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We spoke with Stathis Tsasakos, an award-winning indie game creator from UAegean, about his recent project "Coastal Goo" at the GameMaker Showcase. This game addresses environmental themes and seeks to combine relaxing gameplay with a meaningful message about environmental conservation. The story is set in the fictional Warmsand Coast, which is covered in a black sludge that transforms marine creatures into aggressive monsters. The player must guide the protagonist, Shippy, to restore the environment. The goal is to raise awareness about the impacts of coastal pollution, focusing on the effects of oil spills and chemical waste.

"Coastal Goo" is currently in the prototype testing phase (Alpha Demo) and available in Early Access. Stathis shares that, although the feedback has been mostly positive, constructive criticism from players has been essential for improving the game. Many appreciate the unique concept and new 2D visuals, but there have been important suggestions regarding control optimization and additional features. This feedback has guided the team in refining the game to enhance the player experience.

Creating the game’s mechanics was an interesting challenge. The protagonist, Shippy, is a small submarine robot, and the team worked hard to give players a realistic sense of controlling the character. Shippy accelerates and decelerates slowly, and if not controlled, it sinks to the bottom of the sea. Another significant challenge was developing the Rotating Rectangle Collision system, which required a lot of patience and repetitive testing to function correctly. These details are crucial for the game’s immersion and gameplay.

The graphics of "Coastal Goo" also received praise. The game employs a "Mixed Media" technique, combining traditional hand-drawn animation with modern computer animation. This process is time-consuming and requires skill, but the team is pleased with the results and the positive reception from players. This method represents an evolution from Blue Cupcake Games' previous titles, which used pixel art.

The inclusion of "Coastal Goo" in the GameMaker Showcase was a significant milestone for Blue Cupcake Games. GameMaker is a robust platform that allowed the team to implement high-quality visuals and complex mechanics efficiently. Stathis highlights the importance of the GameMaker community and development team, who are passionate about the creative possibilities the platform offers to indie creators. This support has been crucial to the success of "Coastal Goo" and other studio projects.