The golden acorns have been under attack for two years now! To celebrate, we spoke to Acron: Attack of the Squirrels!’s Producer Leo to learn more about how this competitive and cooperative VR game came to be and how it’s evolved.

Acron: Attack of the Squirrels! is two years old. Before we dive into this interview, are you team squirrels or tree and why?

Oh no! I don't want to pick sides! You're putting me on the spot here! Ehm, I don't know. I like to play both, I like the variation. Sometimes I like to play as the tree since you get to move with your body. You're the mighty being and the others can't beat you by themselves. They have to cooperate to win. On the other hand I like to play as the squirrels because of the cooperation with my friends and I also like tricking the tree. Since they're so strong and mighty every victory as a squirrel is an "earned" victory. I don't know, I don't want to pick sides, do I have to? Maybe if you're making me do it I would say that the flavor of the month is team squirrels!

Tell us briefly about your role and contributions to the game.

I've been wearing many hats during this project. I started out as a programmer but I've been doing game design documents, producing and more. If there's anything that needs to be done I do it. I think it's in the culture of working in game development that you help out wherever you can. The important thing is that the game gets released. In the team I'm sort of a catch all so when we're missing some expertise like animations, particle effects or sound I try to get those people involved in the project as well. Basically if I can't do something myself I find someone else to do it. We have a lot of resources and talented people in the company so I always aim to find the right person to work on the task at hand.

What was the idea behind the Acron: Attack of the Squirrels!?

We had a lot of discussions regarding what the theme of this game should be and wanted to ensure that it was non violent, family friendly and an original idea that was different from other games on the market. We had a laundry list of themes and ultimately decided on the tree vs squirrels because the squirrels were a really compelling source of inspiration with Disney-like traits that reminded us of our beloved cartoons from childhood.

Additionally, we knew that we were going to have a static VR character and that we wouldn’t make it move to ensure players didn’t get motion sickness, so the tree was a natural fit. Then creating squirrels to be the mobile players who steal acorns felt like a natural progression. Here’s a look at the first concept art made for the game.

This game is unique because one player can play in VR while the others are on phones or tablets. Can you explain why the team decided to create an asymmetrical title?

We created Acron to invite those new to VR into the technology and show them just how fun and amazing it can be. The game launch was perfectly timed with the emergence of standalone VR headsets and the ability to just throw your headset in your backpack and take the game to a friend’s house like you would with a board game. We exhibited the game at PAX West in 2019 and many attendees would try the game first on mobile and after a couple of minutes they were begging to put on the headset and play as the tree. We hear of this happening time and time again from players when they introduce the game to their friends and family as well. It’s magical.

Can you share a fun memory from developing this game?

Some of my most fun memories of creating the game have been showcasing the game at different events and seeing people play the game in person. It's a lot of work to wake up super early, set up the booth and be there and present the game. To make a game is cool, but to see people actually play it, that's where the magic is at.

This was made primarily as a party game but now we’re seeing a lot of people play it with their friends and family remotely. Can you share how the pandemic has impacted this game?

Given the cooperative nature of the game, Acron is best played as a couch party game together with a bunch of friends. But when the pandemic hit this wasn’t something that players could do. We started immediately seeing many players share their story of playing the game with their friends and family across the country and even across the world as a way to stay connected. We’re so happy to hear that our game is being used for this purpose and encourage you to share your room code so you can play with your friends and family who you can’t physically see right now.

What lessons have you learned since the game was released?

It was very interesting to see what the target audience for Acron ended up being. One never knows what kind of players will be playing the game before launch. So learning that Acron has been very popular among families was really fun to hear. People have shared stories about how they use it to spend time with their family and connect with friends all over the world and that warms my heart.

Do you have any tips for those who want to play as a squirrel?

One of my favorite things to do as Sim is to get the acorn, run behind the tree and then start building a ramp towards the flag from there while avoiding being seen by the tree. Once I'm several meters above the VR player’s head I usually tell them to look up. The reaction I get is always priceless and I love it. Try it out yourself!

Acron: Attack of the Squirrels! - Two Years of Nuttin’ But Fun and Laughter