The design giant’s newly formed team will be showing off the studio’s first title, a puzzle-roguelite mashup, at The MIX and GDC
The award-winning animation studio BUCK, known for its mind-blowing collaborations with industry leaders including EA, Riot Games, Apple, and countless others, is now bringing its boundary-pushing creativity to the world of games. BUCK’s internal games team boasts a crew of seasoned game developers who are backed by a world-class assemblage of artists, designers, and storytellers.
BUCK’s games team is led by Creative Director Michael Highland (thatgamecompany, The Game Band, Bad Robot Games), Senior Producer Marla Anyomi (THQ, EA Mobile, Playtika, Konami, Within), and Head of Content Development Jay Brooker (CAA).
“BUCK’s culture, which prizes creative opportunity, has attracted top artists from around the world,” Highland says. “Channeling their boundless creativity and commitment to craft into our first original game was a tall order, but I am so proud of what the team made and thrilled to finally share it with the world.”
Their soon-to-be-announced debut project, a roguelite, turn-based puzzle adventure, features whimsical art and hand-drawn animation reminiscent of Katamari Damacy, graphic artist Mœbius, and lively, playful worlds like Adventure Time. Over 20 BUCK artists and designers contributed to the game, including Art Director Emily Suvanvej and Lead Artist Thea Glad. The game features a diverse cast of characters, drawn from BUCK’s unique perspective at the intersection of art, commerce and culture. The game was developed in collaboration with long-time BUCK audio partner Antfood, whose masterful music and sound design take the game to the next level.
“Our goal in creating this game was to involve as many BUCKers as possible while making something that’s unexpected and fun,” says BUCK co-founder and co-Chief Creative Officer, Orion Tait. “For us, how we make a thing is as important as the thing we make. This game put that ethos to the test, and we’re really happy with the results.”
“This company is packed to the gills with talented artists, all with a fiery passion for immersive storytelling, top quality craft, and pushing boundaries in any medium!” Suvanvej says. “With BUCK’s exciting new venture into gaming, we’re able to really show off the rich and diverse creative culture we have here.”
The project will be officially revealed March 17 at The MIX Direct Spring 2023 Showcase, and hands-on demos will be available by appointment at the 2023 Game Developer’s Conference from March 20-23.
