EA Originals Spotlight
(Image credit: Zoink)
EA’s second spotlight focused on Indie developers in the EA Originals <3s Independent Studios showcase. Five creators from four different studios join Los Angeles Times reporter and gaming journalist Todd Martens for a roundtable conversation on independent game development and its impact on the industry. Each contributor brings a unique perspective, and their ideals show through the distinctive titles they bring to life in the EA Originals program. The Load Screen covers what the developers revealed about the near future for their studios, other than Silver Rain Games, which could only divulge that they are working on an undisclosed title.
The event did not directly showcase the developers’ works but focused on discussing independent development through individual experiences. Velan Studios, Zoink, Hazelight, and Silver Rain Games each had representatives who gave personal testimony to the contributions of their games. As a player, it was interesting to hear each developer’s point of view and how that focus shows within their titles.
Some of the game makers focused on artistic design, such as Zoink with Fe and the soon-to-release Lost in Random. Sometimes art can drive improbable gameplay that pushes further into surreal realms with seemingly impossible actions available to the player. Hazelight had a similar artistic design in It takes Two, but as creative director Josef Fares explains, they are focused on telling a story through game mechanics rather than feeding it to players in cut scenes. Velan Studios brought in a community aspect since Knockout City focuses on building a thriving player population.
Some of the game developers gave hints to where their titles were going to expand, with Guha Bala leading the way from Velan Studios. He stated that Knockout City would develop with their fan base and add story arks depending on player adaption. For a game with intense dodgeball FPS action and no story, that will surely be intriguing. Olav Redmalm, creative director at Zoink, talked about the twisted Tim Burton-style fairy tale called Lost in Random, coming later this year to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. He also indirectly referenced a VR game his studio created called Ghost Giant for Oculus Quest. It is a good competitor for dual-control VR gameplay similar to Moss and Moss Book II.
Sadly, Silver Rain Games could not release anything about the new title they are working on despite having CEO Abubakar Salim and Head of Studio Melissa Phillips as guests. They did talk about intensely narrative-focused games, and Abubakar’s work on HBO’s Raised by Wolves and voicing Bayek in Assassin’s Creed: Origins bolsters their mission statement. The company may not have a title to promote, but they have a passion for narrative video games.
While the conversation focused on what indie developers bring to the video game market, each studio could demonstrate what makes them unique. Velan Studios showcased how they plan to grow Knockout city, and Zoink displayed some of the visual aspects of Lost in Random. As the show concluded, moderator Todd Martens promised an even bigger reveal for Lost in Random in the EA Play live final showcase. When independent developers get a chance to express what makes them different, the entire market can grow. If anyone missed the show, check out the EA originals Spotlight page to get caught up.
