Supergiant Games has released a roughly 20-minute documentary-style video with the YouTube channel /noclip about the making of Hades II, per Gamegrin. If you like seeing how software gets built, or you're curious how a studio follows up a hit, this is a compact way to spend a lunch break. Here is what the video covers, and how to watch it so you actually take something away.
What the video is
According to Gamegrin, the collaboration with /noclip looks at the development of Hades II, the sequel that became the highest-rated game of its launch year. The video explores the studio's creative process and its journey from indie darling to industry powerhouse.
That is the extent of what Gamegrin's report describes, so this article won't claim details about specific interviews or scenes. Watch the video itself for those.
Why a sequel is a hard design problem
The video's subject, a follow-up to a beloved game, is a challenge any maker of apps, tools or games recognizes. Gamegrin's coverage points to a few threads worth watching for. Treat these as questions to bring to the video, not as claims about what it concludes.
Keep what worked, change what needs changing
Hades II is described as critically acclaimed in comparison to the original. As you watch, note where the team talks about the first game as a starting point versus a limit.
Listen for the role of Early Access
The Hades franchise began in Early Access, per the source's description. Pay attention to whether and how player feedback comes up in the discussion of the sequel.
Notice the studio's track record
Gamegrin's coverage frames Supergiant as a studio with back-to-back hits: Bastion, Transistor, Hades and now Hades II. A good question to ask while watching is what habits stay constant across all of them.
How to watch it for practical value
Behind-the-scenes videos are easy to enjoy and easy to forget. A little structure helps.
- Open it on a desktop, laptop or tablet where you can pause easily. It's on YouTube, so any current browser or the YouTube app works.
- Keep a notes app open beside it. Apple Notes, Google Keep or a plain text file all do the job.
- Pause when someone describes a decision. Write one line: what was decided, and why.
- Turn on captions from the player's settings if you want to search or copy phrases later.
- After the video, pick one takeaway you could apply to your own project, whether that's a game, a spreadsheet template or a family photo workflow.
Who will get the most from it
Gamers get a look at the people behind a game they may already love. Aspiring developers get a rare view of how an established indie team talks about its own process. Anyone who builds things, in any medium, can use it as a case study in following up a success.
The takeaway
Watch the /noclip video with a notes app open, and write down one decision the team made and the reason behind it. That single line is worth more than another hour of passive viewing.
