It isn’t every day that you get the chance to have blast playing a hit iOS game, and also get the chance to drill its designer with questions about it! We were fortunate to be able to do exactly that with Philip Williams, the designer of Draw a Stickman: EPIC.
Tell us a little about yourself!
Phil: I work at Hitcents as the designer of Draw a Stickman: EPIC. Hitcents use to be primarily focused on web design and software development. A few years ago, we came up with an idea for a website where users could draw a stickman and then bring him to life.
The website was so successful that it literally changed everything. We soon turned the stickman concept into a series of games. We now have an entire game development department at Hitcents. It’s been a really exciting journey!
What is Draw a Stickman: Epic?
Phil: It’s a game where you draw items and tools to solve puzzles. It has some similarities to the old Sierra adventure games, but the drawing interface gives a whole new kind of creative control. You walk your stickman around a large world, drawing objects to overcome obstacles. On each level, you have one or more magic pencils, giving you the ability to draw various elements or tools. For example, you might draw a key to open a locked gate or a rain cloud to grow a plant. The game combines exploration, puzzles solving, and action to create an “epic” adventure.
What age group is the game designed for?
Phil: We designed Epic mostly targeting adults, but we wanted it to still be accessible to kids. The game has attracted a really interesting mix of ages. We received a message from a dad who said this was the first game that he and his son were both equally as excited to play.
What was your primary design goal when you began to develop Draw a Stickman: Epic?
Phil: Our primary goal was to give users a creative gaming experience that would be unlike any game they had played before. Epic is all about manipulating your environment with drawings. Through the hand-drawn art style, the levels full of surprising twists, and most of all, the unique drawing interface, we achieved a very creative gaming experience.
How does the adventure mode work?
Phil: The game begins with you drawing a stickman. He gets lonely and asks you to draw him a friend. The friend soon gets kidnapped by an evil book. You spend the rest of the game trying to rescue your friend in a hand-drawn world full of surprises and dangers.
The main game is made up of levels connected by branching paths. As you explore a level, you solve puzzles to uncover an exit leading you to the next level. The game is somewhat non-linear, in that you can take multiple routes through the adventure.
The game has seen a lot of success on mobile platforms, but what makes the PC version stand out?
Phil: Epic has been very successful on iOS and Android devices, but we’ve found that the people who enjoy it the most are not your typical mobile gamers. Many of the puzzles and secrets in Draw a Stickman: EPIC are pretty complex and involved. We’ve found that many times users of mobile devices are casual gamers while PC gamers tend to be a lot more serious. I think PC gamers are going to really dive into Epic and unearth some of our more buried secrets.
Any big plans for the future of Draw a Stickman: Epic?
Phil: We have a big update coming out soon with some really exciting new features. We’ve hidden collectable colors throughout the game. Players will solve additional puzzles to find these hidden colors. The colors will give added creative freedom when drawing your stickman. We’re also implemented some additional add-ons such as an armor pencil!
We’ve received a lot of great feedback from our fans. It’s exciting to continue to grow the game!
Thanks Phil!