Professional Narrative & Writing
for Game Development

Actezéro

Game development outsourcing studio

## About ActeZéro ActeZéro is a narrative design agency based in Lyon, France, specializing in story creation, character development, and scriptwriting for video games and interactive media. Since 2017, they have contributed to 50+ projects for major studios. ## Services ### Pre-Production - World-building and lore creation - Character design and development - Story structure and narrative planning - Documentation and project scoping ### Production - Dialogue writing and scriptwriting - Narrative design integration - Scope management - Emergency writing support - Content refinement and reviewing ### Workshops - Narrative exploration sessions - Team collaboration facilitation - Creative direction guidance ### Consulting - Hourly and bi-weekly sessions - Narrative assessment - Mentoring for development teams ## Notable Projects - **Harmony: Fall of Reverie** (Don't Nod, 2023) - **Dordogne** (Un Je Ne Sais Quoi + Umanimation, 2023) - **Astral Ascent** (Hibernian Workshop, 2023) - **Empire of the Ants** (Tower Five, 2024) - **Skygard Arena** (Gemelli Games, 2024) - **A Plague Tale: Requiem** (Asobo Studio, 2022) ## Team - **Anthony Jauneaud** - Narrative Director - **Cindy Asselin de Beauville** - Senior Narrative Designer & Writer - **Laureline Denis-Venuat** - Senior Narrative Designer & Writer - **Matthew Willis** - Writer and English Specialist All core team members are fluent in French and English. ## Client Studios - Asobo Studio - Don't Nod - Focus Entertainment - Microids Studio Paris - Evil Empire - Tower Five - 20+ additional partners ## Location **Headquarters:** Bordeaux, France ## Why Choose ActeZéro - **50+ projects** since 2017 - **AAA experience** with major French studios - **Bilingual team** (French/English) - **Full narrative services** from pre-production to polish - **Flexible engagement** from consulting to full integration

Lienzo

Mexican Culture in Gaming

## About Lienzo Lienzo is a Mexican video game studio founded in 2012 in Chihuahua. Known for culturally-inspired games like Mulaka (Tarahumara mythology) and Aztech: Forgotten Gods, they pioneered Mexican indigenous themes in gaming. ## Company History - **Founded:** 2012 - **Location:** Chihuahua, Mexico - **Founders:** Serrano (lead), Adolfo Rico (lead programmer) - **Initial Team:** 8 people - **Origin:** Advergaming and museum games ## Notable Games ### Mulaka - 3D action-adventure based on Tarahumara indigenous culture - Set in northern Mexico's breathtaking landscape - Play as a Sukurúame (shaman) - Preserves oral Tarahumara lore in visual form ### Hunter's Legacy - 2D action-platformer - Starring Ikki, a cat warrior - Sword and bow combat ### Aztech: Forgotten Gods - Action-adventure - Aztec mythology meets sci-fi ## Cultural Impact Lienzo was the first Mexican studio to embrace indigenous themes rather than emulating Western styles. They proved Mexican cultural content could succeed internationally, inspiring a new generation of Latin American developers. ## Approach Started without formal game design education (unavailable in Mexico at the time). Built expertise through advergaming and museum projects before creating original IP. ## Note Lienzo is primarily a game developer creating culturally-inspired original IP. ## Why Lienzo Matters - **Mulaka** cultural breakthrough - **Tarahumara mythology** preservation - **Mexico's pioneer** indie studio - **Indigenous themes** in gaming - **International success** with local culture

Revolution Software

Adventure Game Pioneers

## About Revolution Software Revolution Software is a British video game developer founded in 1989 in York, famous for the Broken Sword adventure game series. With 30+ years creating narrative-driven adventures, they've sold millions of copies and continue developing new entries with 4K remasters. ## Company History - **Founded:** 1989 - **Location:** York, England - **Founders:** Charles Cecil, Tony Warriner, David Sykes, Noirin Carmody - **Focus:** Narrative adventure games ## Flagship Series: Broken Sword - **Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars** (1996) - ~1M copies sold - **Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror** (1997) - ~1M copies sold - **Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon** (2003) - **Broken Sword: The Angel of Death** (2006) - **Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse** (2013) - **Broken Sword - Reforged** (2024) - 4K remaster ## Other Notable Games - Lure of the Temptress (1992) - First release - Beneath a Steel Sky (1994) - Beyond a Steel Sky (2020) ## Note Revolution Software is primarily a game developer creating original IP rather than an outsourcing provider. Listed for reference as a legendary UK indie studio. ## Industry Impact One of Europe's most successful adventure game companies, pushing narrative-driven games forward for 30+ years. ## Why Revolution Software Matters - **Broken Sword** iconic franchise - **30+ years** UK indie pioneer - **Millions sold** commercial success - **4K remasters** continuing legacy - **York-based** British studio

LKA

Psychological Horror Experts

## About LKA LKA is an Italian independent game studio founded in 2014 in Florence by veteran artist Luca Dalcò. Known for psychological horror games The Town of Light and Martha Is Dead, set in Tuscany, Italy. ## Company History - **Founded:** 2014 - **Location:** Florence (Chianti region), Tuscany, Italy - **Founder:** Luca Dalcò ## Background Founder's expertise: - Computer graphics - Real-time applications - Theatrical stage design - Documentaries - Cultural heritage ## Notable Games ### The Town of Light (2016) - Psychological horror adventure - Volterra Psychiatric Asylum setting - 1938 mental health themes - PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch - Wired Productions published ### Martha Is Dead (2022) - Psychological thriller - Tuscany, Italy setting - Follow-up to Town of Light ## Focus Story-driven experiences exploring: - Mental health - Historical trauma - Italian culture - Difficult themes ## Note LKA is a game developer creating original IP, not an outsourcing provider. ## Why LKA Matters - **Town of Light** acclaim - **Italian horror** pioneer - **Psychological** storytelling - **Cultural authenticity** Florence-based

Storm in a Teacup

Italian Horror Specialists

## About Storm in a Teacup Storm in a Teacup is an Italian indie game developer founded in 2013 in Rome by industry veterans Carlo Ivo Alimo Bianchi and Alberto Belli. Known for N.E.R.O. (2 Drago D'Oro Awards), Close to the Sun, and Steel Seed, they have 11-50 employees. ## Company Overview - **Founded:** 2013 - **Location:** Rome, Italy - **Founders:** Carlo Ivo Alimo Bianchi (Creative Director), Alberto Belli (Executive Director) - **Team:** 11-50 employees ## Notable Games ### N.E.R.O.: Nothing Ever Remains Obscure (2015) - Xbox One exclusive debut at E3 2014 - Developed with Unity - Drago D'Oro Award: Best Italian Game 2016 - Drago D'Oro Award: Best Artistic Direction 2016 - Best Video Game Trailer (Trailers FilmFest 2014) ### Close to the Sun (2019) - First-person horror adventure - Published by Wired Productions - Unreal Engine development ### Steel Seed (2025) - Sci-fi stealth game - April 2025 release ## Platforms - PC (Windows) - Xbox One - PlayStation 4 ## Technology - Unity - Unreal Engine ## Funding $161K grant funding (2023) ## Note Storm in a Teacup is primarily a game developer rather than an outsourcing provider. Listed for reference as a notable Italian indie studio. ## Why Storm in a Teacup Matters - **N.E.R.O.** 2 Drago D'Oro Awards - **Rome-based** Italian indie - **Close to the Sun** horror acclaim - **Unity + Unreal** multi-engine - **E3 debut** Xbox showcase

DON'T NOD

Narrative Adventure Masters

## About DON'T NOD DON'T NOD (formerly Dontnod Entertainment) is a French video game developer and publisher based in Paris, France. Founded in 2008 by former Criterion Games, Ubisoft, and EA staff, they are best known for creating Life is Strange. ## Company Scale - **Founded:** May 1, 2008 - **250+ employees** in France - **Offices:** Paris (HQ) and Montréal, Canada (since 2020) - **Status:** Independent developer and publisher ## Founders - Hervé Bonin - Aleksi Briclot - Alain Damasio (created "Dontnod" palindrome) - Oskar Guilbert - Jean-Maxime Moris ## Notable Games ### Life is Strange Series - **Life is Strange** (2015) - 1M units in first month, 3M+ players - Created the franchise that defined narrative adventure gaming ### Other Titles - **Remember Me** (2013) - **Vampyr** (2018) - **Tell Me Why** (2020) - with Xbox Game Studios - **Jusant** (2023) - puzzle platformer - **Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden** (2024) - ARPG - **Lost Records: Bloom & Rage** - from Montréal studio ## Current Status 7+ games currently in development, including Netflix partnership for new narrative game. ## Specializations - Narrative adventure games - Episodic storytelling - ARPG development - Strong character-driven experiences ## Why Choose DON'T NOD - **Life is Strange creators** with narrative expertise - **250+ person team** across Paris and Montréal - **Independent** developer and publisher - **Multiple projects** in parallel - **Netflix partnership** for new content

Spiders

French AA RPG Studio

## About Spiders Spiders is a French video game developer founded in 2008 in Paris, now a subsidiary of Nacon. Known for action RPGs including GreedFall (2M+ copies), Mars: War Logs, and Steelrising, they develop games using their proprietary Silk Engine. ## Company Overview - **Founded:** 2008 - **Location:** Paris, France - **Director:** Jehanne Rousseau - **Parent:** Nacon (acquired 2019) - **Focus:** Action role-playing games ## Technology ### Silk Engine - Modified Sony PhyreEngine - Proprietary development - Used for all Spiders games ## Notable Games ### GreedFall (2019) - 2M+ copies shipped - Early 18th century fantasy setting - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series ### GreedFall 2: The Dying World - Currently in development - Prequel to original ### Other Titles - Steelrising (French Revolution setting) - The Technomancer (Cyberpunk RPG) - Bound by Flame (Medieval fantasy) - Mars: War Logs ## Platforms - PC (Windows) - PlayStation 4 & 5 - Xbox One & Series X/S ## Note Spiders is primarily a game developer rather than an outsourcing provider. Listed for reference as a notable French RPG studio. ## Why Spiders Matters - **GreedFall** 2M+ copies - **Paris-based** French studio - **Silk Engine** proprietary tech - **Nacon-owned** publisher backing - **Action RPG** specialists

YAGER

Berlin Shooter Specialists

## About YAGER YAGER Development is a German video game developer founded in 1999 in Berlin by five friends from East Berlin. With 150+ employees from 30 countries, they're known for Spec Ops: The Line (5 German Developer Awards), Dreadnought, and The Cycle. Tencent acquired a minority stake in 2020. ## Company Overview - **Founded:** 1999 - **Location:** Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany - **Founders:** Timo Ullmann, Uwe Beneke, Roman Golka, Philipp Schellbach, Mathias Wiese - **Team:** 150+ employees - **Countries:** 30 nationalities - **Investor:** Tencent (minority stake, 2020) ## Notable Games ### Spec Ops: The Line (2012) - 5 German Developer Awards - Best Action Game - Best German Game - Best Storyline - Best Graphics - Best Console Game ### Dreadnought (2017-2018) - PS4 and PC release - German Developer Prize 2017 (Best Technical Achievement) ### The Cycle - First self-published title (2019) ### Current Projects - Multiple unannounced projects ## Awards - Best Studio Germany (2012) - Multiple German Developer Awards ## Partnerships - Tencent second party studio family - GAME (German games industry association) - Unreal Tech Advisory Board ## Location Heart of Berlin-Kreuzberg overlooking river Spree and East Side Gallery. ## Why Choose YAGER - **Spec Ops: The Line** critically acclaimed - **Tencent-backed** strategic investor - **Berlin-based** German quality - **150+ employees** from 30 countries - **Self-publishing** capability

Hinterland Studio

Survival Game Pioneers

## About Hinterland Studio Hinterland Studio is an independent Canadian game developer founded in 2012 in Vancouver by Raphael van Lierop. They are the creators of The Long Dark, which has reached 10+ million players worldwide. ## Company History - **Founded:** 2012 - **Location:** Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - **Founder:** Raphael van Lierop (former Relic Entertainment) ## Founding Team Industry veterans including: - Alan Lawrance (Volition Inc.) - Hokyo Lim (League of Legends) - David Chan (BioWare) - Marianna Krawczyk (God of War series) ## Notable Games ### The Long Dark (2017) - **10+ million players** worldwide - Survival game set in Canadian wilderness - Kickstarter funded (2013) - Steam Early Access (2014) - Full release: August 2017 - Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox ### Expansions - Tales from the Far Territory (2022) ## Funding - Canada Media Fund seed financing - Successful Kickstarter campaign (2013) ## Mission Creating thought-provoking, story-rich entertainment experiences set in compelling original worlds. ## Note Hinterland is primarily a game developer, not an outsourcing provider. Listed for reference. ## Why Hinterland Matters - **The Long Dark** 10M+ players - **Vancouver-based** Canadian studio - **AAA veteran** founding team - **Independent** creative vision

Out of the Blue

Narrative Adventure Studio

## About Out of the Blue Out of the Blue Games is an independent studio based in Madrid, Spain, founded by industry veteran Tatiana Delgado. Known for Call of the Sea and American Arcadia, they specialize in narrative-driven puzzle games with a 10-12 person remote-first team. ## Company History - **Location:** Madrid, Spain - **Team:** 10-12 people (remote-first) - **Founder:** Tatiana Delgado (17+ years experience) - **Background:** Gameloft, King, Tequila Works, Vertical Robot ## Notable Games ### Released - **Call of the Sea** (2020) - Lovecraft-inspired adventure, published by Raw Fury - **American Arcadia** - Narrative puzzle game ### Upcoming - **Call of the Elder Gods** - Sequel with Kwalee, featuring Yuri Lowenthal - **The Vigilante Diaries** ## Platforms - Windows PC - Xbox (One, Series X/S) - PlayStation (4, 5) - Nintendo Switch - Amazon Luna ## Philosophy Remote-first studio design (pre-COVID), veteran developers creating narrative puzzle experiences inspired by literature. ## Note Out of the Blue is primarily a game developer rather than an outsourcing provider. Listed for reference as a notable Spanish studio. ## Why Out of the Blue Matters - **Call of the Sea** critical acclaim - **Raw Fury** publishing partnership - **Madrid-based** Spanish studio - **Narrative puzzles** specialists - **Remote-first** pioneer

Toge Productions

Coffee Talk Creators

## About Toge Productions Toge Productions is an Indonesian game developer and publisher founded in 2009 in Tangerang. One of the biggest studios in Indonesia, they created the Infectonator series and Coffee Talk, while also publishing indie games to help grow the Indonesian game industry. ## Company Overview - **Founded:** 2009 - **Location:** Tangerang, Indonesia - **Founder:** Kris Antoni (CEO) - **Focus:** Development and publishing - **Mission:** Grow Indonesian game industry ## Original Games ### Coffee Talk Series - Story-driven visual novel - Coffee shop setting - Multiple entries ### Infectonator Series - Infectonator 3: Apocalypse - Zombie simulation-strategy - Fast-paced action ### Other Titles - When the Past was Around (2020) - Rising Hell (2021) - Rage in Peace (2018) ## Publishing Division (2017) ### Mission Help Indonesian developers: - Overcome funding challenges - Access distribution channels - Reach global markets ### Services - Development funding - Publishing support - Marketing assistance - Distribution ## Industry Contribution - Gathering events for developers - Collaboration encouragement - Regional game industry growth ## Note Toge Productions is primarily a game developer/publisher rather than an outsourcing provider. