Torn Away: How perelesoq Studio is Creating a World War II Game

Contents:

• Current situation and project development
• How the studio coped with 2022
• The future of perelesoq studio
• Problems of game promotion and cooperation with a new publisher
• Multiplatform: the key to success
• Optimizing development with Unity
• The future of the Torn Away project: expectations and realities

Perelesoq Studio, which has been actively developing games for over four years, continues to work on the exciting project Torn Away. This adventure game immerses players in the story of a girl caught in the middle of World War II. In a changing global context, the game's anti-war theme is sparking lively discussions: for some, it is important and relevant, while for others, it is a subject of controversy, especially given the studio's Russian roots. Torn Away draws attention to important social issues and provides a unique perspective on historical events, making it relevant to a wide audience.

Current Status and Project Development

In February 2023, Skillbox Media once again reached out to Artem Koblov, creative director and co-founder of the perelesoq project. In an interview, he shared how his team is overcoming modern challenges and continues to successfully promote the Torn Away game despite the difficulties that have arisen. Artem shared the strategies that help them adapt to changing market conditions and maintain interest in the project.

How the Studio Coped with 2022

February 2022 marked a critical juncture for the perelesoq project: changes in international politics made the use of foreign services impossible. As a result, part of the team decided to leave the project and change their lives. Lithuanian publisher Nordcurrent, which had previously promoted Torn Away, terminated its partnership, putting the project in serious jeopardy. These events became a significant test for perelesoq, forcing the team to seek new avenues for development and adaptation in a changed reality.

Thanks to persistent negotiations, the developers were able to regain the rights to the game and resume its development. At the same time, the team raised investment for a new, as-yet-unannounced project, which allowed the studio not only to continue operating but also to continue developing the game Torn Away.

Currently, Perelesoq's core team continues to operate from the Moscow office. Several employees are working remotely. Among them are a lead 3D artist and lead game designer from St. Petersburg, as well as a programmer living in Kazakhstan. Remote work allows us to expand our team and attract talent from different regions, which contributes to the creation of unique gaming projects.

Despite the changes in the project, several employees who had previously left the team for personal reasons have returned. This return has become one of the most positive events of the past year. "We continue to work together on testing and finalizing the game," emphasizes Artem Koblov. The addition of experienced specialists to the team strengthens our position and contributes to the improvement of the project's quality. With their help, we will be able to respond more quickly to player feedback and implement the necessary changes, which will positively impact the final product.

The Future of Perelesoq Studio

Despite the current challenging conditions, the Perelesoq team is not considering relocation. Instead, the studio is focused on creating a comfortable working environment for its employees. Perelesoq is registered as an IT company, which provides our employees with certain benefits, including a deferment from military service. We have no plans to leave the country, as we value living and working here in our home region," emphasizes Artem Koblov.

The studio continues to actively develop the Torn Away project, emphasizing the importance of important themes and ideas. We overcome all the challenges facing the gaming industry in Russia and strive to create a unique gaming experience that will resonate with players. Torn Away will be a shining example of how video games can raise relevant issues and inspire thought despite existing difficulties.

Challenges of Game Promotion and Cooperation with a New Publisher

The Torn Away development team recently signed an agreement with OverGamez. During a discussion with Tatyana Frolova, a company representative, Creative Director Artem Koblov realized that both parties' goals for promoting the game coincided. This collaboration opened up new opportunities for the studio, providing a comfortable environment for its further work and development.

Promoting the game on the international stage became a significant challenge for the developers. The theme of military conflicts is particularly sensitive, especially for Russian creators. Some users may perceive the game's concept as mocking, even though the project has been in development for four years and was originally oriented toward anti-war ideas. It is important to consider that the perception of the game may vary depending on the cultural context, and developers need to carefully consider marketing strategies to avoid misunderstandings and attract an audience interested in social and humanitarian topics.

Artem Koblov emphasizes: "Our goal is to present the horrors of war from the perspective of civilians whose lives are devastated by circumstances beyond their control. We aim to bring players meaningful stories about humanism and sharp writers, who often go unnoticed by the media."

After regaining the rights to promote the game, the team, in collaboration with OverGamez, is actively developing the project. The Russian-language community on VKontakte continues to operate as usual, and the English-language Twitter account is also supported. The main focus is on publications on Reddit and DTF, as well as an updated TikTok account, where the developers are experimenting with new content formats to attract an audience. This comprehensive approach to promotion allows for effective engagement with different player segments and increased interest in the game.

Reddit is one of the most effective platforms for content promotion. It allows for posting both technical articles from developers and personal stories that resonate with a wide audience. This makes Reddit an ideal place to engage with your target audience and increase the visibility of your content. A key aspect of successful promotion on Reddit is understanding user interests and actively participating in discussions.

Artem notes that Reddit posts generate positive reactions even among Western players. In the event of conflicts in discussions, the platform's administration closes comments, but overall, users are loyal. They understand that not all games have militaristic overtones and value humanistic themes. Reddit is becoming a platform for constructive dialogue about video games, with an emphasis on diversity and social aspects, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the content and its impact on society.

