You may well know the name Aqua Moto Racing. Developed by Zordix AB, it’s a series that has appeared on several platforms – and now its second entry has sped onto Android devices.
We were lucky enough to talk to Matti Larsson – Founder and CEO at Zordix – about the game’s development, what makes it the best aqua based racer on mobile, and why it can be enjoyed by anyone. Even those who suffer from seasickness.
Can you explain a little about Aqua Moto Racing 2 and why this launch on Android has come about?
Yes, this very popular game was earlier released only on iPhone, with a stunning Meta Critic score of 85% and millions in sales. Since there are no other good mobile water racers it is high time we released this game on Android.
What has been added to this new version of the game to make it better than ever before?
We have improved on almost everything! There is support for many different steering techniques including gyro, there’s fantastic animated water and we especially worked hard on new spectacular lighting and reflections in the water.
What does Aqua Moto Racing 2 offer that no other racing title on mobile does?
It’s a fun combination of tactics and racing, where you can collect boost both by going close to buoys and by performing one-tap stunts in the air. The water experience figuring out how to handle the waves is quite rare in racing and really enjoyable.
What were your team’s main influences when developing the game?
In the beginning with Aqua Moto Racing the main influence, besides driving watercraft ourselves, was earlier arcade console classics like Wave Race and Splashdown. We wanted our own take on the genre and to make an easily accessible game for mobile with lots of arcade fun to be had.
With Aqua Moto Racing 2 (AMR2) we went further in all quality aspects, and we hit such a big success that it’s worth it to make it available on Android.
What challenges did your team face during development, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge was to rewrite all the code for the Android version, and to adjust the business model to have a FREE version available as well as the classic premium.
What specifics tools and techniques did you use to develop the game?
We built our own technology using C++ code encapsulated in Java. For the beautiful water we program the graphics chips directly on a very low level to get the full benefit of today’s mobiles. So a combination of many techniques.
Is this a game that anyone can pick up and play?
Yes, pretty much! And since there is both a Free and a Premium versions, there’s no reason not to check it out right away!
Which part of the game are you personally the most proud of and why?
What I love about the game is the progression and the gradually increasing level of competition. I find myself spending lots of time with the game during flights, in trains and busses, just the way it was intended.
What tips do you have for people playing Aqua Moto Racing 2 for the first time?
When you hit a jump, press the shortest button to try out a short stunts. A longer stunt will give more boost and later in the game you have stronger watercraft to pull it off!
What are your current plans to bring the game to other formats?
After the huge success with our Moto Racing series, we decided to release it on all formats. We’ve just released a new game called Aqua Moto Racing Utopia for all the major consoles and PC for example. If you’re into any of those platforms, check it out as well!
We thank Matti for his time, and you can check out Aqua Moto Racing 2 on Android now – in both Premium and Free iterations.
