Weekly Kick Pick – Harold Halibut

The Cologne based indie studio outlines its ambitions for their video game made with classic model making techniques.

Indie studio Slow Bros. announces the launch of it’s Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of “Harold Halibut – A Handmade Adventure Game“.

Harold Halibut is a modern adventure game, with a strong focus on storytelling and exploration. The player slips into the shoes of Harold, a young janitor and lab assistant, fulfilling his duties amidst a diverse community that lives under water.

The game’s unique look is achieved by 3D-scanning „real-world“ models, which are created using classic sculpting, set-building and puppet fabrication techniques, providing a handmade, analog feel while ensuring the dynamic gameplay experience of modern 3D games.

“It’s the first time in gaming history that 3D scanning is used to this extent,” says Onat Hekimoglu, the game designer „but Harold Halibut is definitely not just a technical showcase. The game focuses on Harold’s personal story, which is influenced by the more than 30 Characters in the game. We want to create a consistent experience, where the visual style matches story, tone and humor.“

Set in the wreck of a spaceship, stuck under sea on a distant water planet, Harold goes about his daily routine. This includes assisting Professor Jeanne Mareaux, one of the lead scientists on board, in her attempt to find a way to relaunch the ship.
Their plan is soon to be interrupted by an encounter with the unchartered world outside.

“There’s something about working with your hands that just can’t be replicated by using a computer. We wanted the feeling of traditional stop-motion films and still benefit from the possibilities of the digital world.” says Ole Tillmann, art director of Harold Halibut.

“It has been 5 years since we had the first idea for our game, and it was important for us to prove the technical feasibility, to lay out the foundation and to have something solid to show to our audience, before launching a crowdfunding campaign.” says Daniel Beckmann.

“Harold Halibut” is available now for pre-order on Kickstarter. In addition to the usual rewards backers have the option to pledge for unique limited rewards like original physical models and set pieces, or having a character in the game sculpted after their likeness.

See Also: Weekly Kick Pick – Arbiter