Ant Workshop

Factsheet

Developed by:
Ant Workshop
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland

Published by:
Headup Games
Based in Düren, Germany

Release dates:
19th September 2019 (Apple Arcade)
13th December 2019 (PS4/XBO/Switch/Steam)

Platforms:
Apple Arcade
PC / Mac
PlayStation 4 (NA)
PlayStation 4 (EU)
PlayStation 4 (Japan)
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch (NA)
Nintendo Switch (EU)
Nintendo Switch (Japan)

Website:
PlayDeadEndJob.com

Regular Price:

USD

$16.99

Description

Dead End Job merges the frantic, addictive, highly replayable gameplay of a procedurally generated twin-stick shooter with the iconic look of a 90s cartoon.

You take on the role of Hector Plasm, a worker at Ghoul-B-Gone – the #1 experts in paranormal pest control. Blast ghosts and then suck them up using your trusty vacuum pack, as every ghost you catch, citizen rescued, and job completed is added to the client’s bill.

Literally haunted by your former partner-cum-mentor who didn’t come back from a job one night, they’re training you up to save their soul before they're forced to spend eternity as a spook (voted “Least Preferred Fate” in Ghost Hunter Monthly).

Have you got what it takes to be the best at putting pests to rest?

History

Dead End Job began as the answer to a question: "What does a twin-stick shooter look like with no guns?". The initial idea of tidying messy hotel rooms with a vacuum cleaner was improved by adding ghosts (the team have since found that most things are improved by adding ghosts), and Dead End Job came to (un)life.

Approaching ghost hunting as if it were any other kind of pest control really appealed to Tony. Not making it gritty or realistic, but taking something fantastical and finding humour in the most mundane aspects, such as itemised client invoices that list every ghost caught, as well as how many biscuits were eaten. This led to the idea of being an employee - far from a hero ridding the city of spectres, just a regular Joe doing his unremarkable job - working day in day out charging clients and making money for "The Man".

Management offering (ultimately a bit meaningless) carrots such as gradually more overblown job titles and an "Employee of the Month" award all struck home and felt like great ways to ground the characters and make them relatable, as well as providing an easily understandable jumping off point for aspects such as leveling up and the meta-game.

The final element the team needed to nail was a visual style. They were keen to avoid pixel art, as so many action rogue-like shooters use this and it felt a little played out in the genre as a result. They wanted something bright, eye-catching and sharp, and inspirations from 90's cartoons were soon flowing thick & fast.

Features

Clean restaurants, offices and other buildings of ghosts using a plasma blaster, your trusty vacuum pack and a whole range of supernatural items.
Save your mentor's soul before the next full moon, or she'll spend eternity as a spook (voted “Least Preferred Fate” in Ghost Hunter Monthly).
Drop in/drop out couch co-op, as your mentor appears to lend a hand!
Stunning cartoon-quality high resolution artwork inspired by favourites like Ren & Stimpy.
Featuring original music by the award-winning Will Morton (Grand Theft Auto series).
Twitch and Mixer integration allows viewers to help or hinder the streamer by choosing their powerups.

Videos

Ghoul-B-Gone Trailer (January 2019) YouTube

Trailer (March 2018) YouTube

Images

download all screenshots & photos as .zip (67MB)

Logo & Icon

download logo files as .zip (2MB)

Awards & Recognition

"BAFTA Scotland Best Game nominee" November 2020
"PocketGamer Big Indie Pitch Winner" November 2017
"Develop Indie Showcase Official Selection" July 2017
"4th Round UK Games Fund Awardee" July 2018

Additional Links

"Accessibility does not mean making your game easier"
Interview about accessibility and difficulty in "core" games gamesindustry.biz.

Dead End Job coming to Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch announcement destructoid.com.

Dead End Job Looks Like a 2D Luigi's Mansion
Dead End Job reveal eurogamer.net.

Dead End Job: A twin-stick ghoul-buster with style
"Gems of Apple Arcade" mini-feature eurogamer.net.

About Ant Workshop

Boilerplate
Ants - tiny, strong, focussed, good at working with others to achieve their goals and often with a nasty bite. Some of these characteristics (not so much the bitey ones) are also shared by Ant Workshop, a small independent game developer based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

More information
More information on Ant Workshop, our logo & relevant media are available here.

About Headup Games

Boilerplate
Headup is a hybrid games publishing and development company providing players worldwide with the best content in the independent gaming sector. Established in 2009, it is active on all major platforms such as consoles, mobile devices and PC, and was awarded as "Best Publisher" at the German Developers Awards in 2012, 2013 and 2017. With over 80 million customers served on mobile and further several million players on the PC and consoles, Headup is always looking to raise awareness and commercial success for developers thinking outside the box.

More information
More information on Headup Games, our logo & relevant media are available at http://www.headupgames.com/.