Michael Ventnor the sole, owner, developer, graphic designer, and the guy that does everything else that is needed to get done in order to create games was nice enough to answer some questions for us.  He is a one man army doing everything himself and still managed to find time to talk to us n00bs!  His company Red Crest Studios has currently released two Xbox360 Indie Games: Bonded Realities and Hyper Button. Check out the Q&A below:

What made you decide to start working on a game?
I’ve always wanted to make video games, but until recently you had to have connections with publishers who will then stock your game on shelves. Now, anybody can easily reach an audience of millions due to the vertically-integrated shop interfaces available, like Apple’s App Store, Xbox Indie Games or the Android Market, and this makes it easier to make a return on any title.

Did you have any prior experience in the game industry?
No. I did have experience in other software areas though. And I did make sure to learn from other people’s experiences. To release a game, you have to make sure your ambitions are modest so that you can have a finished product. If I wanted to make an MMO, like a lot of aspiring game makers do, I would’ve never released anything.

It has to be hard being a one man army!  Any plans to expand Red Crest Studios?
Not yet. I’m not making enough to afford external help yet, but I’m hoping I can in the near future as there are lots of games I’d like to make that I can’t do alone.

I was very disappointed that Vuvuzilla was cut from Bonded Realities.  A Vuvuzela is so irritating, so the fact that a Godzilla type enemy would use one to cause damage is just hilarious.  What is your favorite character/enemy from any game you have ever played/made?

My problem with having a favorite enemy is that I wish they weren’t an enemy; rather they were a playable character! This is what I think when I have to fight Bowser, or a dragon. There aren’t enough tough lizard-esque protagonists in the gaming industry.

I have to admit I was a little nervous after not seeing you post anything on your blog for nearly a month.  But then you start off saying “you haven’t given up (yet)!”  Is giving up a real possibility?
Heh. Well, one issue with being a one-man army is that the stress it can put on you is enormous. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, or drag out longer than first thought, and you become so tired that you begin having second thoughts about the whole thing. That even happened during Bonded Realities at some stages. Luckily this was countered by my burning desire to never see work wasted and to finish whatever I start. Things would have to go horrendously wrong for me to give it all away, but we’ll see.

We are big fans of the achievement concept on the 360, but some games just lack creative achievements.  If XNA allowed you to create achievements, what do you think some would be for the games you have made?
I’d have to think hard about this one! Most likely it would be for completing challenges while meeting special conditions, such as finishing a battle without losing health, or within a time limit, or while holding down both triggers for the entire time.

Dream Build Play is right around the corner.  Are you able to share any more details about your upcoming submission?
My goal for Andromium was to make a simple but brilliant concept, so I can make the game presentable in time and still have a chance to compete with the big projects that will try and enter. What you saw in the original gameplay video, that you can view on Red Crest’s website, shows off the concept pretty well, but there will be many different worlds this game will take place in, and many enemies you’ll have to deal with. Feedback is positive so far, and I’m working really hard to not only finish more levels, but create a trailer and press release to show off more of the game!

Gameplay video for the first level of Andomium

How would you compare your game to the quality of the other Indie games out there?
Do I have to? Everyone aims to be the best, but you can’t let yourself get big-headed at the same time. With rare exceptions nobody wants to make a bad game, it just goes bad due to factors beyond their control.

What is your overall vision for your game company?
To at least become something I can stay in full-time! I would be really proud if I managed to make a successful business from scratch, and one that makes world-famous products!

Do you have a job aside from developing games for the Xbox?
I do, and it is also in the programming field. It’s a job I enjoy, so if worst comes to worst with Red Crest; at least I’m personally secure!

If you could charge more than 80 points ($1) would you for your current games, if so how much?
I can charge more, the problem is, is the loss of customers worth it? There are stories among the Xbox Indie community of games performing dreadfully because they charge, and are sometimes forced to charge, greater than 80 points. It’s an extreme risk for a new studio to release a game that isn’t an impulse price, but if you manage to build a brand, then things get easier.

Given all the work that you have put into your games, particularly Bonded Realities, do you think you are getting the attention you deserve? What do you think it would take to get your games to the next level?
I always appreciate when my games get more attention! The only real thing that can take my games to the next level is if I make enough money on previous games to fund expansion. That isn’t happening yet, but growth takes some time!

Why develop for the Xbox and not PS3 or PC?
Unlike the Xbox, PS3 and Steam don’t let just anybody develop for them, and they tend to ignore anyone who doesn’t have a track record of success no matter how good your concept may be. I’m glad that a comparatively open platform has been made on a major console.

What kind of support system do you have, what do they think of this?
Us Xbox Indies rely on each other for support in a forum. It’s a good system and encourages community.