Interview with Nifflas

I am joined here by Nifflas, Hello Nifflas!

Hi!

Welcome to Klik-Union! I have a comfy chair ready for you.

Thanks

Most of the community know you as the creator of WADF and Knytt, how would you describe the Nifflas outside of the klik community?

I'm 24 years old, and live in Umeå, Sweden. My job is helping out intelectually handicapped people writing a newspaper and making a radio show. I spend my sparetime with my girlfriend, my friends, and do ordinary stuff such as cooking, eating, sleeping, etc. I get to spend a lot time designing computer games too It's a really enjoyable life

It sounds really awesome

Yeah, I'm happy about it

Where did your screenname [Nifflas] originate from?

My real name is Nicklas, and once my uncle and me was debating how to spell my name (Nicklas or Niklas). My uncle's girlfriend got bored of our discussion, and told us to spell it with "f". Now I spell it like "Nifflas", while they spell it like "Niflas"

I notice that WADF and Knytt have made it onto websites like GameSpot, have you received a lot of media fame?

Yeah I was quite surprised about that GameSpot wrote about it, and that c|net wrote a staff review to Knytt, but it sure brought me a lot of downloads. A few magazines have wrote about my games too

Why do you think a game about bouncy balls [WADF] has been so successful?

I like to think that it's the atmosphere, and the music. I got a lot of help from many very skilled musicians, to create it

My main aim when creating a game is not really to create challenge or entertainment, it's more to define some kind of emotion and atmosphere, so I hope it's that which people like best

I think you pull it off very well, you have quite a recognisable game style.

Thanks

Did you know that WADF also stands for Western Air Defence Force?

I had no idea

I absolutely love Knytt, what inspiration did you have for this game?

Mostly the atmosphere of Ico (and the way the world is seamless and not divided into levels), and Seiklus (the thinking that a game doesn't need that much challenge, if it have the right atmosphere). Some colour palettes from Cave Story, and how to create different ambiance sounds from Shadow of the Colossus (as well as the item pinpointer)

That's the main inspirations, but there's probably more that I can't remember now....

It is a very atmospheric game. Would you say your musical skills are your best klik quality?

Well, I have been composing since 1998 so I know a thing or two, but my main skill is probably knowing to keep my games small enough, and always create something that really express me

You have created a level editor for your new game, Knytt Stories, you must be quite a coder too?

Well, I've used all the knp/tgf/mmf products, but when it comes to all other languages I feel quite lost. I know some php though.

Your next game, Knytt Stories, is nearing release. Will the game be quite different from Knytt?

Not that much. The movements will be based around what Knytt had, but this time you get a whole bunch of neat powerups too

There will be more enemies and logical puzzles, but there will also be easy mode versions of many levels

Powerups will be quite a change from the original Knytt, will these allow us to defeat any enemies?

Nope As a tradition, I don't create games where you hurt other creatures. It's quite odd really, since I do like playing quite violent games... but when it comes to what I want to express, I want the main character to appear as kind as possible, and not jumping on creatures like Super Mario Besides, a Knytt has to be defenceless, otherwise it's not really a Knytt...

Sounds like we'll never see a Knytt sporting weapons then? :p

No, that's very unlikely

Who is the main character in knytt Stories? Is it the same character as from the original game?

Nope, this time it's a female who's name is Juni (she was named by my girlfriend). Sometimes she's refered to as a Knytt too.

So what is the definition of a Knytt?

The thing is, if it had a definition, it wouldn't actually be a Knytt. If you know what it is, there's no way it can be a Knytt. But these are just guesses, even I don't know for sure.

The first one to come up with the name was Tove Jansson, who is a famous author of children's books.

When my girlfriend (Sara Sandberg) was designing creatures for Within a Deep Forest, she created a bunch of types called "Knytt", "Olutt", "Mes" and "Plutt". One of the "Knytt" creatures she had drawn was the one I later used in Knytt, so it was a logical name for the game. My girlfriend did btw draw around half of the creatures in WaDF, so she have helped out a lot!

Sounds like your girlfriend had quite a part in the creation of WADF and Knytt

Yeah

I don't think many klikkers can say that about their games!

The graphics in the menu screens of Knytt, and those in the credits screen were drawn by her too.

Your girlfriend has contributed a lot behind the scenes then?

Well, it is half the creatures in WaDF (and logically those in Knytt that appears in WaDF), and those nice looking backgrounds in the the Knytt title and credits screens... And a few tileset in Knytt Stories

You have a Nifflas Unofficial Fansite [http://yaaay.net/niffpage] How does that feel?

It did surprise me a bit that anyone would create a fansite, but it's neat since a lot of old material (music etc.) can be found there that I no longer have the resources to maintain or host

My time is getting so limited, it's awesome that somebody takes the time to host the material that I wouldn't.

Knytt Stories hasn't been released, yet there are already lots of user submitted tilesets? [http://yaaay.net/nifftiles/]

yeah There's a page that describes how to create them. It's easy when you know the rules

The game can feature 256 tilesets in the bank that comes with the game, and each level can feature 256 level specific tilesets too

I hope to fill the entire inbuilt tileset bank That would be really cool

Don't you think this shows how popular Knytt is already?

I'm glad it got so much attention, despite it being such a simple game

The release date of Knytt Stories is the 30th August, how would you sum up the game in 3 words?

That's an interesting question Atmospheric, carefree, and cute

Is there anything else you'd like to say while you're here?

I can't think of anything right now

but I'm honoured that you interviewed me

Thank you ver much for the interview Nifflas, I will be eagerly anticipating Knytt Stories

Thank you too