Since a major update has just been introduced to Diebrary, we had a chance to chat with two of the Other Ocean team members behind the game, Angus Fletcher and Daniel Eichler.
“We wanted to make a game in the arena roguelike genre. We are big fans of it. Many of our team have played games like Vampire Survivor and 20 Minutes Till Dawn. So we wanted to make these games and put them on the web, and Kongregate was an amazing partner to help us do that,” said Eichler about how Diebrary came to be.
Angus interjected. “What happens when you cross a game like this with a game already known for randomness and chaos? What happens when you bring in some party game energy?”
Diebrary was born from the desire to create a unique roguelike experience that blends classic roguelike elements with a party game atmosphere. The team introduced “asynchronous multiplayer, something never really seen in the genre before,” allowing players to take turns voting on plot twists that affect gameplay.
“The floor is lava, so now we can add a twist, like all the lava pools appear,” Daniel explained. “You know, it adds a little more depth to the game because you have to dodge it yourself, but you can also hit enemies through the lava pools to deal damage.”
The developers shared their excitement about Diebrary’s latest update, which includes over 20 new storylines, four additional badges, and extensive balance improvements. “We’re not super hardcore in terms of balance, but we want to make sure the options are interesting and useful,” Eichler added. These changes aim to keep gameplay fresh and challenging and strike a balance between difficulty and enjoyment.
Game developers who bring their games to Kongregate can leverage our platform to gather valuable feedback and engage directly with the gaming community. Our comprehensive analytics provide valuable insights into player retention, monetization strategies, and gaming statistics.
One of Diebrary’s unique features is its “Book Reporting” system, which collects player feedback to continually improve the game. Daniel Eichler said the feedback was invaluable in helping improve the game’s mechanics and balance. “We can use that data to rank the stack of every upgrade and every weapon and then make adjustments.”
Developers have expressed their passion for connecting with the player community. “We are learning from player feedback every day,” explains Angus. Daniel praised the Kongregate comments section for quickly identifying the issue and highlighted the studio’s efforts to listen to player feedback. “They actually saved our asses last week.”
Towards the end of the interview, the developers teased future updates, hinting that they would provide players with a more customized gaming experience.
The Other Ocean team will be joining us this Friday at 10AM PDT as they play Diebrary for Kongregate’s weekly live stream. Bring your questions and we’ll give you a chance to win a prize in our YouTube chat!
We strive to provide great and unique games to players at Kongregate.com. If you have a game you would like to publish through us, please contact us at bd@konregate.com.