Traditional development studio Double Fine Productions dared to start anew independently, launching its first official game project after separating from Microsoft and the Xbox division. Led by industry fanatic Tim Schafer, the makers of Psychonauts and Grim Fandango have announced the PC version of their quirky comedy bus simulator Thank You Bus Driver. The project marks the first real emancipation for the independent developer after the studio had to lay off around a quarter of its 90 employees during a difficult restructuring to get back to a financially viable company. The game is now available for pre-order on digital platforms Steam and GOG.
In terms of content, Double Fine remains true to itself and offers the usual humorous twist on an essentially dry genre. In Thank You Bus Driver, you play as a rule-obsessed yet completely inconsiderate bus driver who must transport passengers to their destinations on time.
Arriving at the station on time is the most important thing: whether you check your map in the middle of the oncoming lane, take a shortcut through the middle of a grain field, or simply ignore street signs and pedestrians, it’s entirely up to you. The real chaos, however, occurs inside the bus: to maintain order, you must hold passengers accountable for violating strict house rules, such as cutting their toenails or simply sleeping.
The move underscores the sweeping changes Double Fine has undergone behind the scenes. After splitting from Microsoft, studio head Tim Schafer’s main concern is to regain control of the fate of his brand and avoid bankruptcy or closure of the parent company. Despite painful staff cuts, the studio is now looking to the future with optimism and is once again focusing more on lean, creative game concepts that don’t require the pressure of a huge triple-A budget.
The development team has not yet given a specific release date for Chaos Bus Simulation. However, interested players can now support the project by adding the game to their wishlist on the Steam store.
