Strong and independent: Klei-main multipliers of the gaming industry

Klei Entertainment -This is a small independent Canadian studio of indie developers, founded in 2005 and located in Vancouver. The founder is Jamie Cheng, who is a programmer working in the past Relic Entertainment. Over its almost 15 year history, the studio has released 9 projects and at the time of writing the article, issues its 10 project based on early access. So what exactly stands out Klei Against the backdrop of their competitors in the indie segment, and what the studios are remembered for fans.

Base
It all started with the fact that Jamie Chang, a programmer-singer who worked in Relic Entertainment Above a series of games, in the Universe of Warhammer 40k, created a prototype of his first project and showed it to friends. Soon, after the end of Jamie’s internship, it was decided to create an independent studio and finish the prototype to the working condition. So in July 2005, with the filing of only three people (Jamie, Alex and Marcus), the studio was founded-Klei Entertainment. And a year later their first project was released-Eets (2006)

Eets - This is an arcade puzzle made in a cartoon style (which will eventually become the main one for the studio) and released on December 21, 2006 in Steam. The game also resembles an old puzzle Lemmings. The basis of the gameplay is to solve the problem of translating the ITS (main character) from point A to point B using different mechanisms, platforms and food. Behind this seemingly simple mechanics was hidden quite interesting and moderately complex warm -up for the brain. But even the creation of such a simple game that was a debut for Klei, was not without risk. And here I must say how the development and distribution of ETS influenced the studio and their games in the future. As you remember, Jamie Chang and his team was a ready prototype (made even during his internship), which in the future after alteration became Eets. The question remained with sponsoring the new studio. It was decided to turn to the state and enlist in his sponsoring. The studios gave the go -ahead, but the condition that the developer invests half the amount in the publication, and the second sponsor. As a result, an agreement was concluded that Jamie Cheng receives the entire amount of funding from the sponsor, but most of the amount will be returned later, from the salary Jamie Chang and sales of their first game. As a result, after the release of ETS, I was not only able to recoup the costs of developing and repaying a loan for the state, but also helped in the development of future projects (assessment of 6-7 points). Also, one cannot fail to mention the exclusive version of the eets for Xbox 360. Eets: chowdown -The exclusive that was released on April 25, 2007, and was an exact copy of the original, but with a delicious additive in the form of 120 new levels and the Marisho Madness mini-game. After such a good beginning, Klei I did not sit back and released its next project three years later.

Shank-This is a game in the Beat’em Up genre and a 2D scroll-player made in a special Klei-VSK animated style (KAT scenes and dialogs were made in the form of a comic book). The game was released on October 26, 2010 (release on the consoles on August 25, 2010) this time the sponsor and the publisher was notorious Electronic Arts. The game itself is a mixture of battles using near and long -range weapons, as well as Parkuru elements. The plot was divided into two companies. One for a solitary game, where we, in the role of Shengka, followed the path of revenge, the chief antagonist (Caesar), cutting out most of the Mexican cartel. The company for a cooperative is a prequel for a single company where we will find out the past Schlenka. But how the development and promotion of Shank? The game was announced on Penny Arcade Expo 2009.It was at exhibitions that they were noticed by representatives EA, which will later recover in the signing of the contract for the publishing house Shank. The first demo of the game was shown in 2010 on Game Developers Conference In San Francisco, where such features as interaction with the environment and new types of enemies, such as combat dogs were presented, were represented. The creation of the characters was not unique, but quite interesting. The characters were first painted on paper, and later transferred to the computer. It is in this way Klei They are still used in the creation of characters and games. Creative Director Jeff Agala was responsible for the initial design of the characters. Artist Megan show was responsible for the concept of level design. After the release, the game received average grades and quite positive reviews from critics (7-8 balls). The sequel was inevitable and was released two years later.

