Luciano Musella and Whiteboard Games: A Rising Video Game Studio from Argentina
In recent years, indie game developers have been challenging the big players in the industry by creating unique and engaging games. Whiteboard Games, a video game studio based in Argentina, is one such developer. This article takes a closer look at the studio, from its humble beginnings as a student group to its current status as a respected game studio. We explore through a conversation with Luciano Musella, how Whiteboard Games has carved out a niche in the industry by focusing on innovative design, engaging storylines, and fostering a strong sense of community among their team members and players. We also share advice for aspiring game developers looking to break into the industry and highlight some of Whiteboard Games’ long-term goals, including opening a physical office and receiving nominations for The Game Awards.
Luciano Musella: Founder and Game Director
During our Deep Dive Episode 2, we had the opportunity to chat with Luciano Musella the founder and CEO of Whiteboard Games. His interest in gaming began when he started modding games at the age of 14. After realizing that he could create his own games, he enrolled in a video game university in Argentina to pursue his passion. In university, he and his team of four created and developed games for their assignments, finally realizing that they needed a name for themselves. After brainstorming ideas, they settled on Whiteboard Games. Today, Luciano leads his team and serves as the Game Director for their latest title, I See Red.
Whiteboard Games: From Student Group to Professional Studio
Whiteboard Games began as a student group united by a shared love for gaming and writing their ideas on a whiteboard. When they graduated college, they wanted to continue pursuing their ideas professionally. They found an Argentinean investor who was excited about their company and gave them the money they needed to start up a game studio. Today, Whiteboard Games is a team of 30 people who are passionate about creating games.
Creating and Developing Games at Whiteboard Games
At Whiteboard Games, they believe in making something new and different every time. They assess their team size and capabilities and think about what kind of game they can create that will fit those requirements. Once they have a fresh concept in mind, they start building ideas that they find fun and engaging to work on. This is how I See Red, their twin-stick shooter role-play game, came to fruition.
I See Red: A Fresh Concept
I See Red was released on October 24th, 2020, and was well-received by players. The game is a twin-stick shooter role-play where the player takes control of a man seeking vengeance. What makes this game unique is how the character sees his mission in red, and everything else in black and white. Players have to uncover what happened to the character that led him down this path, making it a gripping mystery that will keep them hooked. The game’s visuals are also one-of-a-kind, with black-and-white environments and tonalities of red, making it a feast for the eyes. The character’s focus and special vision guide players toward highlighted clues, adding to the overall striking effect of red with black and white.
Community Connection
Whiteboard Games has a strong community of players who connect with the team through Discord. They offer suggestions, discuss gaming developments, and give feedback. The studio also uses Instagram and Facebook to reach the community of players, but Discord is their go-to platform. The team is a family of developers who learn from each other, share knowledge, and create exciting new games that keep players coming back for more.
Creating a Sense of Community and Welcoming Input
At Whiteboard Games, the community is at the heart of everything they do. They strive to make their team members feel heard and valued, encouraging everyone to contribute their ideas, regardless of whether or not they end up being implemented in their games. The team is always looking for ways to modify and adapt these ideas to make them work.
For Whiteboard Games, making every team member feel like they are part of something special is crucial. Even those without game design experience are encouraged to contribute meaningfully, both by providing valuable input and by investing time and effort outside of working hours. Seeing this level of dedication inspires the team to keep pushing ahead with their projects.
Argentina’s Competitive Game Development Ecosystem
Argentina’s game development community is on the rise due to its competitive edge. The relative weakness of the Argentine peso compared to the dollar makes pricing lower, making Argentina’s game development sector attractive to international game development companies. The country’s game development ecosystem is unique because it feels like a family, with everyone connected and learning from each other. Whiteboard Games fits perfectly in this ecosystem, contributing to the growth of the community through its innovative designs and engaging storylines.
Initiatives to Support Aspiring Developers
Education is a top priority at Whiteboard Games, and the team continuously works to improve their skills. They encourage their employees to bring educational projects to teach themselves and others, and they also host and promote different education programs that any aspiring developer can participate in to grow their skills. The team believes that learning is a crucial part of making the best games possible, and they are always excited to try new things.
Promoting Video Game Industry Careers
Whiteboard Games believes in promoting the video game industry to anyone who wants to begin a career in this field. They regularly host talks and events aimed at people who have never worked in the industry before but want to get started. These talks highlight different ways people can become a part of this industry, even if they haven’t gone to university or have a related degree.
During these talks, the team discusses different career paths available in the industry, such as game design, programming, quality assurance, and more. They also share tips on how to build a portfolio and how to network with other people in the industry. Whiteboard Games wants to promote the video game industry as an excellent career choice for anyone with a passion for gaming and creating great experiences.
Advice for Pursuing a Career in the Gaming Industry
For anyone looking to pursue a career in the gaming industry, Whiteboard Games offers some key advice. Firstly, they encourage aspiring developers to try something new and not be discouraged by the non-traditional nature of the industry. Courage and a willingness to learn are essential for success in this field. The team also advises potential developers to know their opportunities and understand that video games require people with all sorts of talents, from programmers to writers and marketers.
Long-Term Goals for Whiteboard Games: A Physical Office and Game Awards
Whiteboard Games has ambitious long-term goals, including having a physical office for their team. While they currently work remotely, they’re excited about the possibility of having a space where they can meet in person and collaborate on their projects. Ideally, they want the office to be a welcoming environment for everyone, and they hope that at least 40% of their team members will choose to work there, although attendance won’t be mandatory.
Another significant goal for Whiteboard Games is to have one of their games nominated for the Game Awards. The team is always striving to improve their games and bring something unique to the table. While they can’t say exactly what they’re working on right now, they’re confident that the projects they have in development will help propel them toward both of these goals. They’re looking future and all of the exciting developments it has in store for us.
To learn more about Whiteboard Games visit their socials.
To learn more about Whiteboard Games visit their socials.
This post is sponsored by Blockstars.
Blockstars’ Mission: Enabling Human Connections through Gaming
At Blockstars’ mission is to enable human connections, competition & collaboration that motivate a desire to be remarkable. We are also developing an amazing free-to-play mobile game!
With our mission in mind, we’ve launched several initiatives, including our Twitter Spaces on Mondays and Tuesdays, weekly streams on Wednesdays — where you are tuning in today- and every other Thursday our Town Hall, s a space where the Blockstars Community can interact with leadership, get answers to pending questions and learn about upcoming developments within the Blockstars´ Ecosystem. We also have a gaming calendar that features themed discussions on Twitter Spaces, a community gaming database, and Gam3 On, a collaborative community-centric news outlet designed to give a voice to indie developers and modern games.
Luciano Musella and Whiteboard Games: A Rising Video Game Studio from Argentina was originally published in gam3on on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.