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Stupid Never Dies, the debut title from newly found studio GPTRACK50 has released this month! Telling the tale of Davy, a would-be-world-saving-zombie-hero, as he dives through dungeons time and again in the roguelike adventure, getting stronger and taking control of some weird-and-wonderful mythological monsters on his adventures.
During my review, I said, “Graphically it’s easy on the eye too, and the vocal performances, tied with the audio design, immediately pull you into the experience and have you routing for Davy and his less than less-than-normal-relationship, if you can call it that.“, and can say I enjoyed my time with the game more than not.
We were lucky enough to have a very brief chat with studio President of GPTRACK50, and Executive Producer on Stupid Never Dies, Hiroyuki Kobayashi.
All Things Stupid Never Dies
First of all, thanks for your time. For those unaware, would let our readers know who you are, and what you do on Stupid Never Dies?
I’m Hiroyuki Kobayashi, President of GPTRACK50. I serve as the Executive Producer of Stupid Never Dies. My responsibilities include budget management, scheduling, staff recruitment, selecting external development partners, and overseeing the creative direction of the project.
Where did the inspiration for the game come from, and what was the most complicated mechanic/feature to implement?
It started with my idea of making a zombie the protagonist. From there, the core development team came up with the concept of an action game where the main character keeps attacking even while taking damage. The most challenging aspect was creating the unique actions and progression systems that are only possible because the protagonist is a zombie, and building the gameplay loop around those elements.
My favorite [style] is the Werewolf Style. It’s easy to control and very accessible, making it a great choice for beginners.
How did you manage to come up with so many unique characters, both in the way they play but also their looks?
We wanted to create a colorful and distinctive group of companions, similar to those in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Each character was developed individually through discussions with the core team during our story meetings. As we developed the narrative, the characters gradually came to life one by one.
My favorite is Julia, the human heroine. We carefully developed her background and personality to make her an appealing character who would play an important role in both the story and the protagonist’s journey. She’s a college student, a cheerleader, and a sniper—all rolled into one!
How much AI was used in development?
We did not use AI during the game’s production.
What’s next for you after Stupid Never Dies?
I’m planning to create a new action game. I think whether this [Stupid Never Dies] can be a franchise will depend on how players respond to the game.
And lastly, what’s a good measure of success for you, regarding the game? A certain amount of sales, review scores, something else?
Since Stupid Never Dies is a brand-new action RPG, what matters most to me is hearing what players think after experiencing the game!
Stupid Never Dies is available on PlayStation 5 and PC.
For your next read, don’t miss our review of Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy, or the big news about Conan Exiles Enhanced and its console launch.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
