Remap Interview: Immortals of Aveum’s Bret Robbins
Jan 29, 2024
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Bret Robbins, CEO of Ascendant Studios and former creative director for Dead Space, talks about the challenges of launching 'Immortals of Aveum', establishing a war room atmosphere for game development, the challenges faced by independent studios, the inclusion of a gear system in the game, and the unforeseen reactions and surprising success of the game. He also discusses game availability and gives a sneak peek into the studio's upcoming projects.
Launch timing and market visibility are crucial for the success of a new game IP.
The combat system in 'Immortals of Avium' is highly engaging and complex, requiring mastery of various abilities.
Taking creative risks and developing something unique is important in game development, despite potential polarizing reception.
Deep dives
Development Challenges and Game Launch
The podcast episode discusses the challenges faced during the development and launch of the game 'Immortals of Avium.' The game, being a new IP from a new studio, struggled with awareness and market timing. It was launched amidst several other high-profile games, affecting its visibility and sales. Despite the initial rough launch, the game received positive reviews, highlighting its fun and engaging combat system. The podcast also delves into the surprises and uncertainties of game launches, including review reception and the changing landscape of review scores. The episode highlights the importance of user feedback and the high conversion rate observed when players had the opportunity to try the game for themselves. The discussion also touches on the challenges of conveying the unique features and gameplay of a new IP through trailers and marketing campaigns.
The Unique Elements of 'Immortals of Avium'
The podcast explores the unique elements of 'Immortals of Avium' that set it apart from other games. The combat system, which involves managing multiple systems and resources at a high speed, is praised for its engagement and fun factor. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of the game's combat, requiring players to master various powers and abilities. The episode highlights the challenge of conveying the gameplay experience through trailers and how hands-on experience with the game is necessary to fully appreciate its unique features. It also touches on the criticism received by the writing and tone of the game, which aimed for a humorous and light-hearted approach, challenging the more traditional serious and solemn tone found in the fantasy genre.
The Risky Decisions and Aesthetics of 'Immortals of Avium'
The podcast delves into the risky creative decisions and aesthetics of 'Immortals of Avium.' The discussion highlights the intention behind creating something different and not replicating established game templates. The team aimed to offer a fresh experience by combining elements from different genres, resulting in a unique blend of fast-paced action, exploration, and puzzle-solving. The conversation focuses on the deliberate choice to infuse humor and a lighter tone into the game, drawing inspiration from movies like 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'Thor: Ragnarok.' The episode acknowledges the polarizing reception of the humor and tone, but emphasizes the importance of taking risks and attempting something new in game development.
The Importance of Burn Rate in Game Development
The podcast episode discusses the concept of burn rate in game development and its impact on studios. Burn rate refers to the rate at which a company is spending its funds. The speaker acknowledges that while factors like office space, server costs, and licenses contribute to burn rate, the majority of it is attributed to the salaries of the development team. Layoffs in the industry are discussed, with the tension between the staff needed to develop a game and the staff needed for full production being highlighted. The speaker also mentions the investment landscape and how COVID-19 impacted funding for games. Despite challenges, the speaker emphasizes that games are still a worthwhile investment and that the industry will eventually bounce back.
Game Design Choices and Building a Lasting Franchise
The podcast episode delves into game design choices and the desire to create a lasting franchise. The speaker highlights the importance of customization and player choices in games. They mention the inclusion of gear systems and character progression in 'Immortals: Fenyx Rising' and express their personal enjoyment in creating a game where players can build unique characters with different abilities and playstyles. The speaker also discusses surprises in player reactions, including the polarizing tone of the game and the positive response to the combat system and world building. They express pride in the game's quality and express a desire to continue exploring the world of AVM with potential future projects.
What happens when a game you’ve spent the last five years making doesn’t take off? Immortals of Avenum, last year’s magic-infused shooter with elements of Call of Duty and Doom, was hardly a hit. It was the opposite. Remap liked it, but most people didn’t play it. The developer behind Immortals of Aveum, Ascendant Studios, was soon hit with layoffs. But Ascendant isn’t dead, and CEO Bret Robbins, once the creative director for Dead Space, came through Remap Radio to talk about what happens when you realize that bad news is on your doorstep.
