Parkour and Werewolves: An Interview with Anton Morozov on the Future of Gaming

Contents:

• Key aspects of survival in the cursed city
• Popularity of engines: why Unity leads in Russia
• Marketing: an important component of game development
• Plans for testing and distribution of Beast Hour

Key aspects of survival in the cursed city

Beast Hour is planned to have only one map available. This decision will allow us to focus on optimizing the gameplay and improving the quality of content. Players will enjoy a unique gaming experience by focusing on the detailed exploration of a single map, creating a more engaging and rich atmosphere.

Currently, we're focusing on a single, expansive location that includes dungeons, rooftops, and hidden passages. This isn't a typical PvP shooter map and doesn't resemble the locations from Nosgoth. Our goal is to create a unique gaming space that will offer players new tactical possibilities and exciting gameplay.

The multi-level map has several key mechanics that help the user navigate effectively. Firstly, zooming allows you to zoom in and out on the map, making it easier to find specific objects. Secondly, the presence of various layers of information, such as roads, buildings, and natural features, facilitates a better understanding of the terrain. Thirdly, interactive elements such as markers and hints help the user quickly find points of interest. Navigational hints and routes are also helpful, facilitating navigation through complex environments. All of these mechanics combined make the multi-layered map more intuitive and user-friendly.

Our game features unique mechanics and visual cues that help players navigate the game world. The map is an arena for exploration and questing. Raiders strive to find Arcana—an essential resource for enhancing their skills—while Beasts are hot on their tail. This is a multiplayer experience set in a dynamic urban environment. We are actively developing features that allow Beasts to track Raiders, who can use stealth and track-breaking tactics, adding a strategic element to the game.

Raiders receive information about the approach of Beasts Through various channels. Primary sources of information include observing changes in the environment, such as unusual sounds or animal movements. Rumors and reports from other Raiders, who can share their observations, also play a vital role. Additionally, using specialized tools to track Beast movements allows Raiders to prepare for encounters in advance. Thus, a combination of observation, rumors, and technology helps Raiders stay informed and take appropriate action.

We implemented two key mechanics based on the game Dead by Daylight. The first is a visual cue: when a Raider develops a red glow on their back, it indicates the approach of a Beast. The second mechanic is the activation of a sound theme when a Beast is near, creating a tense atmosphere. We chose not to invent anything new, but to use proven elements that enhance the dynamics and tension of gameplay. These solutions make the game more engaging and provide players with an immersive experience.

Engine Popularity: Why Unity Leads in Russia

Choosing a game engine is a key step in the game development process. Many indie developers, including the BH Studio team, choose Unity for several reasons. First and foremost, it's accessibility and experience with the engine. Our team has significant experience using Unity, which simplifies game development and allows us to focus on the creative aspects of the project. Using a familiar tool increases work efficiency and accelerates the process of creating high-quality content. As a result, choosing Unity is a logical decision for many developers looking to create successful games.

Finding Unreal Engine specialists is indeed a challenge, especially in Russia. Historically, Unity has gained great popularity in the country, which complicates the search for qualified UE developers. Unlike Russia, finding Unreal Engine specialists is easier in countries like the US and Europe. This is because Unreal Engine initially imposed royalties, which could discourage potential developers. Meanwhile, Unity offered a more affordable subscription model, allowing developers to use the engine without significant upfront costs. As a result, the Russian market is experiencing a shortage of Unreal Engine specialists, which could hinder the implementation of projects requiring in-depth knowledge of this tool.

In Russia, finding a developer with experience working with Unity has become much easier. Unity uses the C# programming language, which is easier to learn compared to C++. This circumstance also influences the choice of game engine. You often hear the statement: "You can't make games like this in Unity; you need Unreal." However, as an indie studio, we adhere to our philosophy: we create games that we believe are right and interesting, regardless of the popularity of a particular engine. Unfortunately, we have limited resources to find the ideal solution for each task, which makes comparing game engines a difficult process. Each engine has its own characteristics: one is better suited for creating racing games, another for platformers. This comparison can be made between completely different products. At the initial stage, indie studios usually choose an engine with which they have experience. More experienced companies, as a rule, choose an engine with existing development tools and tools that simplify the development process. The right choice of a game engine can significantly impact the success of a project and its implementation. Every developer inevitably faces challenges and compromises related to the functionality of the chosen engine. When discussing the difficulties that may be encountered, it is worth noting that they are present in any engine. Each solution has its own characteristics and limitations, and it is important to consider them when choosing a development tool.

