26 votes

Summer Eternal - A new cooperative game studio from ex-ZA/UM devs

15 comments

  1. [7]
    Ecrapsnud
    Link
    A handful of ex-ZA/UM devs have formed a new artists' collective/game studio, and this website has their manifesto, details on their structure as a co-op, and an artist's statement about their...

    A handful of ex-ZA/UM devs have formed a new artists' collective/game studio, and this website has their manifesto, details on their structure as a co-op, and an artist's statement about their project.

    The ending to that artist's statement is really just some beautiful writing, and it has me excited for whatever they'll make.

    Summer Eternal is the school break morning that stretches viscous like a hair of honey, luxurious enough to nourish you across decades, to form all notions of sunlight and safety and mornings forever, a gift from your child self to the old that you chase your whole life and can never quite recreate. Summer Eternal is the long glory of the golden season, Solar Maximum, sun-spot on a nuclear furnace, the stretching molten oblivion that will slowly engulf the Earth, the impending heat apocalypse of our world, ever yet longer by the year.

    Summer Eternal is a war machine waging war at the machine. Summer Eternal is the last hearth, the burning roof that keeps the children from the dark. Summer Eternal is what we'll make of it, and what it will make of us.

    Come outside with us tomorrow. You don't have to set your alarm.

    14 votes
    1. metoosalem
      Link Parent
      Wow I am positively pumped reading this! I remember when I first found out of their story I felt so bad for how they’ve had their baby taken away from them and all. I still haven’t finished disco...

      Wow I am positively pumped reading this!

      I remember when I first found out of their story I felt so bad for how they’ve had their baby taken away from them and all. I still haven’t finished disco elysium because it all got way too real for me. The writing is just something else.

      These guys have an amazing vision and I am so happy to see they didn’t let this bring them down and I cannot wait to see what they are going to come up with.

      6 votes
    2. [5]
      Minithra
      Link Parent
      That reads like drug-fueled incoherence* to me, and makes me think the game will be one of those odd niche games that I rarely feel any interest in playing *As in, it reminds me of trying to read...

      That reads like drug-fueled incoherence* to me, and makes me think the game will be one of those odd niche games that I rarely feel any interest in playing

      *As in, it reminds me of trying to read back texts the day after

      6 votes
      1. hungariantoast
        Link Parent
        Sounds pretty disco if you ask me

        reads like drug-fueled incoherence

        Sounds pretty disco if you ask me

        15 votes
      2. CptBluebear
        Link Parent
        That means it's working. Truthfully, stylistically it matches their previous writing style. I don't know what specifically sets it apart but it's incredible how on brand it reads.

        That means it's working.

        Truthfully, stylistically it matches their previous writing style. I don't know what specifically sets it apart but it's incredible how on brand it reads.

        9 votes
      3. vord
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Spoken like someone that hasn't met many artists (to be clear not intended as a dig). They can seem a peculiar bunch, but that's what makes them great. Creativity is about pushing boundaries of...

        Spoken like someone that hasn't met many artists (to be clear not intended as a dig). They can seem a peculiar bunch, but that's what makes them great.

        Creativity is about pushing boundaries of the said and done, and as such artistic fields are abound with eccentric types. Style of the PR announcement is as (or more) important than the substance. Here's another fantastic artist business.

        I've never met an artist with a home that would be described as orderly (especially painters and sculptors), but they are all beautiful and oozing with personality.

        5 votes
      4. jujubunicorn
        Link Parent
        Sooooooo??? Disco Elysium? Idk but that game did pretty well I think

        Sooooooo??? Disco Elysium? Idk but that game did pretty well I think

  2. [2]
    smiles134
    Link
    I believe there were three studios announced yesterday that were formed by former Disco Elysium devs. This one, Longdue Studios (https://www.longduegames.com/), and Dark Math Games...

    I believe there were three studios announced yesterday that were formed by former Disco Elysium devs. This one, Longdue Studios (https://www.longduegames.com/), and Dark Math Games (https://www.gamesindustry.biz/another-group-of-ex-disco-elysium-developers-found-dark-math-games)

    12 votes
    1. Ecrapsnud
      Link Parent
      Save for Kurvitz and Rostov's new studio Red Info, I believe Summer Eternal has the highest-profile names attached to it (namely DE writer Argo Tuulik, among a couple others). Longdue hasn't...

      Save for Kurvitz and Rostov's new studio Red Info, I believe Summer Eternal has the highest-profile names attached to it (namely DE writer Argo Tuulik, among a couple others). Longdue hasn't announced any names, and Dark Math seems to have been founded by a former motion graphics designer at ZA/UM as well as the brother of one of the people who helped take over ZA/UM in the first place, which is interesting (https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/a-disco-elysium-successor-studio-has-been-announced-for-the-second-time-today-meaning-there-are-now-4-companies-battling-for-the-title-of-za-ums-true-inheritor/).

      6 votes
  3. [2]
    V17
    Link
    Surely I'm not the only one who thinks that a leftist group splitting up with drama and infighting into four other groups who each claim that they're the successors, hastily announce their...

    Surely I'm not the only one who thinks that a leftist group splitting up with drama and infighting into four other groups who each claim that they're the successors, hastily announce their creation in two days not to fall behind, and one of them launches with a pompous manifesto is very stereotypical and very funny.

    Let's hope some of them deliver, it's refreshing seeing devs who seem to really take their work seriously from the artistic standpoint.

    11 votes
    1. donn
      Link Parent
      Two are just normal capitalist companies now, one is funded by Netease (China,) and one is a worker's cooperative. It's so on the nose it hurts.

      Two are just normal capitalist companies now, one is funded by Netease (China,) and one is a worker's cooperative. It's so on the nose it hurts.

      8 votes
  4. [4]
    Ecrapsnud
    Link
    Of note is that I think this is the third(?) studio announced today by ZA/UM alums. This isn't surprising that it's happening in general, given ZA/UM laid off a bunch of staff a few months back,...

    Of note is that I think this is the third(?) studio announced today by ZA/UM alums. This isn't surprising that it's happening in general, given ZA/UM laid off a bunch of staff a few months back, but it's interesting they're all announcing today.

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      sparksbet
      Link Parent
      Fourth, apparently! I'm hoping we get the best case scenario and all four produce good games, but we'll see.

      Fourth, apparently! I'm hoping we get the best case scenario and all four produce good games, but we'll see.

      4 votes
      1. [2]
        metoosalem
        Link Parent
        Sounds like a typical leftie scenario. Three lefties meet at a bar, four splinter groups form. Nevertheless the fiery passion oozing out of this one’s manifesto gives me hope!

        Sounds like a typical leftie scenario. Three lefties meet at a bar, four splinter groups form.

        Nevertheless the fiery passion oozing out of this one’s manifesto gives me hope!

        8 votes
        1. sparksbet
          Link Parent
          It's less a typical leftie scenario when the splinter groups only form due to IP law issues and all of the lefties being fired, though.

          It's less a typical leftie scenario when the splinter groups only form due to IP law issues and all of the lefties being fired, though.

          5 votes