Overview
Our Mission
Publishing
Distribution
Marketing
The classic indie game "World of Goo" finally welcomes its long-awaited sequel! GSE is honored to present an exclusive interview with the developer 2DBOY of World of Goo™ 2. In this special opportunity, the producer Ron Carmel and designer Kyle Gabler will share on the game's lengthy development journey and insights from the creative process. Whether you're a newcomer or a patient long-time fan, this interview is packed with rich and fascinating content that you won't want to miss!
※ Please be aware of the fact that the following interview includes details of the game’s storyline.
【1】What makes the "World of Goo™" series unique compared to other physics-based games is its strong narrative elements. How did you conceive the idea of combining puzzle gameplay with storytelling?
2DBOY：In World of Goo, your goal is to get a bunch of Goo Balls slurped up out of the level and into an exit pipe. But not all of your Goo Balls will make it - you'll need to leave some behind. With their cute little faces and big wet eyes, it's easy to feel for the little creatures and cheer them on. They seem to be yearning for something, so we felt we had no choice but to build a strange little adventure for them!
【2】The "World of Goo™" series has maintained high popularity, attracting many new players even after sixteen years, with many old players revisiting the game. What factors do you think continue to attract players to experience this game?
2DBOY：We've heard players describe World of Goo like visiting an old friend, or an old home town that used to scare them a little. With World of Goo 2, we hope players feel welcomed back into a vaguely familiar world - but the world has grown, and aged, and changed in the last 16 years, just like everything else - and strange new species, new islands, and a new villain with a kind face have emerged in that time.
【3】During the development of "World of Goo™ 2", what specific creative elements or values did you insist on maintaining?
2DBOY：World of Goo is a dangerous place that existed long before you arrived and will go on existing long after you've left. That feeling of exploring an indifferent world that does not care about you is present in all of the World of Goo games. We've been described as neurotic.
【4】Besides the existing main maps like the drainage pipes, can you share some other "World of Goo™" game mechanics that you've considered?
2DBOY：Lots of distinct new species of Goo Ball have evolved. Basic Goo Balls have two arms, which you can connect to other Goo Balls and build structures. But once they're attached, you can never pull them apart again. Luckily there are also 3-armed Ivy Goo Balls that you can detach and reattach as many times as you like. There are lighter-than-air Balloon Goo Balls, which can help make your structures float.
World of Goo 2 introduces liquid which you can divert and cause to flow around the level. You can convert liquid into Goo Balls, or crush Goo Balls back into liquid. There are Conduit Goo Balls that can suck up liquid and pump it to new locations. Thruster Goo Balls burn liquid and produce thrust, like a rocket. Grow Balls and Shrink Balls grow or shrink when they get wet. There's a whole diverse ecosystem of interacting Goo Ball abilities that brave adventurers might explore.
【5】Many people praise the soundtrack you created for the game, which brings a unique atmosphere to each chapter. Can you elaborate on the inspiration for the music and sound design? Were there any things interesting during the creative process?
2DBOY：The World of Goo 2 soundtrack was teamwork! Usually, I write and record all the weird music myself, but World of Goo 2 needed too much music for one meagre human. So, I collaborated with our multi-talented new friend of the team Jonny Trengrove. Our goal was to reinterpret the themes from the first game's soundtrack into music more fitting of the evolved world that players visit in World of Goo 2.
We tried a lot of different approaches, before discovering what we call a "junk drawer" aesthetic. We wanted the music to feel like it was assembled by sounds you might make by banging together sticks, and plucking pieces of string, and blowing through a hose - stuff you might find in junk drawers in your house or garage. We wanted rough aged edges, not too slick, just like the hand-crafted duct-taped together World of Goo.
Jonny plays guitars and a bunch of other instruments, and he's a whiz with synthesizers. He came up with unique takes on songs that I would never have arrived at on my own. For example, his restrained slightly metal take on "Best of Times" was not where I would have gone at all, but it worked great and gave the accompanying scenes a more dangerous feel that I love.
Jonny in Europe and me in the Pacific meant that our time zones were almost exactly opposite each other. So, we'd check our work into version control and take turns when the sun was up in our own time zone. I think it worked pretty well, like an asynchronous old man band. You can find more of Jonny's fabulous music on his site: https://jonnytrengrove.com
【6】One of the most impressive scenes in "World of Goo™ 2" is the pixel art style plot in the fourth chapter. What inspired your decision to design the level this way?
2DBOY：It's a bit of a spoiler, but in Chapter 4, you zoom ahead 200,000 years and you find that the world has changed even further. In all that time, the developers kept making sequels to World of Goo, and you get to play several of these game-within-a-game sequels in this chapter, like "Paper Goolf", and "This Way Up" where you manipulate gravity. One of the other sequels is "World of Goo 17: The Black Stain".
"The Black Stain" is a 90's style pixel art adventure game set within a film noir detective story - about feuding power companies, an incompetent detective, a mysterious floor cleaner... and murder! It seems the developers of World of Goo, after too many sequels, departed from physics gameplay and decided to make a point and click adventure. Those who are familiar with our games might notice that we're flamboyantly making fun of ourselves.
【7】The fourth chapter of "World of Goo™ 2" showcases content from multiple series sequels. Besides these presented concepts, do you have any other unused sequel ideas? Would you like to briefly share the content of these ideas?
