After E3 2015, StudioMDHR was ready to fully commit to its initial ”dream scope" for the game. ”We realized that there were a lot of people out there that wanted what we were doing," says Chad. ”My brother and I quit our jobs, remortgaged our houses and began expanding the team. This was our chance to actually deliver the game we wanted to make all along, rather than the cut-scope game we originally planned with a three person team." It's a gamble that could easily have backfired on the brothers. Hello Games and its overly ambitious No Man's Sky is a prime example of a studio throwing everything they have at the game and, for the most part, failing to meet expectations. Tellingly, Hello Games has been incredibly quiet ever since, kept firmly out of the spotlight by Sony.
Once the decision was made to expand the scope, Chad and Jared quickly started to expand the development team, as it would've been impossible to successfully create a larger version of Cuphead with just three people. Now, StudioMDHR employs 20 people (including Chad and Jared). This is everyone from animators and designers, to a hand-lettering artist and digital painters.
Chad Moldenhauer
Chad expands on this: ”The bulk of the engine work was already in place from building the core Cuphead controls and stage setup for the bosses. Evolving from there to fully scrolling levels was just the next step."
Though Chad and Jared knew exactly what was required of the team to craft levels, it didn't make the job any easier. After all, the most difficult part about developing Cuphead is nailing its art style.
