This game has been waiting for its premiere for 22 years. Finally it has hit the market
Patience pays off. A game that began production 22 years ago has hit the market. We are talking about a title that resembles the currently fashionable soulslike genre.
Time needed to create a game video varies depending on the specific title, genre, platform and studio size. However, it is not something that can be done quickly – usually a few years pass from the first idea to the debut on the market. However, we have a new record holder who waited for the premiere up to 22 years.
Kien is now available for purchase in physical and digital versions
Talking about “Kien” or a console game Game Boy Advance From Nintendo. Production has started in 2002 and five friends were behind it. Although the Italians had no experience in creating games, the title was ready two years later, in 2004. But why is it only hitting the market now?
Chief Designer Kien, Lucio Belsantiheld talks with three different publishers. However, they all agreed – “people want Nintendo games, nobody knows you and producing a cartridge is expensive”. The situation was only sealed independent reviews at 60% from Nintendo Power or Pocket Games.
The reviewers did not complain about the execution or the idea. The problem was… the difficulty of the game. Taking the sentimental blinders off, productions in the 2000s were simple. Kien is closer to current souls-like gameseven though it’s an adventure platformer for GBA. That could have turned off players at the time.
So the game was buried. The five friends continued their professional careers, with Belsanti remaining in the industry. He then founded AgeOfGames, an independent studio specializing in educational games. Kien has found a new lease on life thanks to the retro craze and sentiment among Millennials and Zoomers alike.
Lucio Belsanti has teamed up with Incube8 Gamesand Kien is finally available on Game Boy Advance cartridge, as planned from the beginning. The title can be purchased in a boxed version with goodies for $60 (approx. 239 zlotys) or in digital version for $10 (about 40 zlotys). Interestingly, work is already underway on a spiritual successor – Astral Equilibriumwhich will soon be available on Kickstarter.
