Former PopCap developers unite for Space Otter Charlie

The puzzle/platformer is headed to Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation and PC platforms this March.

Space Otter Charlie, a new puzzle/platformer from Wayward Distractions and The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild, is headed to Nintendo Switch, PC, and various other platforms on March 18, 2021, a press release announced today.

Players will join Charlie and various other critters as they search the galaxy for a new home planet. They'll jump, float and fly through more than a dozen levels. Perhaps most importantly, there will be puns.

Wayward Distractions, the development team behind the game, consists of a few individuals who you may recognize from their previous projects of some renown. The team includes former PopCap studio head Ed Allard, Jeff Weinstein (AstroPop, Bookworm Adventures, Zuma's Revenge), Matt Holmberg (PvZ, Peggle 2, Feeding Frenzy, Magi Nation) and Isaac Aubrey (Space Tyrant, Forza, Bejeweled Blitz, Motor City Online). That's quite the collective resume, even if the new studio unit doesn't have any prior works to its name.

"While I was playing around with zero-g prototypes, the fluid motion reminded me of Feeding Frenzy, which was the first game I created like a hundred years ago," said Ed Allard, who has revived his studio head role at the new studio. "I'm not the first person to realize this connection - NASA trains astronauts for spacewalks under water. I started thinking that sea creatures could probably adapt more quickly to the strangeness of Zero-G than humans could. Blend that realization with a zero-g game prototype and a long time love of sea otters, and you've got Space Otter Charlie."

Judging by the available screenshots, the game will have plenty of the slightly irreverent personality you likely associate with PopCap Games. The official list of features from today's press release is as follows:

• Use all your abilities to pull off trick shots and damage enemies


• "Swim" as an otter through zero gravity and jetpack through dangerous new areas


• Enjoy local multiplayer modes with up to 3 friends


• Craft new weapons, upgrades, and wacky spacesuits to help you tackle puzzles and enemies


• Learn more about your furry friends with fun facts as you explore

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Staff article by Jason Venter (February 25, 2021) Jason Venter has been playing games for 30 years, since discovering the Apple IIe version of Mario Bros. in his elementary school days. Now he writes about them, here at HonestGamers and also at other sites that agree to pay him for his words.