Developing 'Hi-Fi RUSH' Backwards and Finding Our Positive Gameplay Loop

In this session, Game Director John Johanas shares how the initial concept for Hi-Fi RUSH came to be. From there, he provides in-depth details into the development team's early learnings on approaching this type of rhythm-action title.
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[@OtterlyG]

The timing…

[@rngwrldngnr]

Could be deliberately provocative, but I'll admit to giving similar side-eye that it might be meant to make up hyoe for the game to quash out the shutdown discussion.

[@williwerbung5203]

​@@rngwrldngnr GDC presentations have a restriction when they can go on KZbin is all. GDC took place back in mid March.

[@chidaluokoro9104]

On the beat...

[@detessed]

​@@rngwrldngnr You think Microsoft is bribing GDC to post Hi-Fi Rush content to... hype up Hi-Fi Rush.... to quell negative buzz around them shuttering the studio that made... Hi-Fi Rush.............

[@rob19ny]

The times are ever changing.

[@GWYT2003]

Rest in peace Tango Gameworks.

[@NathanielJordan85]

To be fair, it's not like the talent that made the game is dead; they just don't all work at the same place anymore. Look for where they go for more good games still, and maybe other smart companies will pick up this star team.

[@haihuynh8772]

@@NathanielJordan85Or they just quit altogether, because who would still hold faith when your employment gets destroyed by the whims of CEOs?

[@ThatGuy2005137]

@@NathanielJordan85 I wish I was as optimistic as you but In first 5 months of this year there has already been 1000 more people laid off in the games industry then the entirety of 2022. The grim reality is that very few of these devs will find another job which let's them create in the same way or even another job which will pay them a similar salary. I do hope they find something that can lead them on a path to make more amazing games. They have proven that they only deserve that.

[@MrDjBoyLover]

Shame on Xbox and MS.......

[@MarwinO3]

o7

[@acudaican]

They really laid off this talent for more COD money.

[@Miki-hk6vy]

The real reason is even more pathetic, the investors can't possibly understand that the line of profit can not go up every year more and more without stopping so when they see it isn't going up anymore studios get on the chopping block which is really pathetic

[@adam145]

Man imagine all this talent losing because someone said "can you make more pew pew and me a billion dollars?"

[@abdel1143]

Blame Zenimax’s years of mismanagement.

[@NootNoot.]

I find this especially funny when Helldivers sold over 12m units on PlayStation. Sony must be thinking, "Y'know what, losing COD ain't that bad after all".

[@cybertubeman745]

@@NootNoot. They didn't backtrack fully just yet, in fact there's even more countries banned from PSN that can't access the game anymore now.

[@khursaadt]

The fact that this video came out just after Tango Gameworks closure is such a salt on wounds...

[@alan.smitheeee]

I'm pretty sure it was intentional.

[@rosthouse]

If anyone from Tango is reading this: Your game inspired and excited me like nothing else in the last few years. The soundtrack is still in my daily playlist and I advocate on every opportunity I have for others to play it. I was really looking forward to what you had in store next. Thank you. I hope you find your paths.

[@StefanLopuszanski]

😢 Too soon... You can create a great game that sells and wins awards and some giant corporation can still shut you down. Always remember that.

[@AZ-qw1kz]

The problem is capitalism and publically traded companies, really. It doesn't matter how beautiful or amazing the art is, if line don't go up, they will shut it down.

[@StefanLopuszanski]

@@AZ-qw1kz : That's the thing, the line supposedly did go up. They said it sold well enough but it was closed anyway.

[@thebookofive]

@@StefanLopuszanski But it didn't go up enough. Also, supposedly Tango had "the audacity" to ask their parent company for resources needed to extend the team. So yeah, the problem is the same old capitalism

[@milk_bath]

@@StefanLopuszanskiLine goes up higher by dissolving the studio. 🦍

[@abx_yenway]

My heart goes out to everyone who was at Tango.

[@r6scrubs126]

they didn't die

[@NathanielJordan85]

​@@r6scrubs126no, but layoffs still suck. Empathy does not require death. 😅

[@DLxxx]

​​@@r6scrubs126And? They STILL lost their jobs and got thrown out into a struggling, oversaturated job market immediately after producing their magnum opus. All in the name of greedy corporate scumbags who wanted the line to go up faster (the very _same_ people Tango made this game for)..

