While it is easy for gamers to get engrossed in the latest AAA titles and big-name, heavily advertised games, there are so many hidden gems waiting for you in the incredibly competitive market that will appeal to your favourite game genre, style of play, or even artistic preferences. In our monthly Indie Game of the Month column, we want to shed some light on the fantastic work done by the independent teams who pour their passion into their projects. After all, some of your favourite games, from Minecraft to Stardew Valley and everything in between, might be produced by indie developers without you even knowing it.
It might have a cute logo and a quirky name, but there is no mistaking the serious work being done by the team at Space Whale. Described as the “little brother” of Italian VR and AR agency Digital Mosaik, the goal for the Space Whale team is simple - craft as many engaging and exciting games for the community as they can across multiple platforms. Their debut title, Wisdom Watcher, is now available to try out as a demo, so we had a chat with the dev’s co-founder Marius Chiriac and some members of his team about it.
In our chat with Space Whale, we got to speak with Chiriac and the team’s Technical Artist and co-founder Alessandro Conforti, Marketing Manager Fabio Rodighero, and collaborating artist Eleonora. What we found out is that while the company only recently started making the games they envisaged for themselves this year, the company has been operational for over two years. Better yet, the idea of Space Whale was a pipe dream some six to seven years in the making, which they hope will be evident in the passion projects they are releasing to the gaming community.
Wisdom Watcher is an upcoming VR title that throws players into a battle arena dripping in inspiration from European folklore. In this first-person game, you’ll need to use your hands and wits to outsmart and outmanoeuvre your adversaries with the use of any of the game’s many weapons. To start with, at least, the game is primarily player vs AI as you attempt to survive swarms of unique minions in a quest to prove yourself the ultimate beast slayer in the community. That’s not to say you won’t be able to get your virtual hands on some other virtual players, the multiplayer facet of the game is already in development.
The back of the metaphorical baseball card is enough to want to draw in most fantasy, adventure, and action players. The game’s universe is described as “clockpunk inspired by European folklore” and includes a healthy amount of damage dealers in the many distinct and unique weapons in the arena. A competitive leaderboard will have you grinding for a hand at the exclusive rewards that come with each season, and a diverse amount of game modes will continue to pique the interest of the player base.
An exciting addition to the game that has been teased over the Space Whale socials is the use of cards. While the team were keeping their cards close to their chest, so to speak, on the subject, it was discussed how these recognisable and collectable items would serve as a source of unique advantages for players in the arena. With the right cards in your hand, you can hit your enemies with a royal flush of tower defence mechanics that will alter your environment with deliciously devastating effects.
In the grand scheme of the gaming industry, VR as a concept is still very much in its early stages, which in itself is a double-edged sword. While VR platforms and games will immerse players in their environments like never before, there are greater challenges to overcome to produce a game that is exciting but will also maintain the attention of players. This is not lost on Space Whale as they look to maintain the delicate balance between an enthralling story-based project with deep lore and characters, and an interactive arcade experience that is user-friendly and social. While the time for games with deep storytelling in VR is perhaps not yet upon us, Wisdom Watcher looks to retain its player base with a plethora of different monsters and weapons that draw inspiration from European folk legends such as Krampus.
What you see in the demo of Wisdom Watcher is far from what you will get when the full game comes around, and beyond. A lot of emphasis is being placed on the longevity of Space Whale’s games, which makes sense given the time, passion, and hours they’re putting into their projects. While they were tight-lipped for now about the Kickstarter campaign they have in store down the line, it was obvious that the team is simply teeming with ideas on how to continue to bring fresh content to the table for new and experienced players alike. The project is very much from the heart, and they intend to introduce new environments, weapons, characters, and experiences over the coming years that’ll give the project a new feel with each update.
While VR consoles may not be on the shelves and homes of the gaming community as much as their controller-in-hand counterparts, Wisdom Watcher is a prime example of why gamers should be looking at these newer gaming experiences. As the VR phenomenon continues to grow, so too does the quality of products being produced by devs great and small.
If you want to take your first-person experience to the next level, then the Wisdom Watcher demo is available via the Oculus App Lab and Steam VR. One thing is for sure, whether with Wisdom Watcher or any of the other upcoming games out of Space Whale, they’re an indie worth keeping your eye on.