The collaboration between THUAS GameLab and Fontys ICT in Eindhoven continues to grow. This was clear during our recent visit to the Fontys student incubator. Jeroen Derwort travelled to Eindhoven to see the CatDrink Studios team in action: three students passionately developing their co-op game CataMiner.
Cats, mines and chaos: in the best possible sense
CataMiner is a co-operative exploration game in which players work together as cats in a chaotic underground mining world. It clearly belongs to the friendslop genre: games best played with friends, where cooperation is as funny as it is essential. Think hilarious miscommunication, unexpected disasters and the satisfaction of a team salvaging the situation just in time.
The three core developers, Aya, Petar and Ben, each have their own specialism and complement one another well. Supported by a wider group of fellow students, they are steadily building a game that already has a clear identity.
Sprint demo: a work in progress
During the visit, the team gave a sprint demo presenting their progress over the previous few weeks. What immediately stands out is the drive behind CatDrink Studios. The game has a recognisable identity, the atmosphere works and the project is clearly developing. The demo showed that the core mechanics are becoming more robust and that cooperation within the team is going well.
Because the team works in two-week sprints, just like the project teams at GameLab, it is easy to exchange experiences and learn from one another's approaches. This shared way of working makes collaboration concrete and valuable for both sides.
There were also areas for improvement: making the schedule and delivery milestones clearer. CatDrink Studios still has a great deal to gain here.
Overlap with GameLab teams
CataMiner is not the only co-op friendslop game in the GameLab network. Two of the active project teams in our own lab are also developing cooperative titles in a similar genre. That overlap is no coincidence. The genre is thriving, and it is interesting to see how different teams tackle similar challenges. What choices do you make in game design? How do you keep the chaos manageable without losing the fun? These conversations are enriching for everyone.
On the road to Dragon's Den and INDIGO
The team has major steps ahead: CatDrink Studios is preparing for two important milestones. The first is an internal Dragon's Den event at Fontys, where students pitch their project to a jury of experts and investors. The second is INDIGO, the leading Dutch indie game showcase event. Both require a polished presentation, a solid prototype and a compelling story, and the team is working hard on all three.
Collaboration pays off
The visit to Fontys ICT once again confirms the value of the connection between THUAS GameLab and other educational institutions. Students working on serious game projects benefit from a network extending beyond their own degree programme. Feedback from peers facing the same challenges but bringing a different perspective is invaluable.
We look forward to CatDrink Studios' next steps and will keep you updated on how Aya, Petar, Ben and the rest of the team get on at Dragon's Den and INDIGO. 🐱⛏️
Follow CatDrink Studios at catdrinkstudios.com