2014’s Goat Simulator made a name for itself with streamers and YouTubers, mostly for its ridiculousness and stylishly broken gameplay. In making Goat Simulator 3, developers Coffee Stain North have fully embraced these tenets as well as adding some fan service to the meme-culture their OG goat fed.
Read More: Goat Simulator 3 review – Glorious Broken Mess Returns Gloriously Broken
We were lucky enough to grab a chat with Coffee Stain North sound designer Stuart Docherty and 3D artist Philip Bretshneider to talk all things goat.
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: What was the goal with Goat Simulator 3?
Stuart Docherty (SD): Both Philip and I joined the game at different times, I joined the game about two and a half years ago, so about half way through the development, but Philip has been there from the start.
Philip Bretshneider (PB): “Yeah, I joined literally as the studio was pitching the game to the publisher. We had been working on DLC for the first game and the MMO, it was like a natural progression for us to want to do a sequel.
“But we wanted to make everything bigger, louder and ultimately better with a bigger area to explore, no loading screens and really more things to see and do.”
SD: “From my point of view I think it was mainly that there was a lot more to be done here. The original Goat Simulator got so popular, even beyond the imagination of the original team at Coffee Stain, who have now moved on to work on Satisfactory and we took over the reins for the Goat Sim DLC.
“I think it was just a feeling of having all of these ideas, but it feels pointless just adding them to the first game. There were enough that were bigger and better, plus the chance to add in multiplayer and ultimately the formula was far from dead.”
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: One of the core pillars of the game is the community that has built around it. How has the community helped to shape the new game? And what would you say is the feature they were asking most to be added?
Stuart Docherty: “Simple… Multiplayer, multiplayer, multiplayer… I want to head butt my friends in the face. That was the main thing and we also believed that the game wouldn’t have been made unless we could add multiplayer to it.
“But beyond that a lot of the community’s feedback and ideas have gone into the game, if I am being honest. We really wanted to identify what people really love about this game and what people have fun doing. And if we could give them more of that, as well as creating new elements giving you more, which ultimately brings more fun to you as well as the game.”
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: What sort of challenges did you face when adding the multiplayer side of things to the game?
Stuart Docherty: “Everything is physics-enabled in the world and that’s all part of the chaos, so if you headbutt and drag stuff around, it’s all moveable.
“If you remember the trampolines and bounceables from the first game, they were all static but now you can move them around. So, if you want to collect like 20 trampolines and build your own bouncy house, then you can.
“But it’s all physics-enabled and there is a real limit as to how far you can push it…which turns out that limit is four players.”
Philip Bretshneider : I mean the challenge was there to have four players in an open world that was fully physics-enabled and just trying to keep the game from crashing and still performing at a solid performance level.
SD: “I guarantee, what’s going to happen is fans are going to be crying out for us to make Battle Royale 128-goat mode now after playing multiplayer, so I guess we better start working on that next.
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: One of the more interesting ways to travel around the world in Goat Simulator 3 is by grinding on wires and cables, where did the idea for this come from?
Philip Bretshneider: “The grinding mechanic is actually inspired by the older Tony Hawks Pro Skater games, because not a lot of people know this but that was actually the original inspiration of Goat Sim as a whole.
“They basically said oh this is cool but can we do Tony Hawks, but open world and with a goat and that’s how it all started. Even the graphics in Goat Simulator 1 is sort of reminiscent of the old Tony Hawk games.
“So, for us it was a nice feature to arc back to the roots of the series and its inspiration. But it’s also a very easy and nice way to travel around the world, as it’s nice and quick and works well given the bigger map.”
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: Does seeing players “breaking the game” break your heart?
Philip Bretshneider :“No, no, it’s actually a joy for me to see, especially when its making people laugh and having a good time enjoying the game. It’s more heart-warming in fact than heart breaking.
“Oddly, we really want to see just how odd and weird things can get. I am always impressed seeing the wild things players can do and make happen in the game.”
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: What would you say is your favourite new feature or element that has been added to the new game?
Stuart Docherty: For me the way that we built this game, means there are so many possibilities we can do, like it’s really easy for us to add new things – like new mini games or new gear and customisation items.
It really gives us an unlimited level of possibility we can add to the game. I am a super big fan of mini games myself. I really love them and as soon as I joined Coffee Stain North and saw the game in action I knew I was sold and that it’s going to be awesome.
Philip Bretshneider: “I would say the level of exploration in the world, as there is so much to find and uncover. Some of the stuff is extremely hard to find, especially if you don’t know what to look out for. And there are even sometimes extra steps you have to take to get it all working.”
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: With the game being announced at this year’s Gamescom Opening Night Live with a “tongue in cheek” trailer based on Dead Island 2, did you know that Dead Island 2 was also going to be finally shown at the same event?
Stuart Docherty: “I like to think that our parody inspired them…to get something done. We really love those guys, and they found the joke super funny as well.
“And now we have not only Goat Simulator 3 but also Dead Island 2 on the way, what a world we live in. But ultimately it was totally not planned in any way; it was just a super happy coincidence.
“But now we have given those guys free rein to meme on us. So, maybe the next Dead Island trailer is going to be a goat zombie or something. Then again, we maybe need to get in touch with them about doing a crossover maybe.”
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: Speaking of crossovers Goat Simulator was well known for its fun and over the top crossovers with other titles. Are there any plans in the works for similar content for the new game?
Stuart Docherty: “Well, we unfortunately like to keep a secret or two, let’s say. And I know the first game was carried along by some really cool and interesting DLCs.
“All I can really say is that our only problem we had with this game was having too many ideas to fit in. We had to stop at some point and say right it’s time to actually release the game.
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: With the game having a more multiplayer focus this time round is there any plans for a Forza Horizon 5 weekly challenge style system that could reward players with new and exclusive items?
Stuart Docherty: “The possibility to do that sort of thing is there, given how easily we can add content to the game. In fact, I don’t think we have actually thought of that sort of thing yet.
“What we have just now is called Instincts where you earn in-game points by completing lots of little challenges like doing stunts.
“But these are more baked into the core game. I actually think what you suggest is a cool idea and I’d love to see if it was doable in fact.”
TechStomper’s Stuart Cullen: What really did happen to Goat Simulator 2?
Stuart Docherty: This is really strange as a LOT of people have asked me what happened to Goat Sim 2. But we released Goat Simulator 2 about 5 years ago; it was a sort of horror thriller goat game.
“But maybe everyone got so scared of it that they have all repressed that game being released, as they have PTSD from the goats.
“Though, in all honesty Goat Simulator 3 is a typo. It’s meant to be Goat Sim 4 really, I blame Phillip because his finger slipped on the button.
“And I guess the next one will have to be called ‘Goat Sim 33 1/3‘ or something like that. But you know us, we are like top-level meme-lords and we love trolling. Just look at the Dead Island parody trailer. We love to wind people up just a little bit to get the blood boiling.”