Mighty Coconut will soon release an Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland DLC course for Walkabout Mini Golf, and in this interview we speak with Don Carson to learn how the team translated Carroll’s surreal world into playful, navigable spaces for VR. Don Carson is the senior art director for Mighty Coconut, and has worked as a Senior Show Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering, art directing projects like Splash Mountain, Mickey’s Toontown and Blizzard Beach. His focus is bringing design principles unique to environmental storytelling to projects all over the world. Don has applied designs to computer games, the theatre and other media. He has a long career in theme park design, and strives to show the potential of using the principles of environmental storytelling to influence an audience’s experience, whether they are exploring a physical or virtual world. This conversation covers the course’s inspirations, John Tenniel’s influence, scenes that work particularly well in VR mini golf, the design challenges of making Wonderland playable, and how the studio balances nostalgia with a fresh Mighty Coconut spin. Continue reading “Developer interview: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Walkabout Mini Golf)”
Category: Interviews
NBA Bounce review/interview (PS5)
Unfinished Pixel SL’s NBA Bounce, published by Outright Games, approaches basketball from a lighter and more accessible angle than most sports titles. Built around official NBA teams, mascots and arenas, it replaces technical realism with a vibrant arcade presentation that prioritizes instant fun over simulation. Every match unfolds at a brisk pace across team-themed courts, capturing a lively atmosphere that’s easy to jump into without studying playbooks or advanced mechanics. If a family-oriented version of NBA Jam was made, it would look a lot like this. Continue reading “NBA Bounce review/interview (PS5)”
Dora: Rainforest Rescue review and interview
We stepped into Dora: Rainforest Rescue expecting a tidy, comforting adventure for very young players, and for the most part that’s exactly what Artax Games and Outright Games deliver. The plot is pleasantly simple – Swiper and a misfired Super-Duper Duplicator have scattered magical leaves and sprouted mischievous clones – and the story’s lightness is a feature, not a flaw: it keeps goals clear and gives children an immediate reason to explore without any real peril or distress. Parents will recognise the gentle callbacks to the show while newcomers can jump straight into the world without prior knowledge. At times the narrative feels a touch formulaic and underwhelming for grown-up tastes, but the charm lands with the intended audience, who will laugh at Swiper’s antics and enjoy the silly encounters with the Grumpy Old Troll. Continue reading “Dora: Rainforest Rescue review and interview”
Developer interview: The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes
With the summer ending and the holiday season fast approaching, The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes is set to bring one of the most beloved family traditions to PCs and consoles for the very first time. Launching on October 17th, the game combines platforming, puzzles, and festive mini-games in a world filled with Christmas spirit. To learn more about the challenges and joys of adapting such a cozy tradition into an interactive adventure, we spoke with Chris Rose, Production Director at Outright Games. Continue reading “Developer interview: The Elf on the Shelf: Christmas Heroes”
Developer interview: Alpha Response
From the mind of Gooseman – the legendary creator of Counter-Strike – comes Alpha Response, a high-intensity singleplayer/co-op tactical shooter now in Early Access on Steam. Trading competitive PvP for dynamic, mission-driven action, the game puts players in the boots of elite police units facing everything from hostage rescues to helicopter assaults. Designed to be fully playable solo or with friends, Alpha Response emphasizes tactical decision-making and adaptability, whether you’re coordinating with a squad or leading AI teammates through unpredictable scenarios. We sat down with Gooseman to discuss why he moved away from PvP, the challenges of large-scale non-linear mission design, and what ambitious features are still to come before the game’s full release. Continue reading “Developer interview: Alpha Response”
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