Queer Man Peering Into a Rockpool.jpg explores the unreliability of memory
This interview is part of our Road to the IGF series. The IGF (Independent Games Festival) aims to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize independent game developers advancing the medium. Every year, Game Developer sits down with the finalists for the IGF ahead of GDC to explore the themes, design decisions, and tools behind each entry.
Queer Man Peering Into a Rockpool.jpg (QMP) sees a middle-aged man collecting sparkly memories in a broken world to furnish his house.
Scott Ford and Pete Foley, creators of the Nuovo Award-nominated game, took some time to talk with Game Developer about designing a game that encouraged players to slow down and appreciate what's around them and what drew them to explore how our memories tend to reshape things.
Who are you, and what was your role in developing Queer Man Peering Into a Rockpool.jpg ?
Hello! We are Scott Ford and Pete Foley, and we did pretty much everything on Queer Man Peering Into a Rock Pool.jpg (Except for the music and Pingu voice).
What's your background in making games?
Ford: We started in late 2019, so we are still games developer babies, but we both come from animation, illustration, and film backgrounds. Pete has been a commercial animator for 15+ years and I have been doing it for about 7 years now. That has helped.
How did you come up with the concept for Queer Man Peering Into a Rockpool.jpg ?
Ford: During COVID-19 we had a very regular morning walk routine. I think it started there. Pete was playing Animal Crossing then, too, and that also has a lot of calming routines. I particularly liked watching him pick up things on the beach. Sydney has gorgeous rock pools that I have always loved, so I put them together. That
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