13 May 2025
What started as a throwaway idea during a university group project - “kaiju cat game” scribbled on a sticky note - has clawed its way into reality as Cat-a-strophic, an action-packed, chaos-driven indie title that mixes destruction, goofy energy, and giant felines. The game is being developed by Purr Point Productions, a team of passionate newcomers who’ve learned a lot along the way, including the hard truth of what it really takes to bring a game to life.
For Anson Wong, one of the game’s founders and the tech lead on the project, the idea came about in the most casual way imaginable.
“Someone jotted down ‘kaiju cat game’ on a Moro sticky note during a uni group brainstorm,” Anson explains. “It never got erased, even after hours of other ideas. That sticky note just stuck with us—literally and figuratively.”
From that throwaway phrase, the team built a prototype that resonated with players. It caught even more momentum when they brought it into the Tranzfuser programme a year later, marking the start of a much bigger journey.
Bringing Cat-a-strophic to life wasn’t without its challenges. As a young team, Purr Point Productions faced two big hurdles: funding and a steep learning curve.
“We were lucky to get a UK Games Fund grant that let some of us go full-time,” Anson shares. “And for everything else, we leaned hard on the kindness of the industry.”
Support from mentors like Thom at UAL, Gina from Pitchify, Tom and Stu from GDL, and Scott from Skyline Studios helped the team navigate business, events, and even starting a studio.
A major turning point in development came when the team had to choose between two tones: relaxing or chaotic action.
“We thought we could do both, but it confused our message,” says Anson. “After a long, three-hour talk, we committed fully to being an action game. But we didn’t let go of the fun—we kept the goofiness.”
That decision helped clarify what Cat-a-strophic was all about. It’s still weird, still playful - but now with a sharper focus that players can immediately understand and enjoy.
The original prototype was built in Unity, but in May, the team made the bold move to rebuild the game from scratch in Unreal Engine 5, harnessing the power of the Chaos Engine for physics and destruction.
While some early mechanics had to be cut - like a physics-based player body - they added new systems that make the game deeper and more replayable, including power-ups and level-based rogue-like progression.
To keep everything running smoothly across their growing team of core devs, contractors, and volunteers, the team uses Git for version control and Jira for project management.
Purr Point Productions’ core team consists of five founders:
Anson – Business Development & Tech Lead
Sam – Producer & HR
Leon – Game Designer
Andy – Lead Artist
Conor – Programmer
They also work with a talented extended team, including contractors, volunteers, and friends who contribute across art, audio, marketing, and more. Each person has left their mark on Cat-a-strophic, helping it grow into something much bigger than a sticky note.
So what does Anson want players to feel when they boot up Cat-a-strophic?
“We want them to embrace the chaos—like a rage room, but with goofy vibes. Smashing stuff can be surprisingly relaxing.”
It’s destruction therapy wrapped in a cute but explosive package - a game that invites players to laugh, unwind, and let loose.
Anson doesn’t sugarcoat the journey of getting into games.
“I wouldn’t recommend this industry to anyone faint of heart. It’s hell. Long hours, burnout, lost relationships. But when I see someone laugh at our game, it’s worth it.”
It’s a sentiment many indie devs will relate to. For the team behind Cat-a-strophic, every broken building and delighted player makes the chaos worthwhile.
Keep Calm and waka waka...
