Computer programmers from Ukraine still lag far behind competitors from India when it comes to churning out software through outsourcing contracts, but they are still managing to hold on to their fair share of the global market.
And they are starting to gain international recognition, thanks largely to a series of Ukrainian-developed computer games that are enjoyed not only by domestic users, but also by gamers worldwide.
Stalkers abound
On Oct. 3, Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) hosted “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.fest” – a major event featuring a bunch of rock bands, exhibitions, gaming tournaments and costume parades – all dedicated to the launch of “S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat,” the newest installment of the “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” series created by GSC Game World company. The scale of the show and the number of people who filled Maidan, including flocks of game fans – dressed in military outfits in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. style – demonstrated plainly what a major following the game has already achieved.
According to GSC Game World, one of Ukraine’s leading game creators, there are 50 major computer-game developers in Ukraine. The market size is estimated at $20 million. The game production process takes about 3.5 years in Ukraine and requires $3 million of investments, not taking into account the game promotion that takes another $3 million.
GSC itself has created over 10 games since 1995, the year of establishment, including world-famous “Cossacks” that made the company’s founder, Sergiy Grygorovych, a millionaire at 22 and grew into a series of sequels that remain popular among the connoisseurs of real-time Internet games.
The head of the company often recalls his first steps in the computer games production industry. In 1999, 19-year old Grygorovych introduced three of his company’s projects at “Milia’99,” a Cannes-based global forum for owners, buyers and distributors of digital content and new interactive technologies. Basically a teenager, he had hard times negotiating with the higher-ups of the video-game business. And at that time, Western companies had limited experience working with companies from the former Soviet Union.
However, the company developed rapidly, particularly after the release of “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl.” The plot of this award-winning action game takes place at the Chornobyl tragedy of 1986. In the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game, the explosion at the station triggered unexpected consequences – dangerous mutants and monsters appeared, all of which need to be killed.
After the first sequel, “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky,” the company turned to the next stage of Chornobyl site development and have recently released “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat,” which was accompanied with a gamers’ tournament.
The action in “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky” continues where the events of “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chornobyl” end, with the opening of the passage to the center of the deadly Chornobyl Zone. And of course, the government that tries to control everything – without any noticeable success – sends in the military to examine the territory from the air. However, things go badly wrong. The helicopters crash, and the action starts.
This latest release of “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” introduces a range of innovations including human characters and monsters, a greater number of additional quests, and a new player’s interface.
Capital collapse
If you wish to satisfy your appetite for destruction, or simply dislike the architectural ensemble of some of Kyiv’s central streets, why not take a walk through post-apocalyptic Kyiv by playing “Collapse: Devastated World.” Developed by Creoteam, a company of young developers, the game portrays a not-so-distant future – abnormal activity in downtown Kyiv escalates into a global disaster. The few survivors live in isolation and wait for a hero to save them from extinction. In order to survive, these people unite into military groups headed by the so-called Lords. Unfortunately, in 2096, radical terrorists organize an explosion to assassinate all group leaders. In the end there is only one surviving Lord, Rodan, a strange muscular guy with funny hair, a blade in his hand and a desire to violently punish those responsible for all the mess. Rodan also goes on a quest to figure out what had happened back in 2013 and what to do to improve the situation.
The exciting gaming process is, of course, the key to success for any video game. But in the Collapse, all the action takes place in the Ukrainian capital and the familiar look of the some parts and areas of the post-apocalyptical city can appear even more interesting to any Kyivan than the game story itself. Despite devastation, some might find it refreshing to see Ukraine’s capital free of political billboards and banners. However, when playing the game you quickly wake up to the realization that while Kyiv is free of fear-mongering politicians, it is now inhabited by another sort of evil creatures.
Creoteam is currently working on a sequel due out at the end of next year. The developers promise an improved game-engine, graphics and a more exciting story line for “Collapse: The Rage.”
Office relaxation
Very popular among office workers, more casual games descending from “The Minesweeper” and “The Lines” are making their way from the Ukrainian market to international recognition. Boolat Game Development Company from Donetsk is proud to have infected local and foreign office workers’ brains with its increasingly popular “Amelie’s Cafe” and “Travel Agency” games. In these office management games, you operate a cute cartoon-style character that manages the virtual office, factory, farm, etc.
Five BN company from Dniprodzerzhinsk stands behind “Pet Show Craze” (2008), another casual game. In case you are wondering what casual games are all about, they generally do not involve a lot of strategic thinking or rapid reaction. They are made to distract a player from a daily routine.