Optimization in Unity is key, especially when working with large maps and in the context of Multiplayer games. Unlike single-player projects, where players can use more powerful hardware, multiplayer games must deliver consistent performance across a wide range of devices. This requires a careful approach to optimizing assets, including textures, models, and animations. Techniques such as reducing model polygons, applying LODs (levels of detail), and optimizing shaders are essential. Memory management and network performance are also important considerations to ensure a smooth gameplay experience for all players. Thus, proper optimization in Unity not only improves the gaming experience but also expands the audience by making the game accessible to users with a wide range of hardware.

Our team often makes decisions in favor of performance, sacrificing graphical effects. For example, we developed a unique fog effect, which was ultimately removed to improve overall game performance. This case illustrates our ability to adapt to market demands and optimize gameplay.

Are you concerned that this will negatively impact the game's user experience? It may sound unusual, but I believe that multiplayer games don't necessarily require perfect graphics. The most important thing is that the gameplay is engaging and engaging. If the game is engaging, other aspects become less important.

When analyzing the online gaming market, it's clear that stylized graphics predominate over realistic ones. We strive to quickly introduce new elements and analyze the importance of improving texture quality. If a texture isn't critical to gameplay, we won't overemphasize it. Our primary focus is on playability and overall experience, which allows us to optimize resources and focus on more meaningful aspects of development.

Every success we achieve in FPS means another satisfied user. This is our top priority during development. We strive to provide the best experience for users by improving performance and optimizing the interface.

Marketing: An Important Component of Game Development

You Have you ever wondered why indie studios like ours need three community managers and are still looking for another? The answer is that modern game marketing plays a key role in the development process, especially in the context of multiplayer games. Effective community engagement not only helps promote the project but also gathers feedback, which contributes to improving the game's quality. Community managers help build an active and engaged community, which can become a key source of support and advertising for the game. Therefore, having a dedicated team of community management specialists is a strategically important step for the successful development and promotion of games.

The audience is a key element of any game. While single-player projects rely on product interest, multiplayer games require constant player interaction. This is reminiscent of the film industry, where viewers can forget about a film immediately after watching it. We actively use social media and collaborate with content creators to maintain interest and engage with our audience. This approach not only helps us retain players but also build a dedicated community, which is the key to long-term success in the gaming industry.

Creating a game is only the first step on a long road to success. To achieve the desired result, it is necessary to actively promote the project. Community managers play a crucial role in this important task. They interact with players, create engaging content, and monitor activity on various platforms, including Discord, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit. Effective community management not only helps maintain interest in the game but also builds a loyal audience, which in turn contributes to successful sales and project development.

Loss of audience is a serious threat to any PvP project. If players stop logging in, it can cause a "snowball effect," leading to newcomers leaving because they can't find sessions. To prevent this, it's important to prepare in advance and actively engage with users, taking their opinions and wishes into account. This will help build a sustainable gaming community and maintain interest in the project. Regular content updates and gameplay improvements also play a key role in player retention.

We've developed a clear profile of our target fan. Research shows that these are people aged 18 to 35, passionate about MOBAs, battle royales, and games with parkour elements. Many of our users prefer games like Dead by Daylight and Hunt: Showdown, highlighting their interest in intense gameplay and team-based strategy. Understanding this audience helps us better tailor our content and offerings to suit their gaming preferences.

If a player isn't interested in our game, we conduct surveys to find out why. Often, it turns out that users are simply unfamiliar with the genres we offer. This is natural—it's impossible to create a game that suits everyone. Even large companies like Fortnite can't please every player. We strive to understand the preferences of our audience and adapt content to attract more users and diversify their gaming experience.

I strongly advise developers to conduct research on their audience. This will help us better understand user needs and eliminate irrelevant reviews, which in turn will reduce the risk of disappointment.

Beast testing and distribution plans Hour

At this time, the exact start date for game testing has not yet been determined. We understand that this issue is of interest to many players, and we are doing everything possible to launch testing as soon as possible. Follow our updates and news to stay informed about the latest developments and information regarding testing. Your interest and support are very important to us.

We believe that exact dates in the gaming industry are not always justified. Alpha testing of our project is planned for the coming months, as we attach great importance to player opinion. The feedback received will help us identify key aspects requiring improvement and determine directions for further development of the game.

