More initiatives of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft
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More initiatives of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft

Three Questions to: Soapbox Interactive, working on "Rocket Science GONE WRONG"

Soapbox Interactive aim high: With support of the Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding, they have not only been working on a multiplayer first-person shooter with new game mechanics - they are even developing their very own game engine. Now, the team is celebrating its next funding success: They have been accepted into IFB Hamburg’s "InnoRampUp" program, aimed at particularly innovative start-ups from Hamburg.

Soapbox Interactive's founders Clemens Runge and James Rucks visiting the Tokyo Game Show

A FPS game in which the players can completely destroy the game world, combined with high graphical detail, as well as a competitive multiplayer mode: With this vision for their debut game "Rocket Science GONE WRONG", the Hamburg-based studio Soapbox Interactive was able to convince the awarding committee of the Prototype Funding that a grant of 48,000 euros for the development of a prototype is in good hands with them in 2021. Their goals are ambitious: They are not only working on the game itself, but are also developing their very own game engine, which makes the special game mechanics possible, in which the game world, built of millions of voxels, can be completely taken apart by the players. Ultimately, the game also serves as a showcase for the underlying technology.

The studio’s two founders certainly have the necessary skills for this: Clemens Runge is currently pursuing his master's degree in electrical engineering and has already gained years of experience with hard- and software development as well as image processing, and James Rucks, in addition to pursuing his computer science master's degree, has experience researching the use of Deep Learning in 3D environments and designed levels for a successful open source project.

Their own project is progressing well and the team is growing - now Soapbox Interactive was able to secure further financial support with their convincing concept: The state-owned Hamburger Investitions- und Förderbank (IFB) has accepted them into its "InnoRampUp" program, which supports technologically particularly innovative start-ups in Hamburg. Through this program, the studio will receive additional funding of 144,000 euros to support development over the next 1.5 years. We spoke to co-founder James about this.

What motivates you to develop this game in particular?

James: We are fascinated by games in which the worlds consist of small cubes (voxels). They make it possible to easily create complex worlds, like with Lego bricks, as well as dynamically destroy the game world with tools - or explosions. Rocket Science GONE WRONG will be the first game to bring the benefits of a high-resolution and dynamic voxel world to multiplayer!

A construction crane modeled completely in voxels | rendering from Rocket Science GONE WRONG

You received a grant though Gamecity Hamburg’s Prototype Funding program for your project in 2021. What has happened to you and your project since then?

James: Both of us as founders were able to dedicate ourselves to the project full time thanks to the Prototype Funding. In the first year, we developed a new game engine from scratch, which can display worlds made of over 100 million small cubes with real-time light rendering. Also, all the core game mechanics of Rocket Science GONE WRONG, such as movement, weapon mechanics and multiplayer, are already prototypically implemented on this basis.

And just now, you successfully managed to secure a grant from another public funding program for Hamburg-based companies - InnoRampUp: Can you give some insight into what InnoRampUp is and what steps it will enable you to take?

James: InnoRampUp is a grant for technology-based innovative startups from IFB Hamburg. It will fund us for the next 18 months and has already enabled us to hire two new employees. The additional manpower will allow us to bring both our game engine and our game to market much faster.


Find out more about Soapbox Interactive on their website: https://soapbox-interactive.com/ or their LinkedIn-Profile. You can also read a short portrait of their project Rocket Science GONE WRONG here in our project database. 

And you can find everything about our Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding program right here.

News

Road to Nordic 2025 - These Four Hamburg Games are Traveling to Malmö

With a spacious expo area, exciting developer showcases and many opportunities for business meetings, the Nordic Game Conference is one of the most important games conferences in Europe. It offers developers plenty of opportunities to network and meet relevant business contacts in person. Gamecity Hamburg will be back again in 2025, bringing four indie games from Hamburg to Malmö as part of the “Road to Nordic” program.

Road to gamescom 2025 - Apply until April 16!

Road to gamescom is back: We offer spots at our joint Gamecity Hamburg booth at the Indie Arena Booth for Hamburg-based studios, teams and devs. Apply now until April 16!

Prototype Funding 2025: Applications open until April 7

Applications for Gamecity Hamburg's 2025 prototype funding are open from March 3 to April 7. This year's funding round provides 400,000 euros in total and up to 80,000 euros per accepted application team.

Road to Nordic Game 2025

Gamecity Hamburg offers a Road to Nordic Game Conference program: We offer four spots at our Gamecity Hamburg booth for Hamburg-based studios, teams and devs. Apply now until March 30!

Recap: This was Pitch Level Up 2025

The fourth round of Pitch Level Up took place on February 20, 2025. Read our recap here in order to learn more about this beloved mentoring event, which will come back 2026.

School Internship Games January 2025: Pupils discover games industry in Hamburg companies

During a three-week internship, 15 9th grade students from Hamburg gained insights into the various job profiles and companies in the games industry. We visited them for their final presentation and found out what they learned.

Portside Game Assembly: Ticket sales for brunch and party launched

With Portside Game Assembly, Gamecity Hamburg is welcoming studio heads and directors from successful indie game studios on a conference ship and other extraordinary locations in Hamburg on June 27, 2025. More participating studios are announced and the ticket sale for all events has started.

Senator's Roundtable 2025 at Hamburg City Hall

As in previous years, Dr. Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media, and Gamecity Hamburg invited executives from the gaming industry to the Senator's Roundtable 2025 at the Hamburg City Hall to discuss current challenges and topics within the industry.

The German Creative Economy Summit 2024. Photo by Jan-Marius Kampnagel

German Creative Economy Summit 2025: Program Highlights

On March 5 and 6, 2025, the German Creative Economy Summit will once again take place in Hamburg, the largest national industry get-together for the entire creative industry at the location Kampnagel. We have put together a few program tips for you.

Application open for German federal computer game funding

Tiny Roar release "Into the Emberlands" as full version

Hamburg-based indie developer Tiny Roar released “Into the Emberlands” as version 1.0.

OneManOnMars releases Leif's Adventure: Netherworld Hero

OneManOnMars will finally release the exciting 2D action adventure Leif's Adventure on December 19, 2024!

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