The absurd and over-the-top arcade sports game we so need right now, Powerbomb Games, Tinker Town, and Umbrella Games‘ Pro Jank Footy lets players live out their wildest Aussie rules fantasies with dad’s car and the like.
Accepting the interview invite without hesitation, we recently caught up with the insanely talented Creative Director David Ashby at Day of the Devs to learn more…
Pro Jank Footy Interview – David Ashby Talks Arcades, Humor and BBQs
Gamers Heroes
All right, let’s get straight to the biscuits!
David Ashby
[laughs]
Gamers Heroes
I knew you like that!
David Ashby
Gamers Heroes
I have no idea! [laughs]
So obviously with works like Italian Spider-Man and Danger 5 – you’re speaking my language. Those absurd works of art are just truly divine!
What are some of the learnings you got working on those properties when it comes to Pro Jank Footy?
Are there going to be Japanese robots or things like that?
David Ashby
Danger 5, Italian Spider-Man, and all our projects come from a place where we just want to realize things that we want to see.
And so Pro Jank Footy is an extension of that!
The whole genesis of this project started from a barbecue where Cam Rogers challenged us to make a video game, because apparently we’re funny!
Gamers Heroes
I’ll back you up on that one!
David Ashby
And he’s like:
“There’s not enough funny video games – and funny games do well. Why don’t you try making one?”
It’s something we’ve eyeballed for a while.
The other thing with that is just like coming down to,
“Alright, well, if I was going to make a video game, what would it be?”
Why not take Australian rules football, which the whole world knows, and that’s sort of the genesis of Pro Jank Footy.
We made an Aussie rules game that celebrates the fact that nobody knows what Aussie rules is.
Gamers Heroes
On that note – watching the trailer, it’s just bizarre!
There’s dad’s car, there’s all this crazy stuff.
How do you come up with all these crazy concepts? Are there a lot of barbecues or alcohol involved?
What’s going on?
David Ashby
When it comes to the core idea, in Australia everyone knows what Australian-rules football is.
However, outside the country, people ask “What are Australian rules?”
And so, what if you took a sport game where the rules change, going on the idea of like,
“Oh, Australian Rules means nonsense.”
Because if you describe the real game – and it is a real game; it’s one of the most popular sort of sports in the country!
It does sound bizarre.
Like, Aussie Rules is played on a cricket oval. There’s 18 aside. You kick a ball between two posts.
So what if we took that concept and put a mechanic whereby the rules are constantly changed, not just for a tactical or sporting sense, but more leaning to the absurdity of the game itself?
Gamers Heroes
I mean, in the Bay Area Pickleball is a big thing! Anything goes around here.
No shade to Pickleball – as long as you’re having fun, that’s all that matters!
David Ashby
Exactly!
Pickleball does deserve a game because it does sound absolutely made up and stupid.
Like, Pickleball? [laughs]
Gamers Heroes
Why not, right?
So on that note, watching the Pro Jank Footy trailer, there’s strong Neo Turf Masters vibes, lots of SNK love.
I’m a huge SNK fan – I’ve got a little mini MVS machine I made during COVID!
David Ashby
For real?
Gamers Heroes
“On the greeeeen!” [laughs]
David Ashby
Neo Turf Masters rocks!
Fernando – he’s the only guy you play as!
Gamers Heroes
I’m so glad you got it!
So obviously SNK has got all those killer hits. What other arcade games inspired this one?
David Ashby
Well, the obvious inspiration was NBA Jam!
There have been Aussie rules footy games made over the years, even as way back as the Commodore 64!
But there was never a 16-bit era version of the sport.
That’s why we were like:
“There’s an opening there!”
And to finally do that.
I’m 39 – a lot of kids my generation played Super Nintendo, and we were around for NBA Jam.
And in that whole 16-bit era, even like NHL ‘94 was down in Australia.
There were Aussie rules though.
So we were like, why not? Let’s make one, but let’s adopt the two mentalities.
One, let’s use the sensibilities they had back in the day. Let’s have high punchy art, you know. Let’s really restrict the color palette to the really simplify the sport.
