Lumo is making its way to PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4, so we got in touch with developer Gareth Noyce to discuss this particular project.

PS3Blog: Hi! Thank you for joining us today. Could you please get us started by telling our readers a bit about yourself and your work?

Hi there! My name’s Gareth Noyce and I’ve been professionally developing games for about 13 years. Most of that time has been spent working in AAA, predominantly on Microsoft IP. I was also one of the co-founders of Ruffian games, who are based in Dundee, Scotland.

I left Ruffian 3 years ago, and Lumo is my first solo project.

 

PS3B: And that opens up the door for today’s talk about Lumo, a game you’re releasing on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita. What can you tell us about the game?

Lumo is an isometric arcade adventure game, similar in ilk to classics such as Head Over Heels, Monster Max, Solstice and Equinox.

While it’s not a remake of those games, it is a modern re-interpretation of the genre. It’s a type of game that’s been a little bit forgotten about, but it’s also a genre that I grew up playing on machines like the ZX Spectrum. Lumo’s my kinda love letter to those games and the people that made them.

PS3B: An isometric arcade adventure game in the 21st century… how 80’s of you! How big is the game? How long would it take your average gamer to complete the game?

There’re roughly 450 rooms, spread over four distinct zones with 6 hidden mini-games for you to unlock. The game has many, many secrets to find, from the coins required to gain access to the mini-games, to a series of cassettes to collect. The game is also split into two modes, the ‘adventure mode’ and ‘old school mode’ the latter of which is probably a bit more 80s.

None of the beta-testers have completed the game 100% and got all the achievements, so ‘completion’ times are going to vary wildly, depending how you define it. People will get to the ‘end’ in adventure mode, but a 100% completion run either game-mode is a significant challenge.

PS3B: Is the game a cross-buy release? If so, will it also support cross-save so that we can continue our gaming at home or on the go?

The game will be cross-buy and will support cross-save, but cross-save may come in a little later. That’s still being determined.

PS3B: What are some of the trophies players will be able to unlock during their journey with the game? Will Lumo include a Platinum trophy?

Lumo has a Platinum trophy, yes. I’ll give you a few of the trophy titles, but you’ll have to figure out how to get them:

– You Can’t Beat A Bit Of Bully
– Kiss Chase
– Zax On, Zax Off
– Cerny Method
– Kamikaze Bear
– Manic Mining

PS3B: Now that the game has been finished on your end, are you considering releasing some extra content as DLC for the game with new rooms and puzzles to keep things going?

Nothing I can confirm atm, sorry 🙂

PS3B: Thank you for your time. Would you like to add anything else before we go?

Thanks very much for your interest in Lumo. I can’t wait for your
readers to get their hands on it and I very much hope they enjoy it!