Coming out of our WrestleQuest review, we had some burning questions for the Mega Cat Studios team! We were granted an opportunity to interview James Deighan, Mega Cat Studios’ Founder and CEO. Check out his thoughts on the future of RPGs and inspirations for WrestleQuest below!
Q: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some of our questions! Playing WrestleQuest highlighted a clear love of classic wrestling and retro RPGs. What inspired y’all to blend the golden era of wrestling with the RPG format? How did you come up with the idea?
A: We are glad you are enjoying WrestleQuest! We have a deep love and appreciation for both pro-wrestling and JRPGs. As a studio, we always wanted to do an JRPG, but we knew we wanted to do something different—not just another generic JRPG cast with a generic plot in the type of fantasy world we’ve seen so many times before.
So, in exploring where we could take the JRPG genre, we realized how much it shared with pro-wrestling, in terms of a focus on storytelling. Once we made that connection, we realized we could “wrestlify” everything, from the characters and narrative to the combat and world itself.
Q: As to avoid spoiling WrestleQuest, where do you see this series going? What does the future of the WrestleQuest look like?
A: Pro-wrestling is filled with so many unforgettable matches, characters, and rivalries, there is a ton to explore! There are definitely some classic wrestlers we would love to work with. There are a few out there that could serve as the pillar for a game or epic story, without question.
Q: To follow up from above, what is your favorite wrestling moment that didn’t make the cut into WrestleQuest? How would you manifest it into a future game to remind longtime fans (like me!) of its existence while getting unfamiliar players onboard?
A: It’s hard to pick just one! If we’re talking favorites, Mankind and The Undertaker’s Hell in a Cell match is at the top of the list, especially since it happened in Pittsburgh. It would have to be a boss fight or climactic confrontation, so we could really highlight just how dangerous and incredible it was.
Q: It’s clear that WrestleQuest was inspired by classic RPGs and crafted with the utmost care. For those unfamiliar, which RPGs and their features inspired the creation and development of WrestleQuest?
A: Oh man, it’s the golden era greats for sure. Chrono Trigger for the combo attacks. Final Fantasy VI for the size of the cast and switches in narrative viewpoint. Earthbound for its sense of humor. Super Mario RPG for the button prompts during combat. It’s the spirit of these games that we’ve really tried to capture.
Q: This year (2023) has been a massive year for retro- and contemporary RPGs. We’ve had a resurgence of the classic J/RPG format through the likes of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, Sea of Stars, Octopath Traveler II alongside a shift toward action-forward RPGs like Final Fantasy XVI and Like a Dragon: Ishin! How do you see the RPG genre evolving going forward into 2024 and beyond?
A: I personally love this shift back to linear narratives. You can tell a better story that way, in my opinion. I think we’ll continue to see re-releases of classic titles. We’ll also see some cool things being done with pixel art from the indie space, to create some impressive pixel visuals.
Q: To follow up from above, what do you want to see from the RPG genre going forward into 2024 and beyond?
A: Hopefully we’ll get more games that try to innovate on the turn-based formula without going full real-time! I’d also like to see more RPGs that don’t have pseudo-medieval fantasy settings, it’s been done to death. All games need more wrestling.
Q: Now that WrestleQuest has been released, what’s next for Mega Cat Studios? When can we expect Alien Meat Brew Coffee to return?
A: We’re going to be sweatier than ever supporting WrestleQuest, but you can still expect to see some new games from us soon! And by the way, if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll see that those caffeinated aliens found their way into WrestleQuest…
Q: Let’s end on a fun note: Who are your favorite wrestlers of all time?
A: Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett.