[@alexeybulatov3547]

Buy successful Studio -> milk their current project until the last drop -> PROFIT -> Shut them down before you will have to take financial risks of developing a new game -> wait for another tasty acquisition to appear on the horizon.

[@juliencarpentier2724]

You forgot the part where they keep the IPs for few years and just serve you remakes just few years after the original studio got shut down 😮‍💨

[@moritakaishida7963]

​@@juliencarpentier2724 fable series anyone, god I miss lionhead

[@DLxxx]

It's absolutely *disgusting.* And don't forget that Hi-Fi Rush has licensed music. Without the developers around to patch the it out, the game will inevitably get de-listed when those licenses expire. Because the game doesn't have a physical release, and the PC version has denuvo, that means this gem could potentially be lost to time and inaccessible after a decade.. What an incredible way to repay all of Tango's hard work and the positive publicity they got you last year, Microsoft..

[@JamesListener]

​@@DLxxx Ahoy, lass! Welcome aboard, yo-ho-ho! ☠😉

[@blacxthornE]

absolute vultures

[@amiibler]

I was there in-person for this talk, Johanas seems like the exact type of person that you'd want to be a game director. It's such a shame that Microsoft ripped this studio apart.

[@applehazeva2739]

He has made one of my Favorite Games of all time. I will Support any other game he and Tango Devs will ever work on

[@spikkle2627]

So you have a crazy idea, take the risk, pour gallons of talent and dedicaton into it, somehow succeed against all odds, and then polish the end product to a mirror shine, and it's critically acclaimed, sells well, brings joy into thousands of real human lives and wins a bunch of awards. Surely it's only up from here! :')

[@punishedbung4902]

Rip Tango, if only Microsoft hadn’t condemned you to be a sacrificial tax write off.

[@AxWarhawk]

Hi-Fi Rush is my personal GOTY 2023. It's extremely rare to see a developer making as many correct game design decisions as Tango did with Hi-Fi Rush. The fact that the game did extremely well despite being a new IP and being shadow dropped shows what kind of masterpiece it is. I am truly sorry for what's happening to Tango. I cannot believe that Microsoft is killing yet another goose that laid golden eggs. Hoping you make the best out of it!

[@Pakigi716]

"Great job you guys, by the way, you're fired"

[@neverhave]

Unbelievable to close a studio after such an incredible and purposeful game

[@manhattan2003]

To the poor fellow who had to release this video within days of the studio's closure, I am truly sorry 💀

[@slingshotdev]

Hi-Fi Rush stands out amongst its peers, the game had so much style, soul, and pure fun not found by most AAA games studios. It felt like I was playing out a Saturday morning cartoon in the best way possible, the fact that the game did as well as it did with absolutely no marketing is a testament to its quality. Unfortunately, you can't exactly put the smackdown on corporate greed with a junk guitar IRL, but I think this may dissuade other studios with unique gameplay experiences from signing on with a megacorp that can dissolve them with a snap of the fingers.

[@ShinPepsiman]

Praying for them to find a new home. Mikami's studio, UNSEEN, platinum, nintendo. Somewhere

[@gregorymansour1763]

Nintendo's investor report details plans to hire more staff rather than pursue M&A. I hope all of the talent at Tango finds publishers that value their talent.

[@namesurname624]

You've done your best and for your players it was more than enough ❤ Thought and prayers to the devs! RIP great studio.

[@NoxideActive]

Investing in 'Tango Gameworks' backwards. ~Phil Spencer

[@Phoeboi]

Too soon 💀😭

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Vampires.

[@MegaMbembe]

I hope they open a new studio and make more games like Hi-Fi Rush.

[@PotentialNrgy]

An important presentation to preserve.

[@GameDesignThinking]

Thanks for sharing this talk, GDC. It really shows how passionate and talented Tango Gameworks folks are. Hope the best for them in this difficult time.

[@darkduds38]

Damn, Microsoft really said thanks for the new IP that we can lock in a vault for 20 years

[@applehazeva2739]

May be good fr. Without Tango, Bethesda lacks the Talent to recreate Tangos Talent

[@THExRISER]

Thank you all for giving us such a wonderful game, I hope you can all find better career opportunities, under companies that actually value your skills and experience.