But let’s also bring in some of that SNK, Asian sensibility whereby it’s really exaggerated, over the top, and just extreme!
We really respond to those games!
Gamers Heroes
It’s the best there is!
And then you’ve got NBA Jam – “Boom Shakalaka!”
And NHL ‘94 – that’s legit.
David Ashby
Yeah!
Gamers Heroes
I’m an ‘87 kid, so I totally get it.
David Ashby
That’s the thing as well!
In Australia, we don’t have ice hockey. I mean, we do it at an amateur level – yeah. But even that game was insanely popular back home.
So, we think if that can work for the Australian audiences, what if it happened in reverse?
We’re making Australian game for an international audience!
Gamers Heroes
So I have to talk about the narration with Broden Kelly – that’s just legendary!
What clip are you’re most proud of? Are there any improv moments where you just ran with it?
What was the most silly thing you can think of?
David Ashby
Broden Kelly is a member of Aunty Donna, which is a comedy collective out of Australia! They’ve made a bunch of stuff over the years, including their Netflix show Big Ol’ House of Fun.
They’re big fans of Danger 5, and we wanted to work together for ages.
And then this project came along, and Broden was like,
“Hell yeah, I’ll do it!”
So we did a four-hour recording session.
We had a bunch of the cues for the commentary, because a big part of watching sports is the commentary, right?
Lampooning that, we came up with really silly player names and leaning into the exotic calls that you have with Aussie rules.
But also, Broden did a lot of improv – he brought some of that Aunty Donna flavor to the game.
The thing is, with Broden, he’s an absolute sport maniac – especially with Aussie Rules!
He just fully embraced what we’re trying to do.
Gamers Heroes
Is there a line you’re all really proud of, like:
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you just said that!”
David Ashby
So we have a bunch of team names in the game – they’re completely made up, right?
So Broden came up with his own team name that was “Late Night Shopping” as a team.
It’s a choice – why not, right?
Is there a late night shopping thing in America with a Thursday night shop in the shopping centers and the supermarket?
Gamers Heroes
You know what? I might not know about it, but I just discovered it.
I’m going to hop on Yelp later today – we’ll figure this out!
David Ashby
Yeah, it’s a thing in Australia!
It’s one of it’s the favorite thing of the week for a lot of people, the shops being open until nine o’clock at night.
Gamers Heroes
Bring that over to San Francisco for a couple of days for GDC – we’ll figure this out!
So what’s it like interacting with community on Bluesky, Twitter, and Discord?
Social media is just great – I always say “strength in community.”
Who are some of your biggest fans right now?
Obviously me, but besides that?
David Ashby
We just did Steam Next Fest – that was an opportunity for a lot of people outside of Australia to not just play the demo for Pro Jank Footy, but also be exposed to the game.
And the reception has been overwhelmingly positive! We’re getting some really great feedback from a lot of people.
Generally that’s a really good sign when people have feedback!
Just like,
“Oh, they’re actually playing the game!”
As opposed to them not saying a thing.
It’s just been good, man.
Gamers Heroes
That’s what I like to hear!
Keeping it short and sweet…
If you could pick one character from any game – NHL ‘94, Neo Turf Masters…it could be Sonic for all I care!
And I mean if any game character could make a cameo in Pro Jank Footy…who would it be?
David Ashby
I don’t know his name, but the main character from Crystal Caves! [Mylo Steamwitz]!
Gamers Heroes
You know what? I’m drawing a blank too – but that’s what post is for, right?
David Ashby
The green guy from Cosmo’s Cosmic Adventure!
Gamers Heroes
Great, great pick.
I really appreciate the time!
David Ashby
No worries – thank you so much!
Want to check out Pro Jank Footy for yourself? Be sure to check out the demo via its official Steam page!
For those feeling social, be sure to follow the official Facebook, Twitter/X, Bluesky, and Instagram social media channels.
An official Discord server is also available for those looking to join the conversation.
Thank you to PR for their help organizing this interview, and David Ashby for his time!
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