AppSir Games, the developers of the hugely successful DERE EVIL EXE horror game have confirmed their latest release is none other than a physical game on Nintendo Game Boy.
AppSir Games has teamed up with Limited Run Games to bring one of their most surreal retro games releases to Nintendo Game Boy: PHOBOS DERE .GB.
After uncovering a GameBoy cartridge haunted by a malignant force, a guilt-ridden scientist involved in sinister experiments must face his fears and relive the terrifying nightmares of his past.
Phobos Dere. GB, AppSir Games, via limitedrungames.com
With the exciting news that part of the DERE Series will make its way into the hands of AppSir Games fans, as well as many eager retro collectors, we reached out to AppSir Games in honour of the launch, and to see how they feel about releasing a Game Boy Game.
AppSir were kind enough to answer a few questions and give AppSir fans a little insight about PHOBOS DERE .GB, as well as their future plans.
PHOBOS DERE .GB Developer Interview
[NowNintendo] What made you want to aim for a physical release? And why did you choose PHOBOS DERE .GB?
[Developer] In the event war breaks out, I feel there’s a real possibility that the internet will go dark. In such cases, I hope people could still play my games. Of course, I’m just kidding. The real reason is I have always been a fan of old media. I make 90s-style websites, and actual retro games for old systems, and it’s only fitting that I eventually release something physical like game developers did decades back.
I feel like the Game Boy has had a bit of a resurgence lately, especially with the recent release of the Analogue Pocket which could read a Game Boy cartridge. Aside from that, I feel PHOBOS DERE GB I feel is a good introduction to the AppSir Universe. It’s surreal. Almost Lynchian in its weirdness. I’d love to see how people with no experience playing my games react to this form of in-game storytelling.
[NowNintendo] How does it feel to be releasing an actual Game Boy game after all these years?
[Developer] If I remember correctly, there was a study where researchers compared how people feel about owning physical vs digital media. They scanned people’s brains and found that owning physical media activates the medial prefrontal cortex, so physical media feels like an extension of ourselves and digital ownership only makes us feel that we have access to something.
So what does that have to do with how I feel about releasing an actual Game Boy game? Well, it makes what I do, which is game development, feel even more real. I’ve created something tangible, and it validates what I have worked on for so long. And it makes me excited knowing that people will get a huge nostalgia hit the moment they feel that PHOBOS DERE GB cartridge with a retro box and instruction booklet in their hands. Have you seen how Don Draper defines nostalgia in the Mad Men series? Nostalgia is that pang in your heart. They take you to a place where you ache to go again. I’m excited by the idea that something I made would cause people to feel something like that once they get their hands on it.
[NowNintendo] Do you have any plans to release more physical games in the future?
[Developer] I would love to have an updated version of PROTO DERE .NES released on a NES cartridge and retro box with an instruction manual. I also have PRIMA DERE ZX, a ZX Spectrum game that had a lot of positive fanfare from people that played it. Those two are the more immediate ones I see getting a physical release. Down the line, I would also like to put out a CD-ROM release of all my Steam games. I’m excited by the prospect of preserving all of these games.
[NowNintendo] Will AppSir Games ever come to the Nintendo Switch eShop?
[Developer] Yes! It’s something that’s been on my mind for so long. It would have to be a new game though, since none of my old games have been designed for that. In the event I release a game for the Switch, I would also like to have a physical release for that title.
[NowNintendo] As a game studio what originally made you focus on the “Horror” niche?
[Developer] All AppSir releases have a horror element to them, and they all have interconnected plots. I’ve always wanted to create a series of games with a long arc, similar to that of the MCU. I originally wanted to play with different genres, but I shifted my focus to horror because I was a big fan of the Saw franchise and the Resident Evil games. I wanted to integrate some of their elements into the main plot of the series and the only way I’d be able to do that best is with the horror genre. Besides, the horror genre brings a lot of freedom. You can easily combine it with any other genre and it would still work great.
[NowNintendo] If you could offer one piece of advice to aspiring indie developers, what would it be?
[Developer] My advice for anyone wanting to start a career or even make games just for the heck of it is to make as many games as possible during your first few months. I made 15 games before I created DERE EVIL EXE, my most popular game so far.
[NowNintendo] What’s next for AppSir Games?
[Developer] Aside from a few more physical releases, the biggest one coming is the season finale of the series: DERE VENGEANCE. Watch out for it when it becomes available for pre-order on mobile and PC. Follow the AppSir Games Twitter account for updates. Thank you!
[NowNintendo] Thank you AppSir Games for taking the time to speak with us, and offering us an insight into the retro game development world.
We’re extremely excited to see a physical release of PHOBOS DERE .GB, and from all of us here at NowNintendo, we wish you the best of luck.
PHOBOS DERE .GB is now available for pre-order at Limited Run Games.
Fans and collectors will receive the following:
- An authentic Game Boy cartridge
- A size-accurate retro box
- An instruction booklet
Pre-orders come to an end on September 25. Snag a copy while you can and be sure to follow @AppSirGames for more updates and details regarding future releases.
Are you a DERE fan? Will you be picking up the physical Game Boy release of PHOBOS DERE .GB? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Are you looking for even more retro inspired games? Bit Orchard: Animal Valley ‘s review may be worth a read. Why Play Bit Orchard: Animal Valley on Nintendo Switch?
