The 2024 Hampa Q&A
Here is the promised Hampa Interview:
Q: What do you think about the future of toribash?A: How do you mean? In what way? 20 year anniversary next year, then i'll announce something.
Q: Do you think toribash has a chance of turning into an eSport game given the right marketing?
A: Yes.
Q: Is there any ideas you have had for other physics based games that you never ended up working on? Did you have any ideas to be implimented to toribash that never got added?
A: Yes, quite a few. I spent a few years making prototypes, I think there is about 80 or so that can be played at some form or another. Too many ideas to mention. The initial GDD had powerups for instance. I want to add proper taisabaki. That could be fun.
Q: Have you ever thought of discountinuing / shutting down toribash?
A: Nope.
Q: When you created the game, did you have any idea of how popular would it become?
A: No, not at all.
Q: Did you have any features or items in mind that never got added?
A: As with most software, you have to weigh in pros and cons. Most features need to be in a sweet spot of complexity, cost, speed, fun. I like to think that if a feature doesn't make the game better it makes it worse. That is a good baseline for developing.
Q: I remember people mentioning that you travel around a lot. Is that still the case? If yes, do you have any fun / memorable stories worth sharing?
A: No, I've settled down. I found a hidden gem. Great judo too.
Q: Have you always thought of Toribash as a concept before you came across stair-dismount or was it something that came across your mind suddenly?
A: I thought about the concept but hadn't seen any good rigid body dynamics engine until I saw stair dismount. I liked the clean look of the stair dismount. The brutality of impacts.
Q: Do you think the development team was able to capitalize on the ideas and concepts used for the WiiWare version of Toribash such as blood particle effects, and the replay system, in the PC version of Toribash (v3.9), if so do you think the current version of that are what you had hoped or there were ideas further developed within Toribash Next?
A: There is always room for improvement and innovation. Just because an idea doesn't work now, doesn't mean it can be used in the future.
Q: New grip and joint features in Toribash Next are very fun to use and I love the capabilities that are possible when it comes to moving around, it feels fresh to play. I know you may not like to explain new features prior to releasing them, but is there anything you'd like to explain regarding Toribash Next's current version that you feel players have yet to fully appreciate compared to it's legacy aspect?
A: The modding are more advanced, 6 degree of freedom for joints for instance.
Q: Is it possible to modify the game files in Toribash Next to add textures to my Tori's joints and body similar to legacy Toribash that mimic's a clientside (local only) cosmetic difference? If so, could I also do this for adding models to the game? I really like the way the festive lights 3D object in TBN move around as if it's not a static object and I really feel like that would open up more opportunities for Item Forgers to really change the idea on what it means to equip an item.
A: Not that I know of, something we can add of course.
Q: Random question; From all the years you've resided in Singapore, is there a favorite food and drink you'd recommend to someone that could be delving into Singaporean culture for the first time?
A: The food there is amazing. Some stingray, baby-kailan and a ice cold beer goes a long way.
Q: From your experience over the years is there a style of mod of genre of gameplay that you feel has yet to be thought of or explored upon, even with all the hundreds and thousands of mods published to the game?
A: Toribash next gunjutsu would be cool to see.
Q: As we know, Toribash itself is physics based, have you ever tried to implement alternative styles of gameplay that are similar to other sandbox or physics based games that you know of?
A: I've tried to make a few other physics based prototypes, but nothing that I directly copied from somewhere. Most game ideas are either too expensive, too complicated, not fun to develop or not fun to play.
Q: Would it be possible to implement an update that allows modmaker to accept the hitbox of a custom asset rather than adding more shapes to the game, if that may be a difficult route? As an example, adding a bowl shaped object and I can rest my Tori-hand inside the bowl itself because the hitbox is the exact shape of the model?
A: Yes, we can do that upgrade.
Q: Were there any plans to make the belt system more RPG based than simple playing games and scaling up your QI? I think the belt system is such a fun mechanic it would be really cool to see a progress system truly unique to the game itself rather than solely based on the standardization of martial arts.
A: A 100 man kumite for black belt would be cool.
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Nope.
Q: Do you use the old or new forum theme?
A: I use the new one.
Q: Do you ever feel the desire to change your set or colors?
A: No, I do test new sets sometimes to see that the uploaders work correctly.
Q: If you were back on day 1 of toribash development, would you have done something differently in hindsight?
A: The logo wasn't really as useful as I thought. I might have done a few more versions. Made sure our YouTube account wasn't lost.
Q: Can we see your Spotify wrapped?
A: I don't use spotify. I get my music from bandcamp.
Q: What do you think of discord as a platform for creating communities?
A: Feature wise discord is as good as it gets. One day I hope we go back to IRC, it is more in the spirit of toribash.
Q: What is the correct response to "how do I run"?
A: Put your arms together, lean forward, fail a lot.
Disclaimer: I included all the questions that hampa answered, if you can't find one of your questions then it was not answered. The website massacred my post multiple times. I'm sorry for the bad quality of the post but this is my best.