Thanks to the implementation of a new promotion strategy and attentiveness to the community, the number of wishlists on Steam has increased significantly, indicating a high level of relevance and interest in the project among players.

Multiplatform: the key to success

Perelesoq Studio aims to make its new game Torn Away accessible to as wide an audience as possible. The project will be released on all major platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices. The simultaneous release on various platforms will ensure that every player can enjoy the game, regardless of their device preferences. Torn Away offers a unique gaming experience that will be accessible to everyone, which will help increase interest and engagement among players.

The developers are taking into account the needs of the Russian audience and are actively working on launching the game Torn Away on the VK Play platform. The possibility of releasing the project on the Epic Games Store is also being considered, which will significantly increase the game's availability to users.

The Perelesoq team is confident in the success of their game, which will be released not only on PC, where the project is self-published, but also on popular consoles such as PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. OverGamez is responsible for the console release, which inspires confidence in the quality and success of this collaboration. We expect the game to attract a wide audience and become a favorite among gamers across all platforms.

The studio's experts anticipate positive results on mobile platforms thanks to its unique gameplay mechanics and convenient, intuitive controls. A Premium monetization model has been developed for mobile users, which can significantly increase player interest and facilitate audience growth.

There are successful examples of games that launched simultaneously on multiple platforms and achieved outstanding results. Games such as Valiant Hearts have become real hits on iOS and Android. Projects like Gris and Inside have also demonstrated high levels of success thanks to their emphasis on artistic style and unique gameplay approaches. Artem Koblov, creative director and co-founder of Perelesoq, emphasizes the importance of cross-platform play for reaching the largest audience and commercial success.

Optimizing Development with Unity

With the console release approaching, the development team faced the need to upgrade to a new version of the Unity game engine. The original version, which the project was initially developed on, was outdated, which negatively impacted development efficiency. Technical specialists at OverGamez are actively working on migrating the project to the new engine version. At the same time, the developers are making every effort to optimize gameplay and speed up completion. This update will improve the game's performance and quality, which is especially important for a successful console launch.

Artem Koblov, Creative Director at perelesoq, emphasizes that the team often encounters unforeseen bugs, which require significant resources and time to resolve. As development nears completion, adapting to current technologies is a key priority. This allows not only to improve the quality of the final product, but also to speed up its launch, which is especially important in a competitive environment.

Despite the current commitment to Unity, the team does not rule out the possibility of exploring other game engines in the future. Artem emphasizes that they really like the Unreal Engine and would like to implement their project with it. The visual capabilities offered by Epic Games are truly impressive. However, switching to a new engine after accumulating significant experience with the current one can be a risky move for the business.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that successful game development requires a combination of technical mastery and flexibility in tool choice. The perelesoq team is committed to experimentation, while remaining focused on the quality and optimization of their game products. This allows them to create unique and engaging projects that meet modern industry requirements.

The Future of the Torn Away Project: Expectations and Realities

The perelesoq studio is completing the development of the Torn Away game, which is 95% complete. While a precise release date hasn't yet been announced, creative director Artem Koblov assures the project is in its final stages. Over the past year, the team has been actively working on improving visual aspects, including animation, post-processing, and shaders, as well as fixing bugs. Torn Away promises to be a shining example of its genre, thanks to its sophisticated graphics and engaging gameplay.

An unfinished product won't meet player expectations, so the developers are making every effort to create a high-quality release. The team is currently actively porting the game to various platforms. After this stage is complete, a large-scale trailer is planned to be released, which will help attract attention to the project and increase audience interest. High-quality content and attention to detail are key factors for a successful game launch, further emphasizing the importance of meticulously crafting every aspect of the product.

Artem Koblov argues that while we can't change the reality around us, we can focus on creating our project and enjoying it. This becomes our way of countering external chaos. By immersing ourselves in something we love, we can bring order to at least one area of ​​our lives. The creation and development of a project allows not only to realize creative potential, but also to maintain internal balance in conditions of instability.

Despite external factors that could negatively impact the studio's development and reputation, perelesoq found effective solutions to overcome these challenges. In collaboration with publisher OverGamez, a strategy was developed focused on releasing the game on multiple platforms and adequately presenting it to an international audience. The success of this strategy could be decisive in the fate of the game Torn Away.

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Public domain: definition and application in the gaming industry

Public domain - This is a category of works for which the copyright has expired, making them free for use. In the gaming industry, this concept is especially important, as developers can use such materials without having to obtain licenses or pay royalties.

Using public domain materials in games opens up vast opportunities for creativity. Developers can integrate classic characters, stories, and design elements, allowing them to create unique and engaging projects. This not only reduces development costs but also provides a chance to revive forgotten works, adapting them to modern realities.

Furthermore, the public domain promotes the development of indie games, allowing small studios and independent developers to draw on a rich cultural heritage. This creates diversity in the market and draws attention to new ideas and concepts.

It is important to note that to successfully use public domain materials, developers must carefully consider the legal aspects and ensure that they are truly within this category. It is also worth paying attention to the cultural context and target audience to ensure the correct interpretation and perception of the created content.

Thus, the public domain is a valuable resource for the gaming industry, offering new opportunities for creativity and innovation.