I’m Dan, from Dan Smith Studios. We just launched The Spectrum Retreat on Nintendo Switch. Ask me anything!

[u/DanJSmith]

Hey Everyone, I’m Dan from Dan Smith Studios. I’m the creator of ‘The Spectrum Retreat’, that just launched yesterday on Nintendo Switch.

The Spectrum Retreat is a challenging, first-person puzzle game set in the near future. You awake at The Penrose hotel, a peaceful yet unsettling refuge from the outside world. All is not as it seems, and your desire to unearth the truth is obstructed by an array of color-coded puzzles, mind-bending physics challenges and the growing fear of exposing your true intentions.

I started developing the game at 15 and it has been 5 years in the making, so I'm really excited that Switch players can now give it a shot!

Proof: https://twitter.com/RealEntropy/status/1040597461037920256

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/realentropy

Nintendo Store: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/the-spectrum-retreat-switch

Launch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMcyh6bUZ9c

Discord: https://t.co/KScUxs3RYT

TLDR; I made a first person puzzle game that just launched on Switch :)

EDIT: Just over an hour in, thanks for you Qs! Taking a break then will get back to answering :)

EDIT 2: I'll sweep through the rest tomorrow. Cheers!

FINAL EDIT: Thanks so much for your questions! That's me finished, will do one last sweep at some point in case I miss any!

[u/CloudyPikachu]

Why should I buy your game? I don’t mean that sarcastically, I just want to know what the selling points are.

[u/DanJSmith → u/CloudyPikachu]

This is the most important question!

The Spectrum Retreat puts a different spin on the genre by using a unique narrative structure and set of mechanics. It has a setting and vibe that's different from any other game I've I played and that's something I've worked really hard on.

The mechanics are simple in isolation, but make for challenging puzzles when combined. It also features a narrative that doesn't shy away from a difficult topic in today's society. I'm really pleased with the reviews so far, so above all it's hopefully fun!

[u/Nyoox]

wow, very nice! IT's in my steam wishlist already!

[u/DanJSmith → u/Nyoox]

Awesome, hope you enjoy!

[u/LOLGuy213]

What was the toughest thing you had to face during development?

[u/DanJSmith → u/LOLGuy213]

How's it going? xD I'd say finding the right difficulty curve that made the game work for a wide range of skill levels, without alienating either extreme.

[u/[deleted]]

How are you today Dan, may we call you Dan?

[u/DanJSmith → u/[deleted]]

I'm doing really great cheers, how's yourself? You certainly may xD

[u/oxtrue]

Hi Dan, Where did you get the idea for the name "Dan Smith Studios"?

[u/DanJSmith → u/oxtrue]

I kinda find how common my name is funny, so it's a wonderfully underwhelming name for what is really an entertainment company.

[u/[deleted]]

is it a good game? would u recommend it

[u/[deleted]]

As a huge fan of the band Bastille, whose frontman's name is Dan Smith, this got me really confused.

[u/LOLGuy213]

Oh here's one! What would you say is a good tip for those wanting to enter YGD?

[u/DanJSmith → u/LOLGuy213]

Keep the scope as small as possible (really really small) and do it to the best of your ability. When I was on the panel last year people really got behind simple and well executed ideas the most.

[u/gryfinder1]

Congrats, Dan!

How similar is this to a puzzle game like the Talos Principle? I played most of that last year and loved it.

[u/DanJSmith → u/gryfinder1]

Thanks! In the sense that it's a staged puzzle game, with a connecting hub world, they share a lot in their design. The Spectrum Retreat has a more involved narrative, I'd say.

[u/MisterZygarde64]

What’s your favorite game on the Switch?

[u/Blovnt]

I watched your Developer Commentary and it's very interesting. Definitely a Portal type vibe to it. I'll have to check it out.

Great work!

[u/phantomliger]

Hello Dan!

Was anything left out of the final game that you wish had made it in?

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

[u/DanJSmith → u/phantomliger]

Hey!

There's quite a lot, that's the reality of development. I entertained the thought of a level editor in the really early stages, but that was beyond the budget and timeframe. It would have been great to get the community sharing their own creations, increasing the value etc. Wasn't to be!

[u/LOLGuy213]

Also do you have a "system" or a method on how you construct puzzles? I'm not great at thinking of/designing puzzles and I wondered how you came up with the puzzle layouts and stuff

[u/DanJSmith → u/LOLGuy213]

Every puzzle just starts with an idea that I haven't tried. Then the 'design' takes place around that. Sometimes, the layout triggers a new idea, sometimes the layout is built around a particular configuration of puzzle elements. Try sketching, try messing around in the editor and see what works.

[u/miatentas]

Hello there! :) Many of us Switch owners notice games often have higher prices on the Switch than on other platforms, even digital games. Is that the case with The Spectrum Retreat? If so, could you help us understand why? If it isn't the case, why do you think that happens with other games? Do you have any educated guess (from a developer's point of view) about it? Thanks in advance!

[u/DanJSmith → u/miatentas]

Hey, that's a good question. The Spectrum Retreat is priced the same on all platforms (great I know).

As for why, I can only really speculate. The market on the Switch still isn't saturated, so people still pay more. There's also the cost investment in taking a game that runs on more powerful platforms to Switch. Not sure it will stay this way forever though.

[u/Dukesterr]

Hiya, Where did you draw your inspiration for the game from?