Winner’s Circle

This week’s Flash Game Friday winner is Granny Strikes Back by Silen Games!

Wow, this is a big game! Granny Strikes Back, as it states in the game description, is a “..shooter with time management, tower defense, and RPG elements…”. You are granny, and you are defending and attacking the snowmen that have apparently run amuck, ruining your garden. You are initially armed with a coal shooter and frying pans.

This game has a lot going on. In addition to having a lot of levels that switch off between tower defense and RPG style mechanics, there is in-game currency, achievements, XP advancement, and even skill points. All of these elements combine to create a world where it’s granny against an army of snowmen!

Granny Strikes Back is a fantastic game with great artwork, music, and game design. Congratulations Silen Games!

Get To Know Silen Games

Tell me about yourself-how many people are on your team? Where are you based?

My name is Vitaliy Sidorov of Silen Games, and I’m an indie developer. Most of my games were created by me alone, but there are exceptions. Granny Strikes Back is such an exception. This particular game was a collaboration with my friend Ivan Morozov. We are both from Russia, living in remote and cold of Siberia. :)

How long have you been making games? What did you do before?

I am actually a lawyer. At first the creation of games was a hobby, but now it’s my main job. I created my first game 4 years ago, called “Safe Breaker”, which I created using the GameMaker engine. I learned Flash a year later and still use it to create games.

What was your inspiration for “Granny Strikes Back”?

4 years ago I made the game “Granny and Snowmen” for a winter competition on the site YoYoGames. The game received a third place prize. A year later, Ivan Morozov proposed to create a port for Flash. I really liked the idea. We wanted to create a copy of the game, but in the end game has changed dramatically. We developed it very slowly (for about three years)- it was the longest project in my life. During the development of “Granny Strikes Back” I have created and released 17 Flash games:)

What types of games do you like to create the most? What types of games do you like to play the most?

I love to create a shooters that have a lot of explosions, action, drive, and coins:)
I like to experiment with exploration & adventure games. My favorite game from childhood is “Land Stalker” for Sega Genesis. I also love the Castlevania series of games, and Metroid.

How long is your game creation cycle? What is your process?

I try to finish the game in a month, before it begins to get boring. Any development begins with the selection of the concept and prototype of the basic mechanics of the game. If the gameplay is interesting – I continue to develop. Next, I create a level editor, and then the schedule. The last thing I do is add levels and sounds, as well as tune the balance of the game.

Are there any game developers that you admire or consider “rock stars”?

I have great respect for the game designer Jason Kapalka of PopKapa. He creates a brilliant casual games. But I do not always follow his advice. For example, “Granny and Snowmen” is a fairly hardcore game and therefore isn’t as popular among the casual audience. But I think it would be great as a console game.

What is it about making a new game that you enjoy most?

I do not like to continue and create sequels. Much more interesting to create something truly new. For example the development of my last game “The Bee Way” was a lot of fun.

Do you have any hot projects you’re working on right now?

Now I am finishing work on the game Mushroom Madness 3. Part two was popular and I am sure that part three will be even better!

Thanks for answering my questions Vitaliy, and good luck with Mushroom Madness 3!