Bionic Buzz® covered Free Play Florida in Orlando, FL, where we had the opportunity to interview legendary game designer Brian F. Colin. During the interview, Brian shared behind-the-scenes stories from being on set of the Rampage movie starring Dwayne Johnson, his thoughts on the Free Play Florida convention, and exciting updates on his latest project, General Chaos: MAJOR SNAFU.

Brian F. Colin is a renowned video-game designer, artist, and animator. He is best known for creating classic arcade and console titles including Rampage, Arch Rivals, Rampage: World Tour, and General Chaos for the Sega Genesis. His work is widely recognized for its distinctive bitmapped graphics and expressive animation style that helped define the look and personality of arcade gaming in the late ’80s and ’90s. Brian is also the CEO of Game Refuge, an independent video-game design and development studio based in Illinois.

About General Chaos: MAJOR SNAFU

Originally released for the Sega Genesis, General Chaos is considered by many to be one of the first — and funniest — real-time strategy games ever made. The game featured fast-paced, squad-based combat in which players controlled up to five soldiers, each equipped with unique weapons and abilities. Its gameplay was far ahead of its time, blending tactical decision-making with nonstop action.

The game’s humor carried the same irreverent, tongue-in-cheek tone found in Brian’s earlier titles such as Rampage, Xenophobe, Arch Rivals, and Pigskin 621 A.D. Upon release, General Chaos was very well received and became one of EA’s best-selling original intellectual properties for the Sega Genesis that year.

Now, General Chaos: MAJOR SNAFU is well over halfway to completion and reimagines the classic experience as a sprite-based, multiplayer PC game. The new version supports Xbox-style controllers as well as keyboard and mouse controls, bringing modern flexibility to its old-school roots.

All of the original fan-favorite characters are returning — only more versatile, smarter, and funnier than ever. The Gunner, Chucker, Scorcher, Blaster, and Launcher have already been created and implemented. New character and weapon types have also been introduced, including two-fisted Ultimate Commandos with double the firepower, shotgun-wielding Sergeants, and wildly over-enthusiastic Raw Recruits. These recruits are strategically placed in key locations, giving each General a true home-field advantage during battle.

Free Play Florida’s mission is to educate and celebrate the history, art, and science of arcades, pinball, and early computers through community-focused events. The convention is presented by Byte Amusement Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) accredited nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing gaming history.

Connect:
https://www.gamerefuge.com/
https://www.instagram.com/briancolinrampage/
https://www.freeplayflorida.com/
https://www.facebook.com/freeplayflorida
https://www.instagram.com/freeplayflorida
https://x.com/freeplayfla
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4228230/General_Chaos__MAJOR_SNAFU/

Video shoot and edited by Steve Sievers of Bionic Buzz®.