Supergiant Games - Creators of Bastion & Transistor

   Supergiant Games is an independent development studio based out of San Francisco, California. Founded in 2009 by Amir Rao and Gavin Simon, the studio is best known for indie hits such as Bastion and Transistor, two critically acclaimed titles that have brought the studio worldwide recognition. Supergiant announced on 19th April 2016 that they are currently working on Pyre, a new IP.

“Pyre is a party-based RPG in which you lead a band of exiles to freedom through an ancient competition spread across a vast, mystical purgatory.” - Supergiant Games

   Rao and Simon had been working together at Electronic Arts’ Los Angeles studio, on titles such as the classic strategy series Command & Conquer. In 2009, the pair decided to take the indie plunge, leaving their jobs at Electronic Arts to work on a new game together. For two people used to working at a AAA development studio, this was a big risk. Leaving the safety of the huge financial backing of publishers that the AAA space consists of, leaving their secure (and most likely well paid) positions at Electronic Arts. But the difference between AAA development and independent development is freedom. Freedom to make the games that you want to make. With that freedom comes the risk that it will all fail spectacularly, but that is what makes the decision of Rao and Simon so commendable. They left their positions in pursuit of their artistic vision, of the games they wanted to make. And they would certainly suffer for their art. To keep costs to a minimum, they made the decision to move into the same house and live together. With the two living together and working together, the house became a live in studio as they spent every waking moment on their new project, living off instant noodles and coffee.

   Between the two of them, Rao and Simon had plenty of experience of various aspects of game development. Rao boasted pedigree in design, with a leading role in the design of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, whilst Simon got his start in the games industry at 15 and worked his way up the ranks from QA testing, due to his skills as an engineer and a designer, to work on Command & Conquer titles alongside Rao. However during the development of their first game, they did enlist outside help, most notably from Darren Korb, a musician they hired for audio work, who has gone on to be responsible for the music on all of their games so far. They also contracted freelance game developers at key times in the production cycle.

   Their first game would be Bastion, a beautiful action role-playing game. First shown mid-way through production at PAX 2010, the game generated a significant buzz amongst fans and industry professionals alike, with it’s eye catching art style from the talented Jen Zee, the lead artist at Supergiant. The most notable interest came from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, who would go on to publish the title. Bastion was released in summer of 2011, and was a featured title in the Xbox Live “Summer of Arcade”, where Xbox highlighted significant indie titles released around that time that deserved recognition. Bastion was very well received by critics, and Supergiant found their debut title among several “Game of the Year” lists from various media outlets.

“Bastion is the first title from Supergiant Games, an original action role-playing game set in a lush imaginative world, in which players must create and fight for civilization’s last refuge as a mysterious narrator marks their every move.” - Supergiant Games

   In March 2013, Supergiant announced their next title, a new IP called Transistor. Transistor is an isometric, semi turn-based RPG set in a neo futuristic city. Similar genre to Bastion, Supergiant were sticking with what they knew, but taking it to a new setting with a new story. Many were crying out for a sequel to Bastion, and felt that they moved to a new IP too soon. However, Transistor was another Supergiant masterpiece. The game released on 20th May 2014, again with critics raving about the genius of the creators, with a striking art style complemented by a touching love story, all providing the backdrop to solid action RPG gameplay.

“Transistor is a sci-fi themed action RPG that invites you to wield an extraordinary weapon of unknown origin as you fight through a stunning futuristic city.” - Supergiant Games

   That brings us to present day, with Supergiant currently working on Pyre. Anticipation for this game is palpable, and for good reason. Seven years on from Rao and Simon coming together to found the studio, the company is setting the standard for independent games development. They are now twelve employees strong, still independent of any publisher, and still creating the games that they want to create. Bastion and Transistor were huge successes for Supergiant, and have won them the trust, praise, and the hearts of all those who have the pleasure of experiencing their games. I can’t wait for Pyre.