We recently went to PAX Aus 2024 and got the opportunity to talk to Martin Stradling Game Designer and Developer of Rita a cozy adventure where a little chicklet solves word-based puzzles to transform the world around her. Follow her story across generations, meet her grandchicklet, and play through what will become her legacy.

Kyle
What’s going on guys, we’re here at PAX Aws 2024, where I just got done playing Rita. We’re here with the game’s creator, Martin, and he’s just going to give us a little insight into the game. So Martin, would you like to give us just a little elevator pitch and rundown of what Rita is, how it plays.

Martin
Absolutely, uh, it’s best summarized as a puzzle adventure game, where the puzzles are primarily word based puzzles, as you would have seen, solving some crosswords, finding some words.

And the dynamic of that plays out in sort of a Metroidvania way, where you’ll be blocked off as you’re progressing. You might solve a word, and then a ladder or a ramp or something is available, and you can continue with the story. And the story is based around, um, uh, my relationship with my grandmother.

So the character is my, is my grandmother as a youngster. And then you’ll progress on and you’ll meet my character and the sort of the dynamic that the two have that kind of humor together. And yeah, the, the, you know, the, the relationship that you tend to have with your grandparents, that kind of thing.

Kyle
So is that always the plan to tell that story in a video game? Like what drew you to making this story a video game itself?

Martin
Yeah. Um, well, she’s not, no longer with us, which is, um, you know, very sad. It’s part of life, but then. When that happened I kind of needed to channel some energy into something and I made a little game jam with this kind of mechanic.

And it went kind of well and I didn’t think about it for much. And then I came to PAX last year and I saw all this stuff. And I was like, I’ve just got to get involved, I’ve got to do something. And yeah, I just hit the ground running with this mechanic.

Kyle
So what got you into game development in the first place?

Martin
Oh, Nintendo 64. Yeah.

Kyle
Favourite game?

Martin
Oh, it’s a tie. Banjo Kazooie, Ocarina of Time, Mario 64. Yeah, just playing Redo I can definitely tell there’s a lot of Banjo Kazooie in there.

Kyle
Are there any other influences?

Martin
Yeah, so the collect a thon stuff of Banjo, um, probably the vibe of a short hike if you played that, and maybe a bit tunic, that kind of feel. But yeah, short hike, uh, just being a short and sweet game.

Kyle
Alright, last question, because it’s very busy and a lot going on, so thank you for your time. Uh, if you had one piece of advice for anybody trying to get into game development, or wanted to come to PAX, show off their game, what would that be?

Martin
Yeah, just go for it, but, um, you know, perspiration over motivation.

Kyle
Awesome, well thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, head over to Steam right now, we’ll see you there. It’s awesome. Had a lot of fun. Thank you for joining us.

Martin
Thanks for having me.