A fresh independent video game studio comprised of veterans from renowned gaming companies is making waves in the competitive industry. Studio Reset, located in Edmonton, is a three-person team with roots in Bioware, known for creating iconic games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Kaelin Lavallee, the creative director, departed from Bioware in 2015 and collaborated with various game companies before co-founding Studio Reset alongside Kris Schoneberg and Francis Lacuna earlier this year. The team’s aim is to delve into the creative and production aspects of game development.
Following a trend among Canadian independent game developers, Studio Reset and others, like Soft Rains and Peculiar Path, have leveraged their extensive experience from larger studios to forge their paths. While venturing into the indie game scene poses risks due to the fierce competition in the gaming market, it allows developers to showcase their creativity more freely compared to AAA studios.
Studio Reset’s debut project, “The Eventide,” is a supernatural mystery game set in a Canadian “neon-noir” environment inspired by classic series like The X-Files and narrative puzzle games. Players will select investigators with diverse perspectives to unravel unsolved cases, mirroring the contrasting viewpoints seen in The X-Files’ Mulder and Scully.
The Entertainment Software Association of Canada emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between AAA and indie studios, citing the latter’s contribution of entrepreneurship and innovative ideas to the gaming industry. Philippe Morin, co-founder of Red Barrels, transitioned to indie development to focus on hands-on game creation after years in larger studios, a move that proved successful with hits like “Outlast.”
While the gaming landscape evolves, indie studios face challenges in marketing and funding, requiring innovative strategies to attract players. Despite the uncertainties, Studio Reset and other indie developers remain steadfast in their pursuit of creating niche games for their dedicated audience, aiming for sustainable growth in the long term.