Added: 20.04.2015 12:05 | 8 views | 0 comments

, went on to found Heavy Spectrum with his wife. Though the project would likely be far further along in production had he hired more staff, Birch would be the one paying the salaries, and as such decided to keep the team small.

"I really appreciate how Sony respected my wishes for the studio to stay creative and small," he says. "Sony is one of the companies that are still trying to make games better."

For Birch, better doesn't necessarily mean original. In terms of its core combat design, Shadow of the Beast has common with games from the eighties (Kung Fu Master, Double Dragon, et al) than those of the modern era. Granted, there is a God of War rhythm to the light and heavy attacks, and moments of strategy and counter-hits, but overall it's a cathartic massacre played out by pressing the same sequence of buttons a few hundred times.

Which is to say, it's just like the original Shadow of the Beast; a game released 25 years ago and generally forgotten by the masses, but arguably the reason why Birch took a career in games and wanted to retell its story to new people.

"Shadow of the Beast was a defining moment of my childhood. I remember going around a friend's house; he just got an Amiga and showed me the game. I remember being just... awestruck by it, and every time I took the bus home from his house it was all I could think of.

"Those bus journeys were probably the moment I realised games were not just about challenge. They have worlds and stories that you can take with you."

Shadow of the Beast will ship exclusively on PlayStation 4. Heavy Spectrum has yet to confirm its release date plans.

Added: 19.04.2015 23:17 | 9 views | 0 comments


TSA: Twice now, Ive seen Heavy Spectrums Matt Birch stand up and talk about Shadow of the Beast first as the game was announced at Gamescom 2013 and now at a PSN showcase and both times his struggle to contain his emotions, his excitement and his passion for this game have been endlessly endearing. This is quite literally his dream project, which he has wanted to create ever since he played the original game in 1989. Its a passion which is quite clear to see in the game itself, and was surely a major part in Heavy Spectrum being able to inherit the games legacy as they work alongside what remains of Psygnosis and Studio Liverpool who created the original game at Sonys XDev team.

Added: 17.04.2015 3:17 | 6 views | 0 comments


Eurogamer: I defy you to find a happier person in video games than Matt Birch right now. I defy you to find a more nervous one, too. Birch, founder of the Kingston-upon-Thames-based studio Heavy Spectrum, is a bundle of excitement, energy and emotion as he finally unveils what he's been working on the past two years to an assembled crowd at Sony's PlayStation 4 digital showcase. There's a weighted pause as he clicks through the slides of the presentation just before we get our first look at an in-game screenshot. The tears that are pricking his eyes are proof that none of this is an affectation; this really means something to him.

Added: 16.04.2015 18:17 | 14 views | 0 comments


Posted by Matt Birch on Apr 16, 2015 // Heavy Spectrum: Hi PlayStation.Blog readers, its been a while since our last update on Shadow Of The Beast our long silence has been because weve been working hard to turn the concept we showed last time into a reality. And, though we havent quite finished that journey yet, we wanted to take this chance to share with you some early shots from the game.

Added: 10.04.2015 5:20 | 9 views | 0 comments


"If there is one company that I trust with making a competent fighting game it is French Bread, the creator the amazing Melty Blood series and the upcoming Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax. While they have been making fighting games for over a decade, not a single one has made it to the west until now with Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late." - Rice Digital

Added: 08.04.2015 13:17 | 10 views | 0 comments


AS: The sun is shining just a little bit brighter. The grass is starting to get a little bit greener. Birds are chirping happily in the trees. The dirt's being raked, the sunflower seeds purchased, the field's being chalked, and the eye black applied. Spring is in the air. Baseball's Opening Day has arrived.

Added: 06.04.2015 15:18 | 7 views | 0 comments


French Bread, the makers of Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late, spoke with Siliconera about creating their latest fighting game, how they balanced it, and why their fighting games stories have occult themes.