We had a chat with the team behind Dumativa Studio and talked about their games and the video game industry.
Azfar Rayan: Hello! How about sharing a bit about the studio and the team behind it?
Dumativa: Dumativa is an indie Brazilian developer focused on producing unique experiences with fresh mechanics, putting together music, narrative, and 2D and 3D arts. It’s the developer behind Songs For a Hero: Definitive Edition and Enigma of Fear. We started out as a band, but soon realized that our love of games could envelop our love of music as well, that’s why our team is very diverse and we also create a special and personalized song for each game.
Azfar Rayan: How did you get involved with making video games, and what motivated you to form Dumativa?
Dumativa: We wanted to combine good music with amazing games, and we know how Brazil can offer this quality in games. We saw an opportunity to develop the Songs For a Hero game, which has the dynamic music mechanic as a feature that combines voice and music in different ways during gameplay, with the aim of offering a unique music experience. Songs for a Hero was a success, and for that reason, our team got bigger and more involved in making games with different mechanics and original soundtracks, which add an extra touch to each game.
Azfar Rayan: What motivated you to make games with a mix of retro aesthetics with mechanic innovations?
Dumativa: We grew up playing SONIC, Mario, and Wonder Boy, and we also saw Disney musicals. We realized that it’s possible to bring back that nostalgia of old games with the technology we have access to today.
Azfar Rayan: Did you find it challenging when you started making your first game, Songs for a Hero? How did you cope with them?
Answer: The biggest challenge with Songs for a Hero was that we had to invent a lot of things because of the need to bring together the musical mechanics and walk of the hero. There were so many different areas to integrate in a single process.
There was no point in having musicians, writers, artists, programmers, and everyone on the team without the integration to make all these elements work. Every process that was created took these areas into account, including how they should communicate with each other. Today, we have our format and dominate, but getting to that point was very costly for us.
All areas have to ensure that the dynamic musical mechanics work. If one area fails, all the work will fail, too. Everything is connected. The choice of instruments and arrangements, as the choice of the right phonemes and lyric metrics, impacts how we are going to assemble a Level.
Azfar Rayan: How did your team react when Songs for a Hero got Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam? Did the reviews inspire the team to make a Definitive Edition?
Dumativa: We worked so hard for that; we read all the reviews and considered them. We improved the game, and we are expecting positive reviews. We worked with all our hearts on this game, and it was a challenge in development to implement this type of mechanic in the game. We are happy that there are positive reviews nowadays.
The community received the game so well and loved it so much that we were able to crowdfund Songs for a Hero 2, which was one of the biggest crowdfunding campaigns for games in Brazil. Now, with a new hero, new world, and challenges (which will be released in 2024), it is even more beautiful.
Azfar Rayan: How did the making of Shieldmaiden start? Tell us what makes Shieldmaiden: Remix Edition special. Has the length of the game been extended?
Dumativa: Shieldmaiden has music as one of his great inspirations, so the soundtrack is very remarkable and remembers classical music with the electronic genre Synthwave. Initially, the game was the idea of one of the members of the Dumativa team, Daniel Ximenes, who wanted to create an engaging narrative that dealt with the strength of a girl fighting against the gods amidst the chaos of the end of the world in order to be able to find her sister.
The initial idea was modified a little, but the game kept the more sentimental footprint and the engaging soundtrack. One of his main initial inspirations was also the Megaman game, which remained until the end.
The remix version introduces new content, revises and expands the narrative, and increases the levels.
Azfar Rayan: Did the success of Songs for a Hero make the team stick to 2D Platforming for Shieldmaiden? Do you plan to make more games like this?
Dumativa: Yes, even Songs For a Hero has a sequel that will be released in 2024. It’s Songs for a Hero 2: The March of Malachi, a 2D platform game that amplifies the musical mechanics of its precursor.
Azfar Rayan: When you thought of making this game, did you find individuals to join the team, or did you hire people to execute your plans?
Dumativa: Dumativa started with a certain number of team-fixed members and has expanded since then. We expand the team according to the needs of the projects, and we work together, prioritizing the pipeline established at the beginning of production. We also look to our team members as important individuals, and we do our best to make a career for them inside our company.
Azfar Rayan: Enigma of Fear is about mysterious and challenging puzzles. There are plenty of games in this genre. Why do you think the genre fans should play it?
Dumativa: Enigma of Fear combines 3D elements with 2D-pixel art to create a unique and innovative atmosphere. It features an open and non-linear area that allows the player to experience real immersion as a true detective, with challenging puzzles and riddles. In addition, it has an excellent voice-acting cast, with the best actors in Brazil. This game is a full plate for lovers of the genre.
Azfar Rayan: Do you have any mentors or people from your past who inspired you to get involved in this project?
Dumativa: Several people have been very important in inspiring us throughout these years of working with games, especially our partners Marcos Castro and Cellbit, who came up with the initial idea for the game Songs for a Hero and Enigma of Fear, respectively. Also, as our community is so involved with us, the affection they give to all our games is really important. Our team has been working together for over 10 years, and with so much talent, bringing new experiences is what makes the difference, too.
Azfar Rayan: In addition to the Steam and console launches, do you plan to publish the game on mobile devices?
Dumativa: For Shieldmaiden, we don’t plan a release for mobile, just consoles. But we have more games in development that will be available for mobile.
Azfar Rayan: What else are you up to when you are not making or playing gaming? What are your hobbies and interests?
Dumativa: Of course, music is very important to us. We love to create music and play just for fun. Our team has a gift to create names and nicknames for everything.
Azfar Rayan: So, what does the future hold for Dumativa, and what can we expect soon?
Dumativa: We hope to keep making amazing games and grow in the international market. You can expect more games, different games. This year, we will have some launches, such as Rasek, a mobile MMORPG in pixel art, which will be released in 2024 and with great inspirations from the classic game Tíbia. In Rasek, each player will create their character in a world shared with other players and will be able to set up guilds, choose between several classes, create builds, face enemies and colossal bosses, and play with their friends or against other players.
Enigma of Fear is an exploration and mystery game directed by Rafael Lange (Cellbit), a Brazilian Streamer with one of the largest gaming communities in Brazil. The game’s aesthetic unites pixel art with 3D scenarios, puzzles, investigation, and combat against monsters in a non-linear map.
Azfar Rayan: Anything for your fans at GamesCreed?
Dumativa: We just want to thank you for all the opportunities, and we really appreciate all the love that people give to our games. If you want to know more about us, you can join our Discord at https://discord.gg/dumativa or send us an email to press(at)dumativa.com.br
Many thanks to Dumativa for taking the time to answer my questions and do the interview with us. We wish them the best with their games and future projects. Follow Dumativa on their website to keep up with them.
Dumativa is also giving away five Xbox copies of Shieldmaiden: Remix Edition. Hurry and claim a copy for yourself.
