A new independent game development studio, Studio Reset, has emerged in Edmonton with a team of three members who previously collaborated at various renowned game companies, including Bioware, the creators of Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Creative director Kaelin Lavallee, who departed from Bioware in 2015, teamed up with Kris Schoneberg and Francis Lacuna to establish Studio Reset earlier this year, aiming to explore new creative and production aspects of game development.
Studio Reset joins a trend seen among other Canadian independent game studios, such as Soft Rains’ Ambrosia Sky and Peculiar Path’s Reply All, where experienced developers from major studios are venturing into independent projects. While starting a small team poses risks in the competitive gaming sector, it also offers developers the opportunity to showcase their creativity in an industry dominated by risk-averse AAA studios.
Studio Reset’s inaugural game, “The Eventide,” is a supernatural mystery game set in a “neon-noir” Canadian environment, inspired by TV series like The X-Files and narrative puzzle games such as Case of the Golden Idol. Players will select from a range of investigators to solve unsolved cases, each investigator providing unique perspectives on the mysteries, challenging players to uncover the truth.
According to Paul Fogolin, president of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, the industry features a symbiotic relationship between AAA and indie studios, enhancing the industry’s depth and resilience. Philippe Morin, co-founder of Red Barrels, shifted to indie game development to regain a hands-on approach to game creation, a move that paid off with the success of their game “Outlast” and subsequent growth.
Despite the risks involved in venturing into independent game development, Lavallee of Studio Reset acknowledges the challenges of competing without the massive marketing budgets of AAA companies. Support from organizations like the Canada Media Fund plays a crucial role in providing early funding for new studios and games, helping them navigate the competitive gaming landscape.
Some indie studios, like Phantom Rowboat, emerged from recent job losses, such as the closure of Ubisoft’s Halifax studio, demonstrating a trend of developers forming new teams to pursue their creative visions. As Studio Reset and other indie studios strive for sustainability and stability in the long term, success is defined by the ability to sustain game development by attracting a niche audience interested in their unique offerings.
