Our team members love creating amazing experiences. Most of their time is spent creating content for our studio. However, most developers want the freedom to create games for themselves, which we have dubbed their “side hustles”. At Schell Games, we not only allow our team members to create content outside of the studio, but we also like to recommend these fun experiences as an addition to your game library!
In this first edition of our side hustle series, we’re highlighting arcade games. Whether they’re a puzzle, card, or thematic experience, all of these games center around classic arcade games.
RADICAL SOLITAIRE
PC | Card Game
Mike Traficante, our Senior Engineering Manager, designed and developed Radical Solitaire. A former Schell Games Audio Intern, Kei Matsuo, worked on the sound effects for the game. This card game is solitaire, but with retro graphics, killer sound effects, and pong!
“I wanted to make it because I love Solitaire but find it frustrating that sometimes you get a deal that is simply impossible to win. When I play with physical cards I just cheat when I’m blocked. I’ve always thought about making a solitaire game that would let you cheat, since I prefer playing video game solitaire… Who wants to shuffle and deal? Who even has a table that big? It occured to me to make a little pong game to let me cheat.”
Description:
Take a trip back to 1982 and waste a little time with Radical Solitaire. You can GET RAD and swap a card with any face-down card any time you want. It’s not always easy, but it’s always winnable… unlike regular boring loser solitaire like your dad plays. It’s currently available for PC, Mac OS, and Linux on Steam and itch.io.
A TOFU TAIL
PC | Puzzle
Advanced Engineer Ryan Brolley worked on A Tofu Tail, a puzzle game exploring colorful worlds with tricky challenges by Alchemedium.
“This was the first game that our team started making years ago, and was the first game that most of us completed and published. It started as a learning project, but turned into an experience in worlds with characters and puzzles that we grew to love!”
Description:
A deceptive fox spirit, known as the Kitsune, has turned you into tofu. Now you must explore the surreal and colorful realms of the foxes and solve their puzzles. Absorb new flavors, solve over 100 puzzles, and break the tofu curse! The game is currently available for PC and the team is planning on releasing a big achievement and lore content update soon.
ARCADE SPIRITS
PC, Console | Role-Playing, Visual Novel
Game Artist Greg Mirles worked on the soundtrack for Arcade Spirits, a romantic visual novel by Fiction Factory Games.
“This is the first game I’ve worked on to get a physical release and the first game I ever wrote any music for!”
Description:
You’ve just started a new job at the Funplex game arcade, a popular arcade and home to a host of unique personalities and customers. It’s the year 20XX and you’re in an alternate timeline where the 1983 video game crash never occurred. Everything you choose, from your relationships to your personality, your crisis management, and so on will have an effect on the future of your arcade! Who will you meet along the way? Will you find the romance you’re seeking? It’s currently available on PC, but the team has plans to port to PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and also make a physical box release.