Interview with the Developer of Future Vibe Check
Future Vibe Check is the kind of game that you have to see and hear to be able to really appreciate the amount of ideas and work that have gone into it. We absolutely love this automation strategy game from Unwise and I’m so excited that I was able to ask some questions about the game.
Thank you very much to Manik (Unwise) for answering my questions.
Can you tell me more about the team behind Future Vibe Check?
The team is primarily me, Manik, though I go by Unwise online. My background is actually in the startup world – I co-founded and ran a healthcare tech company for nearly a decade and after that journey wanted to create something I would have loved when I was younger. My deepest passions have always revolved around video games, music, psychedelics, and Eastern philosophy. Future Vibe Check is a love letter to those interests. I'm collaborating with talented freelancers who share my vision to help bring this Vibe to life.
What inspired you to create an automation game centered around music?
Automation games are fascinating because they're all about systems, efficiency, and creating order out of chaos. However, I wanted to challenge the obsession with endless growth and productivity. By merging automation mechanics with music—something inherently emotional and expressive—I wanted to encourage players to channel their creativity and have a real-world connection (sound) to their factory setups. Luckily, the problem solving and spatial reasoning found in automation games lend themselves well to the universal beauty found in music theory.
In Future Vibe Check, you’re creating a factory of sorts using belts, inserters, mergers, etc. Is the factory yours to create however you want? Or do you have to follow certain rules to make sure that things run efficiently?
Absolutely, the factory is your canvas! You get all the familiar tools – belts, inserters, mergers, etc. – to build intricate logistics however you envision them. However, there is an added layer of building out musical networks that play the music and also drive key automation mechanics like gathering resources. Music and automation are connected. So, you can optimize for efficiency but the game actively encourages you to think beyond just maximum throughput. The core challenge is balancing logistical efficiency with musical creation. Your factory's layout and operation directly generate the music, so the 'rules' are as much about creating a harmonious vibe as they are about pure production. It’s about making the systems work musically, finding that sweet spot where efficiency meets harmony.
While the game involves automation, it also has rhythm and pitch mini games. Can you go into a bit of detail about that element of the game?
In typical automation/crafting games, I sometimes found myself getting bored with things like resource gathering actions. So, I replaced monotonous/tedious actions like hold-to-mine with rhythm-based mini-games, which asks players to master timing, melody, or pitch recognition. It's a way to ensure that every repetitive task also feels fun and musical. In addition, I have tied some of the narrative beats in the game to fun rhythm game set-pieces to give a nice palette cleanser for the player and to create memorable moments as they go through the game experience.
The Steam page for the game mentions “Vibe Stealers” that will try to threaten your creations. What kind of things will players be able to do to defend against the Vibe Stealers?
Ah, the Vibe Stealers! Yes, as your musical factory grows and generates a stronger vibe, it naturally attracts these entities – linked to an underlying cosmic tension. Think of it as a sort of base defense meets music where the music you make directly influences tower behavior (ex. Percussion instruments are an AOE pulse). Players will have various ways to build defenses and safeguard their creation. This system is not meant to be high-stress though. There are multiple options for how players can engage with it, allowing them to protect their vibe at a pace that feels comfortable for them.
What is a genre of music and/or an artist that always passes your personal vibe check?
That's a tough one because I love all types of music! I appreciate anything with authentic story telling, unique textures, or a sense of tradition. If it makes you feel something or makes you think, it passes my vibe check. Some of my favorites artists are Godspeed! You Black Emperor’, ‘Sufjan Stevens’, and ‘Death Grips’.
What does “indie” mean to you?
To me, indie means freedom and experimentation. It’s about taking risks that larger studios typically avoid. Being indie allows me to build something bold, subversive, and deeply reflective of my passions without much compromise.
Future Vibe check is available to wishlist on Steam now.