[@Daniel__Nobre]

Thanks for putting this video out at this time. This situation needs to be exposed as much as possible.

[@sonicartist91]

MAAAAAAAAAN, really wished that Xbox had smaller teams making award winning games.😬😬😬😬😑 This game is amazing! I am learning so freaking much! Thank you John Johanas, Tango GameWorks, and GDC for sharing this!

[@squiddywiddy8891]

RIP ❤

[@activemotionpictures]

9:12 What an inspiring prototype. Thnak you for sharing this awesome dev conference.

[@higon99]

13 years of Tango Games, that's glorious. Making a kick-ass action game must be a long-long-time dream for John Johanas and his lead programmer when they joined Tango Gameworks where the legendary dev Mikami resides. Reverse-developing action game shown here reminds me how GodHand was developed. They did it with new IP Hi-Fi Rush. Released it and EVERYBODY LOVED IT. But then they got fired. How sad.

[@Navierstokes256]

Hope every person from tango can land on their feet, because what they created is magical. While the parent company they worked under didn't have a positive loop, I hope tango employees have found their way back to land back on their feet.

[@o_O81]

NAME: Chai AGE: 25 PROFESSION: Rockstar Chai: Future… Rockstar… RIP Tango Gameworks / Hi-Fi Rush 2

[@prototypelq8574]

My heartfelt condolences to the team at Tango, they deserved so much better

[@Iskra_Audio]

Hopefully all the devs get picked up by other studios! It's crazy that you can make good games and you're still not safe from layoffs or your studio closing

[@baconx6476]

Microsoft: "You guys made a great game, we love that for you. Go ahead and empty your desk and vacate the premise or security will do that for you."

[@REXanadu]

@52:58 - I think it's both shocking and inspiring to find out it took 6-9 months for the game devs to not only go through the prototyping phase but also to figure out the game engine Even after watching the PsychOdyssey documentary - which explains how they made an entire commercial game to learn about Unreal Engine - I always assume professional game developers watch a few tutorials and have the entire engine learned in a few weeks It's a good thing to keep in mind going forward: even professionals spend more time learning than you think

[@VikingRobotNinja]

I hope the suits at Microsoft get linked this video a billion times

[@AnAngelineer]

This couldn't be more ironic, considering how brutally those very people were betrayed just a few days ago... Kinda sends a message of "it doesn't matter how well you worked and how clearly you can teach it to the world, big money will kill you anyways", which sadly has become the reality of our world, and the entertainment industry in particular.

[@bcrane86]

Well great timing for this to come out.......We'll miss you Tango :( Hope the team sticks around somehow for more titles in the future.

[@Jehzar]

One of my favourite games of all times. We will miss you, Tango.

[@jakkdlaw]

I have not played it yet but this game is amazing, I can't believe they went through all that to make it. These devs are amazing.

[@nairocamilo]

Bring awareness and justice for Tango Gameworks developers!

[@Gmouse]

Makes sense, even how their owner reacted to its success was backwards, Microsoft was just doing a sick Hi-Fi Rush reference but no one understood.

[@luxxers]

Is the upload date of this intentional?

[@IvaN-cf7qt]

oh for sure!, but i think it was with good intention, to let more people know about the talented devs behind this game.

[@soul-5]

im fucking crying over here man. we will never get another hi fi rush by tango games 😭

[@PoweredbyidTech]

RIP Tango. Hope you all land on your feet ASAP

[@Dastankbeets9486]

Seeing how much dedication went into all the levels, it’s no wonder one of the main levels got cut from the game. It’s incredible that we got as much content as we did considering how bespoke it all is

[@rkrams1989]

Man good game....the timing

[@joshwpro4499]

This is one of the best. A masterpieces for generations to come

[@vul4ak]

Tango Gameworks - just as you finally got the freedom to do what you were best at doing - you got shut down. Thank you for everything.

[@newkickztv]

RIP TANGO ❤

[@RobertleeEtn]

Thank you for everything

[@nick02417]

Hope every member of your team land on your feet.

[@nicoblasss]

Best wishes to everyone involved in the project. It was truly amazing. Much love

[@ariloulei814]

Okay now hire the voice actor for Smidge to do this entire talk. I dunno why but I want it.