Shank 2 - This is a direct sequel of the original, released on December 19, 2012, where there was a minimum conceptual change. But still the game differs from the original enough. From minor changes in the form, adding aclexes and klektobols, to a complete alteration of the combat system. As he says Jamie Cheng In one of the interviews “We completely broke the gameplay and made it again”. In short, now enemies can be lured and thrown into traps, put mines, set fire to Molotov cocktail. Urban Blok, the main protective reception in battle now evasion. The plot of the game also suffered some changes. Now the plot of the confrontation between Schlenk and the local totalitarian regime is based (Hi Just Cuse). The game received average grades and, in principle, did not hit the dirt in the mud, though it was missed by many because of another hit Klei-s released this year (7-8 balls).

Mark of the Ninja-Game in the 2D stealth explosion genre, released on October 16, 2012, made in recognizableKlei-VSK style. The sponsor and the publisher actedMicrosoft Studios. The game process of the game is based on a neat passage, avoiding contacts with opponents and the use of environment elements. Secretity and invisibility, the main elements in the passage of the game, since the main character dies almost immediately, if it is noticed, but at the same time he himself is deadly when in the shadow (he is ninja). The plot tells of the champion from the ninja clan, which received tattoos applied by a special decoction that enhance perception, reflexes and reaction (Tatau that will help to kill Vasa). During the plot, we will have to repel your clan as a champion and later take revenge on the offenders. After the release, the game received fairly flattering grades from both critics and players (8-9 balls). Later, the game received an extended edition Mark of the Ninja: Special Edition (August 16, 2013).

In an extended edition,: the level of background, a new https://onlinepoker247.co.uk/royal-panda/ suit and equipment. The game also received a reward from the publication Rock, Paper, Shotgun In the nomination ‘the best stealth games of all time on PC (2015) 'and took 6th place in this nomination. Though Mark of the Ninja And it was a pleasant surprise, it was the next game (which in 2012 was already cooked in a beta test cauldron), which came out a year later, brought the studio popularity and is not forgotten by both developers and players (9 points).

Don’t Starve-Game in the genre 2.5D Action-Dventure with elements of Horror-Survival, released on April 23, 2013, console release January 7, 2014 (port on mobile devices October 26, 2016). For this time Klei began to publish their game, without the help of large publishers. The game can be divided into two conditional stages: a free game and a plot adventure (at the same time, you can get into the plot only through a free game). The purpose of the game is simple, survive and not die of hunger, monsters, and environment. The player will help in this player, a fairly simple craft system and 9 unique characters (an interesting fact: the names of all game characters begins on W, the exception is the main antagonist, whose name (pseudonym) begins at m). It is interesting that the developers moved away from the already accepted survival scale (sleep, hunger, thirst, hp) and made a slightly original scale. She shares it into two subsections, visible and invisible. There were two invisible ones in the original (later they will significantly increase them in DLC) cold and pranks glasses. There were 3 visible ones, this is HP (there is no need to explain for what it is), hunger (when the scale is overwhelmed, the HP was damaged every second) and the mind (when the character is reversed, the character was literally crazy). The very idea and the concept of the game appeared after the collected hint of the prototype, one of the developers. In the prototype itself, the hero had only a bonfire and an ax, the hero could move only during the day, it was impossible to leave the radius of the fire at night and it was necessary to fight off the attackers. The prototype algorithm was that the meat received from pigs was a minimum and grabbed to replenish the satiety, after which the hero was dying. So the name appeared Don’t Starve. The first collected prototype was postponed, and was in this state for more than a year. The studio decided to resume work, but at the same time lead them in the key to independent development from the publisher. For this, the Free-to-Play model and the strategy like Minecraft, when a small game with a minimum of content was created, and then the developers watched, if it turned out to be interesting users, then it is developed further, and if not, it remains free. To implement the model, steps to popularize the game were taken. This strategy worked, and the studio began to develop the game - on various platforms and filling it with content so that there was something to buy in it ”. Thus, the project developed, and the price for the game sold increased. During sales, the developers continued the popularization strategy, part of which was the mandatory sale of one additional free copy with each acquisition of the game. That is, each buyer received a game and the opportunity to give it to another player. As time has shown, this policy had its fruits not only for the main game, but also for DLC later released.

