英国老牌游戏工作室Revolution Software创始人查尔斯·塞西尔（Charles Cecil）日前在采访中表示，称Revolution选择在2008年向蓬勃发展的iPhone平台投放游戏，是一个天时地利的正确选择。

Revolution's Charles Cecil

这对Revolution来说也是一个具有历史性意义的时期，当时该工作室正遭遇3D游戏制作的技术、资金短缺的困扰，同发行商在游戏营收分成的问题上也是争持不下。但面向苹果平台推出游戏后，公司的业务运营开始绝地反弹，获得巨大转机。

塞西尔表示，苹果对他们的游戏发行支持力度很大，对Revolution的游戏业务复兴也发挥了巨大作用。

目前为止，该公司已推出了《Beneath a Steel Sky》和第一个导演剪辑版本的《断剑》（Broken Sword）这两个拳头产品，后者的售价是6.99美元和4.99美元，下载量已达16万。塞西尔称这些游戏的市场行情非常好，他们很推崇这种自主发行模式。

Broken Sword ：The Smoking Mirror Remastered

据游戏邦了解，Revolution的下一部作品是iOS版本的《断剑 2》——《The Smoking Mirror Remastered》，该游戏在原版的基础上进行了优化，主题音乐已经不需要压缩格式就能直接下载，还增加了更多游戏提示和日志功能，让新玩家更简便快捷地熟悉游戏操作。

另外，这款新游戏还设置了电邮反馈功能，以便Revolution和游戏玩进行直接的互动。塞西尔表示，“用户反馈对我们来说非常重要，我们愿意竭尽全力为玩家排忧解难。”

除了上述所提的游戏，Revolution还透露他们正在开发另外三款原创新作，其中一款仍然属于《断剑》系列，但其他两款已经不再是冒险题材的游戏。不过据塞西尔所称，现在还不到公布这几款游戏具体细节的时候，首先推出的那款游戏至少也要在明年下半年才能问世。

塞西尔还表示，Revolution仍然会继续开发传统包装销售的电子游戏产品，但会关注iOS、Android、XBLA和PSN等其他可行性平台的数码发行业务，“我做了20多年的独立开发者，现在是我事业中最辉煌的时期，我们在App Store上不但每单生意可以比传统发行模式多赚10倍，而且还能和我们的用户直接沟通，这正是《断剑》这种类型的游戏最需要的发展动力。”（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，转载请注明来源：游戏邦）

Revolution’s Charles Cecil on Broken Sword 2 and why it’s the best time ever to be an indie

Charles Cecil points to the phone call he received from Apple in 2008 as a revolution for Revolution Software.

At that stage, the veteran UK studio behind the Broken Sword adventure games was struggling to come to terms with the technical and financial challenges required in making 3D games, as well as the increasingly miserly terms offered by publishers concerning such niche boxed retail games.

That phone call suggesting Revolution released its games on the emerging iPhone platform was the right advice at the right time.

“Apple has been absolute brilliant for us, both in terms of supporting our releases, as well as revitalising the games business,” Cecil beams.

To-date, the company has released two back catalog titles, Beneath a Steel Sky and a director’s cut of the first Broken Sword game, the latter selling an impressive 160,000 copies at $6.99 and $4.99.

“The reaction has been excellent. We love self publishing,” Cecil says.

Talk to me

Unsurprisingly, Revolution’s next release is an iOS (universal app) version of the second Broken Sword game.

Subtitled The Smoking Mirror Remastered, it sees the original art assets enhanced, while the original music can now be included in uncompressed form for the first time.

Artist Dave Gibbons has provided a new supporting comic, and the game features the same hints and diary features that made the first iOS Broken Sword a more accessible experience for newcomers.

There’s also a direct email feedback button; something Cecil is looking forward to in terms of enabling more communication with players.

“Feedback is incredibly important to us and we will bend over backwards to help our audience out,” he says.

Full speed ahead

Still, even for fans, there’s only so much excitement to be gained from replaying classic games of the past.

The good news then is that Revolution is working on three new original titles, and not just in the adventure genre, although one continues the Broken Sword series.

It’s too early for Cecil to give away any details as the first game won’t be released until the second half of 2011 though.

More generally he says that while Revolution will still develop boxed retail games in the future, its focus is digital distribution with everything from iOS, Android, XBLA and PSN considered viable platforms for future output.

“I’ve been an independent developer for over 20 years and now is the most exciting time,” he ends.

“Not only do we make ten times more per sale on the App Store compared to working with a traditional publisher, but we can interact directly with our audience, which is incredibly important for games such as Broken Sword.”（source:pocketgamer）