Hoa brings a puzzle platform adventure to Xbox

Hello! My name is Paul Hartling, Head of Marketing at PM Studios, Inc., and I wanted to tell everyone flower, a puzzle platform adventure game just released today for Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One! flower is a puzzle platformer that follows the main character Hoa, who belongs to a fairy tribe who have the power to nourish flora and fauna. Sent away as a baby after a tragic event, Hoa has no memories of who she is or what happened. The game begins with Hoa returning to her homeland after many years. During the game she uses her magical powers to bring her home back to life and as she progresses she discovers more about herself and her past.

I sat down with Hoa’s own Game Director Son Tung and Art Director Son Tra from Skrollcat Studio to see what kind of emotional impact they were trying to achieve flower, and what her main source of inspiration was throughout the development.

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How would you describe your game to someone who is not that familiar with video games?

Son Tung: A very unusual walk in nature. * Exudes cuteness and magic *.

What drives you to develop further flower?

Son Tung: As individuals, we have always observed our surroundings. We are just as fascinated by nature as it is by people or magic. A lot can be learned with a keen eye and an open mind. We would like to pass on this fascination and appreciation for beauty and humanity flower, in the form of a creative, uplifting and meditative experience that people can really enjoy and maybe reflect. With this project we have every connection that a serious artist has to his work of art, along with these high expectations of ourselves.

Finally, making a game that is fun and beautiful at the same time isn’t easy, and we love difficult things.

What do you think you are doing flower stand out?

Son Tra: Apart from the meticulous attention to background graphics and animations, the special thing about our game is the childlike freedom that we took in imagining Hoa’s world and how it interacted with it. Plus, our bosses are pretty cool.

What inspired the game? Where did the idea come from and how did you know the idea would work as a game?

Son Tung: We’re both very observant and resourceful, which we think made every situation we found ourselves in a little more interesting. When the opportunity arose, we wanted to create something through which we could share the excitement and comfort we find in embracing curiosity, empathy, and imagination.

Son Tra: One of the great inspirations are the works of Hayao Miyazaki, not only the optics, but also the philosophy. In reality, the making of the game was more like a journey than a moment. When we finally more or less agreed on the direction of the game (the pace, the style, the story) we knew it could work because the looks lasted, the character is relatable, and the uplifting experience we planned have fun regardless of age and skill level.

What was one of the biggest challenges you had to solve during development?

Son Tung: We’re a young and inexperienced team, so there have been a lot of big challenges (laughs), but one big lesson we’ve learned is the importance of effective planning and time management.

What should players feel while playing? What emotional impact are you trying to create?

Son Tra: How you felt as a child. Hopefully, Hoa, as kind, curious, and lovable she is, will remind us of how we saw and explored the world when it was new, and perhaps we will find that the meaning we seek is within us from the start was.

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Join Hoa on her magical adventure on Xbox Series X | S and Xbox One today! Follow us at PM Studios Twitter and Youtube as.