Released on 30 March 2023, Dredge is a fishing game that's been developed by a new indie studio that's based in New Zealand - Black Salt Games. Comprised of just four people - Nadia Thorne (Producer, CEO), Joel Mason (Programmer, Writer), Alex Ritchie (Lead Artist, 2D Art, Tech Art), and Michael Bastiaens (3D Artist/Animator) - Dredge is the studio's first game, and has already been garnering great reviews across the board, with many arguing that it's one of their biggest (and best) surprises of 2023 so far.
I interviewed the Black Salt Games team to find out a little bit more about their first game, and also got to ask as to what them as to what their future plans are for the studio. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aFmq4IDEU0
According to your website, Black Salt Games is comprised of three developers and a studio manager (effectively making the studio a four person team). How did everyone meet, and how did Black Salt Games form?
Joel: The four of us worked together at a larger, work-for-hire games studio for 8 around years prior to the formation of Black Salt Games. After the disruption of the pandemic, we split off as a sister studio to allow us to focus on making our own games. We're still very close with our old studi...