Right now, in alpha, the optimum strategy tends to change with each new version. “Everybody's got really into workshops,” says Chris. “They generate so much money, they keep your prisoners happy, and eventually they'll also give skills to your prisoners as well. So they're all good.”
If all the talk of political ideology, race and simulation bias sounds grown-up, it's because Chris and Introversion are grown-ups. The game balances its dark subject matter with the cuteness of its sprites, and some humour. But for all the times when we think of indie development as being scrappy and punk - that Hotline Miami model of sloppy provocation - it's striking that Introversion have been doing this for almost 15 years. They are nearer to 40 than they are to their 20s. Two of the founders have children. They have mortgages.
It's taken a long time, then, but it's heartening that Prison Architect is Introversion's break-out game. Both because I'm talking to Chris from his home office and not a cell, but also because it means that indie development - the developers, the movement, the games themselves - are sustainable.
It's worrisome to consider how close Introversion came to collapsing. “When we were getting ready to close up and declare bankruptcy, I did actually apply for jobs at other games companies,” says Chris.
“I applied to Ninja Theory. Alas, I think I'm unemployable. I think they wrote a letter to me saying, 'although you've written a few indie games, we don't see how you're going to work in this big team.' I think they were probably right to be honest. I'm 35 now, the last time I had an actual job at a proper company I was 21. “Thankfully they said no, and that was when I decided I was going to stick it out with Introversion.”
This was in 2010. Development on Prison Architect started in September that year.
