Interview with game developer Trax about Wirehawk

There is something timeless about arcade action games that offer pure, precision-focused gameplay. Wirehawk takes that classic philosophy and pairs it with modern execution, offering players a high-octane experience driven by direct 1:1 mouse movement, bullet-time stasis mechanics, and a sleek vector aesthetic.

Behind this project is developer Trax, who set out to blend nostalgic Commodore Amiga influences with custom C# programming built on the MonoGame framework. I caught up with Trax to discuss the origins of Wirehawk, the design choices behind its vector look, and what it takes to balance a fast-paced indie shooter that will be released on Steam in November.

Trax, how did the idea for Wirehawk come about, and which classic arcade games or retro titles had the biggest influence on the design and overall vibe of the game?

I always wanted to play a classic shooter controlled with the mouse, where the ship follows the mouse movement 1:1 — instant response, no delay. My inspiration comes from the classics of the genre, mainly from the Amiga. The Amiga and ZX Spectrum are the machines closest to my heart.

What makes Wirehawk's gameplay and controls unique within the genre, and which specific mechanic sets the game apart from other retro action games?

The main thing is that direct ship-to-mouse response. On top of that there is bullet time (in Wirehawk it's called stasis), and you can also flip the direction of your fire to the other side during play.

The visual style and soundtrack play a huge part in the overall experience. What choices were made regarding the pixel art and music to create that specific atmosphere?

The vector look was another old dream of mine — I always wanted to make a vector game. And honestly, I'm not an artist, so designing vector shapes works much better for me than drawing sprites. The music by Juhani Junkala was chosen to match the style of the game perfectly.

Balancing an action packed indie game is often a major challenge. How do you ensure the game remains challenging for veterans while staying accessible to newcomers?

This is probably the hardest part of development. You just play the game again and again and keep tuning it. Beta testers help a lot too. The game is not easy, but it's never unfair.

Could you tell us a bit more about the development process? What was the biggest creative or technical hurdle you had to overcome while building Wirehawk?

The whole project is actually my journey into C# — I use the MonoGame framework — so I'm learning as I go. That was the biggest challenge and the biggest fun at the same time.

How does feedback from playtesters and the community shape the final design of the game, and were there any specific elements changed based on those responses?

Listening to the community is absolutely essential for me. Many new features and improvements came directly from player feedback.

What do you hope players take away most after playing Wirehawk, and are there any plans for expansions, console ports, or a physical release for collectors?

I just want players to have fun, enjoy beating their scores on the global leaderboard, and come back to the game from time to time. If the game is at least a little successful, I would love to make DLC with new worlds, weapons and enemies. No console ports are planned right now, but thanks to MonoGame the game is ready for relatively easy porting.

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Please, add Wirehawk to your wishlist on Steam.