In 2019, Seville studio The Game Kitchen became internationally known for its video game titled Blasphemous. The company’s creators define the game as “a stinker of Andalusia through a Tim Burton filter.” This launch became legendary and the company’s name was merged until it caught the attention of some multinational companies. One of them, the French company DotEmu, ended up giving them one of the missions that any team with these traits would dream of. It was about breathing new life into an 80s classic. Just a few months ago, they launched Ninja Gaiden Rageboundwhich quickly became the subject of rave reviews from fans of the genre.
David Jaumandreu is in charge of the project from his 10-year-old studio, which has offices in Seville and Tenerife. “We definitely owe everything to the success of. blasphemousa video game based on Andalusian culture, was a hit at the time and doubled our fame. I will continue Blasphemy II And it took another leap forward in scale and quality, becoming one of Spain’s most important independent studios. ”
However, the voices calling for mental recovery, Ninja Gaiden It completely surprised them. The original game was released by Tecmo in 1988 and remained one of the most popular action sagas until the mid-’90s. “It debuted in arcades and then came versions for Nintendo, Game Boy and others, and thanks in part to the ninja craze that existed at the time, it found its way into movies, comics, and of course video games,” explains Jaumandre. “Then it was relatively forgotten until the early 2000s, when it was revived in the midst of the 3D craze and returned to the X-Box and Playstation 3.”
spirit of the story
A few years later, Tecmo (now Koei Tecmo) returned to the fray with new versions until they landed with this Ragebound, now available on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S. But how do you start working at that level?
The Seville producer explains: “Traditionally, there were editors or publishers who specialized in acquiring IP (intellectual property licenses).ninja turtles Either battlestar galacticaFor example, look for studies that allow you to create games based on them. DotEmu called me and told me they were a huge fan. blasphemousthey had Ninja Gaiden I thought maybe you might be interested in developing a game based on that IP. Of course, it was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to miss. But we had to do something that would appeal to the French people who called, and the Japanese people at Koei Tecmo who had the final say. ”
“We were charged with capturing the most classic spirit of this story, but we couldn’t release a game that was exactly the same as it was back then, because neither the consumption habits nor the technology of the past has been preserved beyond nostalgia,” he continues. “It was a complex arcade-type game, but we didn’t want to make a video game like in the past, but as we remember it. It was an impressive game back then, but now the game is longer, with more options, secret missions, achievements… We wanted to find out why it still has fans and update it with modern formulas and current quality standards.”
play in the champions league
production team Ninja Gaiden Rebound We started with 15 people, but along the way we grew to double that number with the help of outside collaborators. “Once we reached cruising speed, we expanded our workforce at critical moments of development,” he points out. Thus, along with the producer and director Jamandre, we had a collaboration of artists of a very diverse nature from the production staff. concept The people responsible for graphics (creating the protagonist, enemies and other characters), the people responsible for animation, the people who design the various phases and levels, the musicians… And behind them were three years of work, in addition to the continuity of supporting the game for a year.
By the way, many of them perfectly remembered playing in the 80s Ninja Gaiden“We shed a few tears, too,” said one of the team’s youngest members, who was born in 2001. – I could only remember the 3D version. In any case, both felt they had embarked on a project of the highest caliber. “Of course, this is equivalent to playing in the Champions League,” they admit. “This is one of the oldest IPs in existence, and I would say it falls into the double-A category on a brand and identity level.” And while working on all of this in parallel. Blasphemy II and stone of madnesswhich also came out last year.
more than fun
“There was a lot of pressure and a lot of people were waiting to see if we would succeed, but in the end we were welcomed. Ninja Gaiden Rebound It was great to see a quick heart-to-heart from both critics and players, including some of the most demanding fans of this saga. “I couldn’t have imagined a better reaction.”
The Game Kitchen currently has 70 employees and the studio’s high performance is made possible by the fact that there is no shortage of work. Although it provides hope and a role model for thousands of children who dream of breaking into the video game industry, many adults continue to view video games as mere entertainment rather than a way to make a living. “Yes, there is still a lot of prejudice, but fortunately it is becoming less and less. In Spain the field has become more specialized and covers different profiles. For example, we have marketing teams that move accounts at the level of films and TV series. This field is a very cross-cutting field and everything applies.”
However, Jaumandre recalls, “Since the pandemic, there have been many company closures and mass layoffs. Our company is doing well and has managed to realize the opportunities that have come our way, but when we look to the future, we remain cautious.”
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