Seb Fehr, Founder & CEO of Actuator Digital — Interview Series

Actuator Digital, an independent studio based in Brisbane, Australia, is currently gearing up to launch its brand-new VR lightgun shooter, On Point. To learn a bit more about it, as well as gather a few useful tips and tricks ahead of its global debut, we decided to reach out to founder and CEO Seb Fehr.

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us! Before we explore the world of On Point, tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you, and what brought you to this field in the gaming industry?

Seb: I’ve always wanted to make games. Seven years ago, some friends and I started Actuator to do just that. We’ve taken on various game dev and software dev contracts, using our skills to earn enough money to take a shot at making our own game. That’s On Point; our first venture into creating a game of our own, rather than just working behind the scenes for the studios we contract with. If it succeeds, could be the start of a life-long dream come true for the team; making a living, creating our own games.

Let’s talk about your upcoming light gun VR shooter, On Point. Where did this idea stem from?

Seb: On Point is a vibrant VR lightgun shooter, an homage to the lightgun games I grew up playing in the arcade. Imagine Warioware meets VR shooting. You have to think, aim, and blast to compete with friends for a high score through heaps of classic arcade-inspired shooting minigames. On Point has always been my favorite game at the local retro arcade. For a time the machine there was broken, and I was getting into VR development with a prototype (then called “Trick Shot”). There was nothing out there like Point Blank for VR, so since the whole team wanted to make a game, we all floated ideas, and this one came out on top.

Are we right in thinking that On Point also boasts 90 mini-games, too? Could you tell us a bit more about what we can expect to find in this vast collection?

Seb: We made On Point with a modular minigame system in it. We wanted it to be as expandable as possible, so that we could keep adding new games as long as the game kept doing well. There are currently 30 minigames, that play differently in the different difficulty groups, for a total of 90 games you can compete on. Internally we have a list of minigames we want to make, much larger than the ones that are in the game right now. We can’t wait to see what kind of games our audience wants and expand that list, and really want to keep adding heaps more games in early access.

We're thrilled to announce the official Early Access date for On Point: August 7!

Check out our announcement trailer! 🎯💣💥 pic.twitter.com/Nauvr1K88c

— On Point 🎯 EA Launch Coming Soon! (@OnPointVR) July 17, 2024

Tell us about the art style that you’ve chosen to use for On Point. What’s the story behind the vibrant colors and candy-popping set pieces?

Seb: We wanted to make a VR game that anyone could play. We feel that the easiest and most enjoyable thing you can do in VR is point and squeeze the trigger on the controller. It’s intuitive and simple, even for younger players and first time users. All the shooting games on VR are violent though, and we wanted to create a more carnival-like experience for those types of players, and this was the art style we created to achieve that, by paying homage to the vibrant aesthetic you so often find in the arcade.

We’d love to hear a few quick tips on how to master the shooting gallery. Do you have any words of advice for those who are seeking to get into the game?

Seb: There’s a trick to every minigame. The more times you play the levels, the more you discover. Sometimes it’s a eureka moment, where you discover something hidden, sometimes it’s getting good at solving the puzzles, and in some levels you just need to get good through practice. Like in the arcade, on point is designed to be fun to play over and over.. only without spending all your quarters.

On Point cast aside for a moment, do you guys have your sights set on any other projects at the moment? Apologies if we’re jumping the gun a bit here!

Seb: Actuator actually shelved a much bigger open world game (working title “Hex”), so that we could focus on a game with a smaller scope, which turned into On Point. We’d love to return to Hex one day.

In the short term we’re prototyping a concept for a single player PC horror game “Dropbear”. 5 influencer friends filming a camping sponsorship are being hunted through the night by a deadly dropbear, and need to survive till morning.

We’re working on some big projects with other studios that we’ll be able to talk about once they’re released. 

So, is there a way for us to stay up to date with On Point and all things Actuator Digital? Are there any important social feeds, channels, or streams that we can browse for additional updates ahead of the game’s debut?

Seb: Join our community on Discord to stay tuned with the latest updates. We’re also on Twitter, and TikTok. You can find all the links on www.onpoint.game.

Any final words for our readers?

Seb: If you love VR, and think it’s time to bring back those classic lightgun shooters, give On Point a shot!

Thanks for your time, and all the best to you and everyone at Actuator Digital!

Seb: Thank you for the interview.

For more information on Actuator Digital’s upcoming game releases, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here. Alternatively, you can visit the Actuator Digital website for additional updates here.