2DBOY：We'll have to wait and see what other tragic and horrifying and wonderful sequels the developers have in store for us!
【8】Being one of the successful independent game developers, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing indie games in the current gaming industry? What important values have driven the success of the "World of Goo™" series?
2DBOY：I feel unqualified to presume I have any idea how the games market is working these days. Every time we release a game, we lovingly put in into stores - and then wave our hands in the air, run back and forth, and scream like we're on fire. That's our marketing strategy.
【9】After players complete the "World of Goo™ 2", what kind of experience or insights do you hope they will gain from the gameplay?
2DBOY：I hope players of World of Goo 2 will look through that big telescope and notice that no matter how big a tower you've built, or how important it seems - when you zoom out far enough, and after enough time, it's just a tiny spec in the distance.
It's like little post-it note reminder stuck on my monitor to chill out. (Is it working? No.)
【10】Will there be hidden Easter eggs in the game?
2DBOY：We better start searching!
【11】Are there any plans to release DLC content in the future?
2DBOY：We'll listen to players and see what they think.
【12】World of Goo™ 2 is about to launch an Asian physical version for Nintendo Switch™. Do you have any words for the long-awaiting players?
2DBOY：We hope players love hanging out in this strange and dangerous world as much as we have!
【《World of Goo™ 2》Story Overview】
Fifteen years flew by in a flash, and our lovable "Goo" balls popped up again through some earthquake cracks! The formerly bankrupt World of Goo Corporation has made a comeback, rebranding itself as the "World of Goo Organization." This self-proclaimed eco-friendly institution has resumed its Goo ball collecting activities. One day, they lowered a hook into the water, aiming at a giant creature. This creature grabbed the hook and surfaced, immediately shooting a burst of flame towards space.
100,000 years later, an observer from a distant planet was drawn to that flame. Silently, through a telescope, he watched everything unfolding on that faraway world...
【Introduction to the 《World of Goo™ 》 Series】
Welcome to The World of Goo™!
After a sixteen-year hiatus, the independent game "World of Goo™" by the small-scaled studio 2DBOY is back with its sequel "World of Goo™ 2," set to make a strong return to the Nintendo Switch™ platform on November 28, 2024. This once immensely popular game received high praise from numerous media and garnered multiple accolades, including a high score of 9.5 from IGN, as well as the Design Innovation Award and Technical Excellence Award at the 2008 Independent Games Festival (IGF) in the United States.
This innovative puzzle adventure game cleverly combines principles of physics and fluid simulation, challenging players' spatial thinking and problem-solving abilities. Players need to manipulate the sticky and wondrous creatures called "Goo" to flexibly construct various complex structures, such as bridges and towers. The game continues the unique and distinctive art style of its predecessor, paired with touching original music, bringing players an ultimate gaming experience. The plot unfolds gradually through various cutscenes and signpost content within the game, allowing players to slowly uncover the mysteries of this gooey world. Players will experience four seasons, encountering different and new Goo balls in each season!
What appears on the surface to be an ordinary and simple building game actually contains profound meaning, continuing the clever satire of its predecessor on corporate greenwashing and commercialized environmentalism, skillfully integrating real social issues into the game.
Official Website and social media Pages
Please follow our Facebook / Instagram Page and official website to receive the latest information. Please follow our Facebook / Instagram Page and official website to receive the latest information.
Official flagship store landed on HKTVmall!
GSE's official flagship store has landed on the HKTVmall website and mobile application! The store offers a wide range of Nintendo Switch™ and PlayStation® physical games exclusively distributed by GSE, Xbox Series game consoles, various game accessories, and gaming peripherals. Customers can also pre-order upcoming new games on HKTVmall, enjoying the most comprehensive, convenient, and fast shopping experience. The HKTVmall flagship store will launch exclusive promotions from time to time, including discounts and surprise gifts. Please stay tuned to GSE's official Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates!
About Game Source Entertainment
Game Source Entertainment (GSE) is one of the leading console game distributors in Asia which also an authorized publisher of Sony Interactive Entertainment and Nintendo Co., LTD. Gift Card partner of Google Inc. and Apple Inc.
Please follow our Facebook / Instagram Page and official website to receive the latest
information.
GSE Official Website: https://asia.hkgse.com/en
GSE Official HKTVmall flagship store:https://www.hktvmall.com/s/H9485001
GSE Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gsehktw
GSE Official Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/gse_hktw/
GSE Official YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/GAMESOURCEENTERTAINMENT
GSE Official Weibo Page: https://www.weibo.com/hkgse
GSE Official Weibo Public Account: HK_GSE
Product Information
Title：World of Goo™ 2
Developer： 2DBOY
Asia and Japan Publisher： Game Source Entertainment
Genre： Multiplayer Puzzle Adventure
Platform： Nintendo Switch™
Players：【Offline（TV/Tabletop mode）】1－4
【Offline（Handheld mode）】1
Game Release Date：28 November 2024
Rating：6+
Suggested Game Retail Price：HKD $238／NTD $1090
Subtitle：English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Latin American Spanish
Copyright：© 2024 2DBOY. Licensed to and published by Game Source Entertainment in Japan and Asia.