The first paid addition is DS: Reign of Giants April 30, 2014. This DLC brought a lot of new content to the game: new seasons, bosses, expansion and addition of biomes, objects, crafts, moisture mechanics and 2 new characters. If you think about it, the ROG against the other DLC looks quite faded, but it was he who strengthened the foundations of the game and gave a layer for the development of the game in the future.

The second addition was DS: ShipwreCked, published on December 1, 2015, which radically changed the rules, place, and the game itself. The scene is no longer a large archipelago surrounded by water. Now these are the islands divided by the ocean. And now the players are available to a new mechanics -transition and interaction on the water. Some crafts were changed or removed, a new category of crafts related to navigation, the addition of 4 new characters suitable for the theme of a new place was added. And much more that was changed or added to this DLC. WITH ShipwreCked-oh, The game challenged a new challenge, in the new entourage, with new rules, but with the old goal. The main thing is to survive.

The third additive has become DS: Hamlet, published on November 8, 2018. Like the past DLC, this will transfer us to a completely new location. This time it is a piece of land in the air, where two biomes border: jungle and the city of pigs. This time, DLC presents to players not only new content, but also a new goal in the game, with the help of two new mechanics. This is a study of micro-dange (in the original and in past DLC there were large dungeons that were a full part of the map) and a full-fledged trade system in cities. 4 new characters were also added. The game, if it did not shoot, it certainly became a commercially successful product, which the players really liked it (Maud Community supplement the game to this day) and critics (8 points).

Eets munchies (2014)
Eets munchies-This is a remaster of the arcade puzzle, published on March 11, 2014. There are no changes from the original in terms of mechanics, but 120 exclusive levels were postponed. Plus, Remaster was released not only on 'large ’platforms, but also on mobile.

Invisible, Inc.-Game in the genre of step -by -step tactics and with stealth elements, in the entourage of Cyberpan, released on May 12, 2015 (on consoles May 9, 2016). Even though the publisher remained themselves Klei, An additional budget was received from Humble Bundle, for temporary exclusivity during early access. The game itself is a step -by -step tactical game, the process itself was inspired by the series Xcom, with an emphasis on secrecy. The game begins with the fact that you have 3 days to prepare your last mission. In these three days you will need to get agents, equipment, skills and resources. All this is on missions, where 2 agents and II Incognita under the control of the player will need to steal the desired object, well, or release the right person. The plot tells of a spy organization Invisible, Inc., to which at the very beginning they arrange a raid, later after the plot is tie, they give us the task of preparing, find the guilty and punish.
The game was first announced on July 2, 2013 during an interview with a journalist Rock, Paper, Shotgun,Nathan Graison. Alpha version was presented in September 2013 at the Pax Prime 2013 exhibition.Incognita was originally called the project, but Klei developers decided to change it to Invisible, Inc. After the tests conducted.
After the exit Invisible, Inc. She became the finalist of the festival Independent Games Festival 2015 year in the nominations “Perfection in Design” and “Grand Prix of Seymus Maknally” and received fairly flattering grades (8-9 points).

Don’t Starve Together-A game that is a multiplayer spinophist game Don’t Starve, April 21, 2016. The main change from the original is a multiplayer game. Also, thanks to access to the network, temporary events appeared. From small and seasonal, such as New Year or Halloween, to quite large and complex, like Forge (Full -fledged combat arena) or Gorge (Hunger games in the most literal concept of this word). And we must not forget about the introduction of PVP. In addition, the game receives regular content additives that are exclusive for the multi -user version. For example, completely new characters or completely redone old. The plot served by episodes and synemats made in the style Klei. By the time the article is written, the game is still supported and is preparing to release a huge layer of content.

