won’t do.
Hooked Gamers: Is it true that you’re going beyond gaming and making a film version of Eternity’s Child?
Luc: Yep, I am in talks with certain people to do a film version of Eternity’s Child. I don’t really like to do [game] sequels, so I would rather do a sequel in the form of a film.
Hooked Gamers: Anything else you’d like to say to your fans regarding your Wii/DS projects?
Luc: Well, I must admit that I need as much support as possible if they want me to stay in this industry. They will be the people that will decide if I will stay or not...
Hooked Gamers: Thanks for your time, Luc!