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Today we have a very special article for you, and it's about the creation of a paintball computer game. We met with Thorsten Mielke, the developer of the game Splash Paintball, and he gave us some exciting insights into how the idea of developing the game came about, how the individual development steps went and what hurdles had to be overcome. Of course, we also had the opportunity to play this new paintball shooter ourselves. Here is our look behind the scenes of the creation of a paintball computer game.
A few months ago we received an email informing us that a paintball computer game was currently being developed by a German developer. We were naturally curious and wanted to find out more. That's how we met with Thorsten Mielke, the developer of the game, for an interview.
PBS Magazine: Thorsten, it's great that you're taking the time for our interview. Please tell us a little about the game. What can we imagine it to be like?
Thorsten: First of all, thank you very much for the invitation to the interview and your interest in a new paintball experience on your home PC. I have been programming the game "Splash – Paintball" in my free time for about 1.5 years. The initial thought, "I want to implement a small game from A to Z on my own and bring it to market", has now developed into something much bigger and more comprehensive after paintball equipment manufacturers and players became aware of the game. "Splash – Paintball" is an online multiplayer first-person shooter that brings the exciting world of paintball to life in a digital environment. Players can look forward to dynamic matches in which teamwork, strategy and quick reflexes are required. I placed particular emphasis on making the feel of real paintball as realistic as possible. This means that, for example, the ballistics of the paintball balls, the physical environment and the cover mechanics are precisely coordinated to offer an authentic experience. Both SupAir, Woodland and Scenario players will be able to choose from an ever-growing pool of maps and game environments. Furthermore, everyone can put together their equipment and paintball markers according to their preferences and further adapt them as the game progresses. This allows each player to develop their own playing style and stand out individually on the field.
PBS Magazine: There have been a few paintball computer games in the past. What makes Splash Paintball different or better? Or to put it bluntly: Why should players buy your game?
Thorsten: The most well-known paintball game series "Greg Hastings…" has been very quiet in recent years and so there have been a few attempts by paintball enthusiasts with programming skills to develop a new game. So far, however, their main focus has been very limited and usually only covers a few aspects of the tournament sport.
"Splash – Paintball" not only offers authentic SupAir fields, but also expands the paintball experience with a strong focus on the woodland area, and later on the scenario area. There will initially be two "worlds". A desert landscape and a forest area. In each environment, players will then have several playing fields to choose from, which can be played in different game modes. In addition to the classic tournament format ("X-Ball" / "Speedball"), there will also be a "Capture the Flag" mode to begin with. Furthermore, newcomers to the sport should experience a gentle introduction to the world of paintball, which is why I have added the "Arcade" game mode, which allows you to stay in the game longer thanks to an armor/health display. Tactical means, such as different types of hand and smoke grenades, are also available and can be used depending on the game mode. I have also placed great emphasis on the detailed implementation of the environments and equipment in order to create a gaming experience that is as realistic as possible. Maybe here's a little teaser: Talks are already underway with various paintball facility operators about integrating original fields into the game.
Another point is my commitment to the community. I am actively looking for and already in dialogue with the players, taking feedback seriously and integrating the community's wishes into future updates. This way I can ensure that the game is continuously developed in the right direction so that it remains a long-term, lively experience that is permanently well received by the paintball community. So feel free to actively help shape the game and send us your feedback!
PBS Magazine: That really sounds like a lot of game content and a lot of cool features. Do you have a current timeline? When will the game be available and for which platforms? When will the additional content be added?
Thorsten: The initial launch is planned for the end of September 2024 and players can get ideas in Early Access about what will be included in the subsequent updates. I would like to collect feedback before the main release and incorporate the suggestions into further updates. Improvements, new maps, new game modes and new equipment will be continuously incorporated. Even after the main release, there will be further updates with interesting new content.
Initially I'm concentrating on the Windows PC platform, although the game will be available in the Epic Games Store and anyone can put it on their wishlist now. I'm also planning to release it on Steam and make it available for the Xbox and Playstation consoles.
PBS Magazine: Last question from us: What does my computer need to be able to do to ensure the game runs smoothly?
Thorsten: In principle, the game has the same requirements as all other current first-person shooters based on the Unreal Engine 5. In other words, if you can play current first-person shooters like CoD or Battlefield on your computer, then Splash Paintball will run in the same quality. For example: I myself program on a three-year-old PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, 16 GB RAM and an Nvidia RTX3080 graphics card. With Epic details and a resolution of 4k, you can still achieve 50-60 FPS. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Thorsten for his time and are already looking forward to seeing how the Splash Paintball computer game will be received in the scene. But computer game fans who may not have had any contact with paintball up to now should also take a look at the game. Perhaps it will bring one or two new players into the real sport of paintball. Splash Paintball is already available in the EPIC Games Store as of the release date of this issue. If you want, you can download it directly and start playing right away. We have included the link to the EPIC Games Store here.
If you want to find out more about the topic, you can watch the complete interview with Thorsten on our YouTube channel. There you will also find many game scenes and further background information.
