By the time you read this, we will have released the game, but I'm writing this the night before launch. The office is quiet now... the calm before the storm, I guess. Earlier today we ran a big, chaotic playtest. Eighteen of us piled into the game to see how well it would perform. Thankfully, it went really well, and everyone in the company had a great time. Plus, with so many people playing, we even finished the game in 31 minutes! That must be a world record!
Throughout the creation of this game, I've often said that it is a labor of love. But reflecting on it now, in this quiet moment, I think it's better to say this game is an expression of love. It expresses my lifelong love of pop-up books and papercraft. It expresses our love for Codename's history, unique art style, sense of humor, and the incredible games we can make together. It also reflects our love for video games as an art form, and how they constantly evolve.
We hope these threads come together to create something greater than the sum of their parts: a beautiful game where people feel happy, relaxed, and calm.
I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Here's to a smooth launch!
-Eric