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Wavedash Games and the Rise of Platform Fighters
To these guys, Smash isn’t the only game of its kind - it’s the beginning of a genre.
Wavedash Games is making a new platform fighter
© Uriel Espinoza
Walking around Genesis 3, it’s easy to see that Smash Bros. is stronger than ever. With players competing in three separate games each released in different decades, Smash has proven that it its games can stand the test of time. But recently, Smash has competition.
There have been unsuccessful attempts to copy Smash’s formula in the past, but in 2015 Rivals of Aether was released, resonating with fans of the series. Even the best players in the world took notice; Mango has been known to stream Rivals of Aether from time to time. And while their title is still a ways away, a new game development studio has appeared on the scene with plans to make their first foray into the newly dubbed ‘platform fighter’ genre: Wavedash Games.
It’s Our Time
Wavedash Games started off as an idea between two friends, Jason Rice and Matt Fairchild. Both have been working in games for some time, but their original bond was as lovers of Smash. Jason Rice may be better known to some as M3D, one of the driving forces behind MLG Smash Bros. back in 2006, while Matt hosted MOAST3, which was largest Smash tournament to date in 2005. Since then, both have continued to work in gaming, with Jason working stints at Bioware and EA while Matt worked as the Director of Community at TinyCo.
Jason Rice (left) and Matt Fairchild (right)
© Uriel Espinoza
But this past year, both of them were ready for a new challenge. “We had both hit a point in our careers where we were directors at major game studios and we really started thinking, ‘now might be the time to start our own game studio, like we always talked about,’” said Jason. And despite working on all sorts of new games, Smash was still a major passion. “I was getting to work with international IPs with some of the best animators and creators in the world, but when I came home from work I still sat down with my GameCube controller and played Melee.”
Jason and Matt both wanted to make a game like the one they grew up playing, and for the first time it looked like the right time to do it. “Now with the rise of esports, with Twitch just blowing up, with three viable Smash tournament scenes going on simultaneously, and even additional platform fighters coming out, this is an exploding market,” said Matt.
Broadening Horizons
Despite Smash games all falling under the same series name, fans of the titles agree that they are all vastly different. Wavedash Games sees that even when the core concept is the same, a new platform fighter doesn’t have to step on the toes of its predecessors. “We believe there’s room for all sorts [of new experiences], just as there’s so many different first-person shooters out there that can support a wide variety of playstyles.” said Matt. “For our specific inspiration we’re using Melee as a starting point, but to do exactly what Melee does would leave a lot of potential design on the table.”
Naturally, Jason and Matt are looking to create a game that feels great to play and has several layers of complexity. But in order to capture a broader audience, they have made one of their core focuses watchability. Matt used a football example to illustrate this point. “I’m a huge football fan, and I watch it every Sunday. But I have no idea how to play. I don’t know what an offensive lineman does, outside of ‘stop the guy from hitting the other guy.’ All I know is that there are these moments where the ball is in the air and I’m holding my breath, and when somebody catches it that something awesome has happened. The really good esports totally have that.”
“The reason we’re targeting platform fighters is that the stage and ledge mechanics are that moment when the ball is in the air. When a player is off the ledge that they are in trouble, and it creates these little moments of drama throughout the game. You don’t have to know exactly how it works, you just have to know that they’re good at it.”
Wavedash Games' logo
© Uriel Espinoza
It's About Giving Back
Wavedash is planning to incorporate all sorts of mechanics into their platform fighter, but that’s not the only way they’re planning on getting people’s attention. They are also looking to create a broadly relatable cast. “One thing that we’re really striving for in our game design is hitting diversity," said Jason. "We look at something like Blizzard’s Overwatch, where there’s a lot of diversity in races, genders, and body types in their character design, and we see a lot of value in that. I don’t want you to feel like there are fifteen same-y characters; there should be diverse options,” said Jason. “We want our game to not just be competitively, but socially and personally.”
It's still too early for the folks behind Wavedash Games to tip their hand - this is not a game that's coming soon, and there's lots and lots of work to be done. But what's not a secret is that what they produce will be made by Smash fans, for Smash fans, and with Smash fans. "The type of company we want to build and the ways we want to invest in the community are the most important things," said Jason. "Matt and I really believe we owe a massive debt to this community for what we got out of being a part of it."
To drive this home, Wavedash Games has announced a Community Council - advisors who will help guide the title to success. The first two members of this Council are HugS and Cactuar, two of the greatest minds in Melee, and are set to announce more advisors soon. There may not be much concrete info for now, but it's safe to say that the Smash community has another project to keep an eye on in the future.
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