Review Fix chats with Martin Rabl, GIANTS Software- Marketing & PR Manager who discusses the upcoming Farming Simulator on the Nintendo Switch and how it’s a perfect game to take advantage of the system’s couch co-op versatility.
About astragon Entertainment GmbH:
astragon Entertainment (founded in 2000) ranks among the leading independent games publishers in Germany. Our versatile product portfolio focuses on high-quality technical simulation games such as Construction Simulator, Farming Simulator or Bus Simulator, but also covers complex economic simulations and strategy games. The distribution of the Big Fish franchise (Mystery Case Files, Dark Parables, Grim Tales) completes our exciting product range. Games by astragon are available worldwide on many different platforms such as consoles, smartphones, tablets and PC. Please visit us for more information at http://www.astragon.de/en/
Review Fix: How was the idea of this game on the Switch born?
Martin Rabl: Actually it was pretty much straight after the Nintendo Switch was revealed. The relaxing gameplay of Farming Simulator works as well on the couch as on the go.
The console’s hardware makes sure that you can now have the same full farming experience at home, in a park, on a bus or wherever else you are.
Review Fix: What was development like?
Rabl: It was pretty smooth to be honest. We needed to see how to optimize it for the Nintendo Switch, and things like using the touch screen to navigate on the map or in the settings were added, but all in all it went pretty well.
Review Fix: What makes this game special, on this console?
Rabl: It is the very first Farming Simulator that offers you the same game experience whether it is being played on a TV or in handheld mode. Someone else needs the TV? Just take the Switch and continue playing the game on the console’s screen. You really want to finish feeding your cows today but your commute home was faster than usual? Plug it into the big screen in your living room and you are right back in action.
Review Fix: Any fun stories or wild moments during development?
Rabl: We’ve received some pretty excited but also detailed feedback from in-house testers after they tried out the game in handheld mode especially pertaining to the locations they’ve played it at. I leave the rest up to your imagination. ;)
Review Fix: How does this game disrupt the Switch landscape?
Rabl: There aren’t so many third party games on the Switch yet and Farming Simulator is already very popular in both, desktop and mobile gaming circles. The fact that you can now play the game both on the go and on your big screen at home means that the Switch version is like a 2 in 1 deal potentially addressing an even larger community of players.
Review Fix: Who will enjoy this game the most?
Rabl: We’ve got a very large audience of players. Kids, families, casual players, farmers but also hardcore gamers. Players who are looking for a game that gives them a lot of freedom, lets them decide their own career path and progression speed love the sandbox nature of the Farming Simulator series. Real-life farmers are also a huge part of our community. They find their favorite vehicles and tools in the game and enjoy the authentic representation of the farming tasks and machines.
Review Fix: How do you want this game to be remembered?
Rabl: We think it can really be one of those games where people will appreciate the versatility of the Nintendo Switch. While you can play it just for a few minutes, it is still an ongoing game and you can pick up again where you left off in an instant no matter where you are. Of course we wouldn’t mind if people would remember the game as one of the first games they truly played on a TV as well as on a mobile platform.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the game?
Rabl: If the players are happy with the game and the farming community appreciates how their profession is represented by it, we’ve already reached our most important goals. If we can interest more people in what farming is all about, then even better. A lot of our developers also have a farming background so there is a lot of passion involved.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Rabl: After gamescom we will focus on the launch of the Nintendo Switch Edition and the Platinum Edition later this year. We’ve got a lot planned for the future of the series but I can’t share any details yet, so definitely stay tuned.
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