In this week’s “Series Spotlight,” we take a look at the newest game in the Mystery Trackers series, Mystery Trackers: Four Aces. I was able to talk with Peter Efimov the Chief Product Officer of Elephant Games to talk about the creative & artistic processes behind this amazing series of games. Make sure to check out Mystery Trackers: Four Aces and our greatbundle sale today!!
Please introduce your development team…
I am the lead game designer at Elephant Games, and I am very proud to introduce the team working on this project. They are very talented people, and I can always rely on them. When I have an idea for a project, it often looks much different in my head from what it turns out to be in the end. Our team’s inspiration, inventive minds, and tons of enthusiasm make the ideas better, and together we can create great things!
How did you come up with the Mystery Trackers game series?
The idea of the game didn’t happen right away. Originally, we were planning on creating a dark fairy tale with a completely different storyline and art. It had unusual interactions and no hidden-object scenes. We were 70% through the development process when we realized that we had taken the wrong direction from the very start. It was not the right time for such a game, and we needed a hit. That is when we changed our minds in favor of a mystery game. The only things in Mystery Trackers: The Void from the initial idea are some scenes and the evil teddy bear in the mailbox. The audience kindly welcomed the series, and we are going to celebrate its 2nd anniversary this year with the release of the fourth installment.
What made you want to be a game developer?
As children, we love playing games, and they are usually created by adults. At the age of 6, I figured out that your own games can be just as good or even better. Many years later, when I was on my way to choosing a career, I didn’t want to let my childhood dreams go and asked myself, “Why should I?” These were the years when the iron curtain over Russia had finally been removed, and we felt that any dream could come true. Nine years have passed since that time, and we keep moving forward no matter what, trying to create the best video games for our players.
How do you get inspiration for a game?
I consider myself a happy person, because I never felt the urge to separate my work from my private life. Spending time with my family, with my son, going out with friends, playing computer games of different genres… I am open to new thoughts, ideas, and discoveries. When you like your work, when it is such a creative work, you can draw your inspiration from anywhere.
When we were developing Mystery Trackers: Black Isle, we were thinking of adding something unusual into the game, and we decided on a dog. Someone from the team had seen a miniature pinscher not long before, and they suggested this breed. I did a little research and found out that these dogs are often called ‘elves,’ and that is how our little Elf became a character in the game. And now he will have a special place in the next game in the series.
How long does it take for you to design a game from start to finish?
There might be dozens of ideas swarming in your head, but each of them requires careful consideration. Sometimes, it is just like a light goes on, and you know, “This is it!” When exploring an idea, we always think of what series it might fit the best… or if it is meant for a separate one. When an idea becomes a working title, the real work starts. It usually takes from 6 to 8 months, or even more, to complete the implementation of an idea into a well-functioning game.
What are the biggest technical challenges when you develop a game?
Over the years, we learned to deal with all kinds of technical problems that get in the way of creating a game… I can’t think of anything especially challenging. I would simply say that some issues are more serious than others, but the great people who work here don’t give in to difficulties.
