Upside Down Bird — Interview Series

In a bid to strengthen ties between its original Global Game Jam blueprint and a full-fledged PvP brawler, developer Upside Down Bird has decided to squeeze the throttle and bring the aptly titled Shroom Siege to consoles and PC. To learn a bit more about the upcoming multiplayer battler, I spoke with the folks over at UDB.

Thanks for speaking with us today! Before we slip into the world of Upside Down Bird, please could you tell us a bit about yourself? Who are you, and what inspired you to pursue the art of game development?

A: Upside Down Bird is a small indie studio in Charlotte founded by graduates of UNC Charlotte. But, before we were graduates, we were gamers. I think most of us dreamed of making games or content for games since we were kids and once we realized we had the tools to do that, the rest was history!

And what about Upside Down Bird? What brought the studio together, and what are some of the values that you aim to uphold as a team?

A: Two of the Upside Down Bird members met in college, and found a passion in making video games together. The rest of the team joined, while finding the passion of video game design, during various game jams over the past 10 years.

Tell us a bit about your upcoming game, Shroom Siege. What brought this idea to life, and what exactly can we expect to see come launch day?

A: Shroom Siege was made during the Global Game Jam 2023. The theme was “roots” and originally started with the idea to play as mushrooms that possess bugs. We had so much fun making it that we wanted to continue iterating on it with a stronger theme. On launch day you’ll be able to play with up to 8 friends cross-platform (including WebGL!!) in a 4v4 battler.

Let’s talk about the gameplay. What sorts of obstacles, foes, and challenges are we likely to encounter here?

A: A standard match in Shroom Siege consists of Minions, Beatles, Warriors, and Shoguns, all of which bring their unique role to your team. You will be jumping platforms, flying through openings, and pushing your way to 3 different victory types before the enemy can.

Apologies if we’re jumping the gun a little here, but are you able to offer any hints or tips for those who are looking to embark on their own quests come 2025?

A: Never stop. Take breaks but never stop. Game development is considered the ultimate amalgamation of several types of art – all of which takes passion and dedication. Other than that, have fun because games are meant to be fun!

We understand that Shroom Siege is requiring all hands on deck right about now, but are you able to tell us about any other projects that you may or may not have in the works?

A: We have a few games that were also made from Game Jam themes that we are considering revisiting. We are also considering revisiting Mariachi Undead, a rhythm cover shooter, but that hasn’t been decided yet.

After lots sleepless 🥱 nights, the 🍄Shroom Siege online multiplayer demo finally 🚀 launches on #Steam #gamedev #indiegame #indiedev #unity #madewithunity #team #brawler #Fights #indiegamedev #handdrawn #art #paintings #paint pic.twitter.com/ys2ZXBLjYM

— Upside Down Bird (@UpsideDownBird) August 6, 2024

We’d love to stay in the loop ahead of Shroom Siege’s global debut. Are we able to share any social channels, streams, or live events with our readers?

A: You can follow Shroom Siege on our Upside Down Bird’s social media accounts.  Such as Discord, Instagram, and Twitter (X). We love to engage with our community, and get feedback, helping bring our games to life.

Do you have any final words that you’d like to add before we close the book?

A: We have always appreciated the support from our friends and family, as well as the community we have built over the years.  We love working together, and to bring games alive that we came up with together.  We are excited for Shroom Siege, and look forward to sharing it at Pax West.

Thanks for your time!

For more information on Upside Down Bird’s Shroom Siege, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social channel here. Alternatively, you can visit the website for additional updates and coverage here.