Capturing reality in despelote

In this interview, developer Julián Cordero and sound designer Ian Berman explore the development of their video game 'Despelote.' They explain how they aimed to move beyond traditional soccer games by grounding the gameplay in the gritty, nostalgic reality of playing in their neighborhood streets in Quito, Ecuador, circa 2001. The team utilized photogrammetry to create rough but evocative environmental models, and they implemented a complex FMOD-based sound system that prioritizes realistic interior-to-exterior audio transitions. Ultimately, Cordero views the game as a collage of real-world elements, positioning video games as a powerful medium for documenting lived reality.