When Stoic did finally convert the game to a more advanced device, it was only a case of Watson making some subtle - but not at all simple - changes, says Jorgensen. "The first few months of development we were playing the game on the iPad, though, and all through the process kept the iPad's usability in mind when designing both the UI and retina resolution size art." THE BANNER SAGA 1 MAP DAYS PC"We quickly learned that the game we'd envisioned was a little too unwieldy for the first iPad and so we redirected our efforts in the direction of PC and Mac," remembers Jorgensen. Inspired by games like Super Brothers and Sworcery, the team saw the value in developing with iOS in sight, so although The Banner Saga made its debut on PC, the iPad was always the target platform. "Getting back into a small studio environment has gone a long way to making me feel alive creatively again." Both had artists that I managed and people above me to please. "In games I went from working at Ion Storm and Retro Studios to head production designer for Star Wars Galaxies and then lead concept artist on Star Wars the Old Republic. "Early on in my career I pretty much stunk, but with every book I got a little better, it was a great incubator for my skills to be honed. "I'd sit in a small studio with my inker and draw stuff that didn't have to pass through a battery of gatekeepers to see the light of day," he begins. Jorgensen, a former penciler in comics, felt like it was a return to his roots. ![]() Stoic was born with Thomas as writer, Watson as programmer and Jorgensen as artist. The trio were enticed by the rise of good iOS games, the success of the teams behind them and, mostly, the creative freedom going independent offered. Formidable indeed.Īlex Thomas, John Watson and Arnie Jorgensen worked together for five years at BioWare on Star Wars the Old Republic when they decided to create their own studio. After all, Stoic, which was formed in 2012, is the result of three ex-BioWare employees forming a party - but instead of a Warrior, Rogue and a Mage, this party is comprised of a writer, a programmer and an artist. When it comes to player choice, you'd be hard pressed to find a triple-A video game studio more committed than BioWare.Ĭreating complex characters and meaningful choices is BioWare's thing, and on mobile there aren't many games with a similar narrative ambition, but of those that do, The Banner Saga is one of the most acclaimed.īut it's no accident that The Banner Saga shares that design ethos.
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