Beast Hour's distribution model is based on effective interaction with the target audience and the use of modern technologies. The main elements of this model are the creation of high-quality content, active promotion through social media, and search engine optimization. This approach not only attracts attention to the product but also retains user interest, thereby ensuring stable audience growth. An important aspect is the analysis of user behavior and the adaptation of the strategy based on the data obtained. This fosters deeper engagement and increases brand loyalty.

We analyze various business models, including Free-to-Play (F2P) and Pay-to-Play (P2P). In the modern gaming industry, most multiplayer projects utilize the F2P model, which ensures accessibility to a wide audience. However, successfully implementing this model requires constant content updates, which presents significant challenges. At the same time, there are successful examples of P2P games, such as Dead by Daylight and Hunt: Showdown, demonstrating the viability of this model. Ultimately, to choose the most suitable model for our game, we need to get feedback from players.

We actively participate in competitions and events organized for indie developers. This is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our projects, exchange experiences with other developers, and receive feedback from industry professionals. Participation in such events helps us improve the quality of our games and find new partners for collaboration. We believe that competitions and events for indie developers play an important role in the development of the independent gaming industry and foster creativity and innovation.

Currently, our team is focused on development and does not participate in exhibitions. We only participated once in the DreamHack Beyond online event, where we streamed at an unusual time. This was a new experience for our team, especially for members who are new to streaming. We understand the importance of community managers, as each one is responsible for a specific area, which significantly increases the effectiveness of our work.

Events can be useful for showcasing the game and attracting specialists, but we are focusing on alpha testing. Beast Hour features complex vertical gameplay, which requires eight people to participate in test sessions. Our team is actively working to create conditions for full testing, which is easier to organize through online announcements. This will allow us to receive important feedback and improve the quality of the game before its launch.

When can we expect the release?

We are not yet ready to announce the release date. We are currently focused on closed alpha testing, which will help us identify necessary changes before the game's release. For us, release means that the game will be available to everyone without restrictions. We understand that a premature launch could negatively impact the quality of the product, so we will move forward cautiously and with attention to detail.

Indie developers creating multiplayer projects can use several important tips to improve the quality and success of their games. First, focus on creating a stable gaming experience. This includes thorough testing at various stages of development to avoid critical bugs that could ruin the player experience.

Second, consider user feedback. Regularly engaging with your audience will help identify their preferences and problems, which will allow you to improve the project. Building an active community around the game will not only increase interest but also help with future development.

Don't forget scalability. When developing multiplayer projects, it is important to consider the possibility of increasing the number of players without losing performance. Using cloud server solutions can help with this.

Also, pay attention to monetization. Find a balance between revenue and player satisfaction. Develop a transparent and fair monetization model to avoid alienating your audience.

Finally, keep an eye on industry trends. Studying successful multiplayer projects will help you understand what works in the market and adapt these ideas to your project. Successfully implementing these aspects will increase the chances of success for your multiplayer project.

Every team faces unique challenges and circumstances. Therefore, I offer several universal recommendations that can help optimize work and increase efficiency. Pay attention to key aspects of communication and process organization that can significantly improve your team's results. Focus on clearly delineating roles and responsibilities, as well as regular communication and feedback. This will create an atmosphere of trust and collaboration, which in turn will increase productivity and make it easier to cope with emerging challenges.

• Decide on the concept of the game and stick to it. If at the initial stage you chose a theme, for example, ninjas versus werewolves, try to stick to the original idea.
• Study promotion and marketing as an important part of development. Social media and collaboration with content makers can significantly increase interest in your project.
• Clearly define goals for each event you attend. This will help you use your time and resources efficiently.

Exhibitions are not only a platform for communication, but also a unique opportunity to establish valuable business contacts and promote your project. Exchanging business cards and contact information can open doors to meaningful partnerships and collaborations. By participating in exhibitions, you not only increase your visibility in the market but also create the foundation for a successful business.

We highly value our team's gameplay. Every player interaction, strategy, and tactics they employ are key to achieving success. We constantly analyze and optimize game mechanics to improve teamwork and efficiency. Our goal is to create an engaging and productive experience for everyone, which, in turn, fosters and strengthens team spirit. We strive for continuous improvement, taking player feedback into account and applying it to enhance gameplay.

A developer must be an active participant in the gameplay. We set aside time to play our project and discuss it with the team. This allows us to gain a deeper understanding of how to improve the gameplay and identify areas that require refinement. We strive for harmony between development and gameplay to maintain connection with what truly matters to players. This approach helps us create higher quality and more engaging games that meet audience expectations.