Mark of the Ninja: Remastered-Remaster of the original game, and this is, in principle, all that can be said about him. In addition to minimal cosmetic and sound effects of changes, no more changes. I went out on October 9, 2018.

Oxygen Not Included - This is a 2D game in the Colony Sim genre, released July 30, 2019. Game
The process resembles a mixture Rimworld, Dwarf Fortress And Factorio. In the game itself, we will have to take command over duplicates (specially trained clones for dangerous tasks) and build a space colony with their hands, inside the asteroid. We cannot take direct control of duplicates, but we can give orders and assign property/type of activity/machine/profession. It should also be borne in mind that some objects and blocks of a local ecosystem can vary in various physical embodiments (for example, water can be both solid and liquid and gaseous and all three physical conditions will have different properties and purposes). Do not forget about gases yet, each of them has some important purpose, for example, chlorine completely kills microbes, carbon dioxide will always accumulate below because of its severity, and without oxygen all duplicates will die. The sponsor and publisher of the game remained Klei. In time of development, leading game designer Johann Seydenz admitted that on THEY Games such as Dwarf Fortress, Prison Architect And The Sims. There were comparisons with their last major game Don’t Starve. To which Johann said that these games require different images of thinking from the players. If the behavior is more instinctive for Don’t Starve, then in Oxygen Not Included It should be methodological and planned. Interesting fact: assessments and reviews on Oni began to appear at the moment when the game was early access. So the author Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Playing the early access with the BULD indicated that the game is a space manager, and their lovers can find similar games, if necessary. At the same time, the journalist compared Oxygen Not Included With Rimworld And he noted that the first comparison in this comparison is suitable for those who prefer a gas and insanity game, while the latter is characterized by personalities and drama. After the release, the game received high marks both in the press and from players (8 points).

Hot Lava -This is a game from 1 face, in the 3D of the 3D platformer with Parkuru elements, the game was released on September 19, 2019. One of the features of the game is that there is no corporate multiplier visual Klei-e. Instead, there is one continuous three-dimensionality, though KAT scenes and many graffiti are made in a recognizable style of the studio. The gameplay is similar to the ancestor of its genre Mirrors Edge, but in a more simplified form. And though Hot Lava and has several modes and levels, the race is based on the time where the player will have to jump from point A to point B, without touching the floor, because (this is a surprise) floor is a deadly lava that does not forgive errors. The game does not present the plot load, from the word completely. A player is a child who represents himself a character of his beloved show and just rush about the location. Interesting fact: during the beta test of the game, Lutboxes were added, but later they were abandoned and replaced with levels and obtaining awards for levels. And one cannot but say that the game has an optional network connection. But it was done not only for transmitting results to the record table, but also for a competitive element with other people's ghosts and living players, this does not affect anything, but does not interfere with. It is always nice to know that you are playing not alone. After the release, the game was warmly accepted by the players, but not seen by the press from the word at all. Yourself Klei, assured that the support of the game after the release would continue.

Griftlands-Game in the Card Battler genre with RPG elements, at the moment the game is in early access (Bild R397924). Although the main work on the game has already been carried out, it is too early to say what it will be. Now the game reminds Slay The Spire, but with much more significant dialogues and consequences from them. A few more words about the battles. She shall be divided into two stages. The first is the spoken one, where the player should speak the opponent with the help of the arguments deck. The second is the classic stage for Card Battlera, where each character is a map in the deck. At the moment, the game is a temporary exclusive (until the end of early access) in the store Epic Game Store.
Conclusion: Studio Klei Entertainment Despite her small size, she was able to receive recognition both among players and among critics. Each of their products, always has a recognizable visual style. They always conduct a dialogue with their community and help to embody the ideas of the community in their games. So, for example, many localizations are made on the basis of unions of moders and developments. I wish the studio itself for many years, large releases and let me continue to please with its cartoon vision of all its fans.