[@GertyFlings]

John Johanas IS the voice of smidge

[@ShinPepsiman]

I think it's really impressive how the prototype hardly differs from the final game. They knew exactly what they wanted to do. Please find a new home Tango 🤞

[@VincentGuillotine]

if tango people are reading this, you never deserved what happened

[@BlazeMakesGames]

I seriously was hoping that Hi Fi Rush would become a franchise with at least a few more entries, evolving the action-rhythm gameplay and mechanics to new heights. Microsoft are clowns for killing this studio

[@solofox9426]

Give this man a job!

[@JO-hs1ue]

You guys made a fantastic game. I don't care what xbox thinks. It's just been bad decision after bad decision with them for years.

[@victorjacobson4077]

I'm a solo indie dev but I hope I can get my game out before microsoft shuts me down.

[@happycapy47]

They were shaping up to be one of my favorite studios. Shame on Microsoft.

[@hamboy2610]

44:20 Microsoft: "what future projects?"

[@waywaybetter3333]

There were multiple times when playing this game that I thought to myself "this is a masterclass in game design". This talk is a nice supplement to that. Well done, everyone. And thank you for sharing your design process!

[@STANNco]

can't wait to see what they develop next, Microsoft is so lucky to have them

[@benjoe1993]

Thank you for the cool game Tango Gameworks

[@britishninja]

Fascinating talk, really looking forward to their next game : D

[@Orionhart]

RIP Tango. You didn't deserve to be just another notch in their financial portfolio.

[@eneekmot]

The devs deserved better.

[@sonarthecat17]

Wow the timing of this ...

[@Soloman274]

Microsoft really shooting themselves into leg with closing their best studio. Good luck to them, with such anti-long-term decisions.

[@alicatdotcom]

Microsoft: I took an arrow to the knee Everyone: You shot your whole leg off.. Microsoft: More blood for the heads 🤑 🤯

[@mirrikybird]

Thank you for my favourite game of the last 3 years

[@ty_teynium]

I'm Sorry Tango; you deserved better.

[@manrique_1984]

Damn you Phil Spencer and Matt Booty. 😢

[@kylerclarke2689]

I hope that everyone who contributed to this amazing game finds work with a company that values them.

[@LateNightHalo]

Amazing timing

[@therealsunnyk]

The Slip is released under a Creative Commons Sharealike license. IIUC John could have put the music into the video.

[@xxCreeplyxx]

Amazing game, can't wait to see what they make next!

[@soheil4471]

Yeah seeing this talk now is sad amazing talk by the way too bad Microsoft couldn't handle such a talented studio.

[@RacsoMusica]

Tanto talento, conocimiento, creatividad, y esfuerzo. Lo mejor que podrias pedir de un equipo de desarollo y aun así... No fue suficiente para Microsoft. Simplemente es triste y desmotivador.

[@metalmonster9536]

Nice tribute I must say

[@chompyumyum4615]

With all tiny shreds of due respect, F*CK MICROSOFT R.I.P. Tango.

[@egementon]

It's painful to watch this now...

[@HeyImKevin]

Pssst….Friends don’t let friends buy Call of Duty anymore, pass it on.

[@mythiclegend117]

RIP Tango Gameworks.

[@nekokna]

they were the dopest...

[@MartinGP_3dfxlegacy]

Press f to pay respect

[@alicatdotcom]

F

[@ArtofWEZ]

Amazing game, they did not deserve to be closed.

[@SlurpyPie]

The timing on this couldn’t have been worse. RIP Tango Gameworks

[@gregorymansour1763]

I hope everyone at Tango finds new work now that the studio is being shut down. There's so much talent they're just letting go.

[@kirbles2035]

Great timing

[@BenGoodsonModular]

Unreal timing

[@TheGameLecturer]

I'd like to think that the public release of this one is no coincidence. But actually, so many great studios were shut down recently that statistically it had to happen.

[@TwinOpinion]

🤯Tango Gameworks did everything perfectly, and Microsoft still shut them down. 😭

[@GuatekeFrankie]

best timing ever

[@TheCzarsoham]

My heart...

[@BraedenAnimations]

Hope everyone at Tango can find a place to go. Thank you for everything!

[@soyunbonus]

What a gem of a game!

[@Nov-5062]

Rest in peace Tango, screw you microsoft

[@IDubz1]

Rest in peace Tango Gameworks

[@terry-]

Great!