In a recent interview, Diego Lenero, founder and studio director of Magic Games, shared the creative journey and challenges behind Duck Paradox, an indie game making waves with its unique blend of humor, adventure, and challenging gameplay. Here’s a closer look at how this concept came to life, the development hurdles, and what’s next for Magic Games.
The Birth of Duck Paradox
Duck Paradox was born during a game jam in 2022. “The theme was ‘Adventure,’ so we thought, ‘we can do pretty much anything we want!’” says Lenero. He and his friends brainstormed scenarios involving rescuing and returning objects, quickly evolving into a story of a scientist and her pet duck, aptly named Dr. Paraducks, breaking through space-time. “Ducks are just so cool,” Lenero adds, explaining how they chose a duck as the unlikely hero. This whimsical origin set the foundation for Duck Paradox, a game blending humor and science fiction in an unexpected adventure.
Overcoming Development Challenges
Balancing difficulty proved to be one of the biggest obstacles in developing Duck Paradox. As Lenero explains, “When you play your game too much, you get too good at it, making it harder to gauge the real difficulty for new players.” To address this, the team created an “easy” path for average players while layering complexities for advanced ones. This approach required extensive playtesting to ensure that players of all skill levels could enjoy the game.
A Journey from Passion Project to Published Game
What started as a passion project in 2022 turned into a full-fledged game by early 2024, thanks to a partnership with Midwest Games. The publisher offered essential resources that helped bring Lenero’s vision to life, transitioning Duck Paradox from a university project into a commercially viable game.
The Joy of Watching Players React
For Lenero, one of the most rewarding aspects of game development is watching people experience Duck Paradox. “Seeing them rage and enjoy the thrill of this brutal little game!” he says, reflecting on the joy of witnessing players’ emotions—whether in frustration or delight. This raw feedback loop allows Lenero to continuously refine his work, making adjustments that enhance the gameplay experience.
What’s Next for Magic Games?
With the success of Duck Paradox, fans are eager to know what’s coming next. Lenero hints that while Magic Games has ambitious ideas, they’re not interested in following trends. “You can expect our next game to be something completely different,” he shares. But for fans of Dr. Paraducks and her companion Quark, there’s good news—they’re not done just yet. More adventures await these quirky characters, adding an extra layer of excitement for Magic Games’ future.
Creating a Music Video to Celebrate Dr. Paraducks
To celebrate the game, Magic Games collaborated with Midwest Games on an original music video. Inspired by Dr. Paraducks’ unstoppable spirit, Midwest Games’ Head of Production, Chris Klimecky, composed a catchy song that perfectly captured the essence of the quirky character. This song resonated so strongly with the team that they decided to produce a full music video, adding another unique element to Duck Paradox’s growing legacy.
Advice for Aspiring Indie Game Developers
As Magic Games’ first title, Duck Paradox taught Lenero valuable lessons that he now shares with other indie developers. “Start small, and put your work out there,” he advises. Testing a rough version of the game with friends and strangers allows developers to gather honest feedback, helping to shape the game into something memorable. Lenero emphasizes the importance of listening to feedback objectively and maintaining the core vision, even if some critiques are challenging. For instance, while some players found it frustrating that their own bullets could harm them in Duck Paradox, Lenero retained this feature to preserve the intended tension, instead adding tools for players to manage the difficulty.
Lenero’s philosophy boils down to this: aim to finish a game, even if it’s not perfect, and learn from each experience to make the next project even better.
From its playful origins to its challenging gameplay, Duck Paradox is a testament to Magic Games’ commitment to creativity and innovation. With more unique projects in the pipeline, fans can expect this indie studio to continue pushing the boundaries of game design.
Duck Paradox on Steam
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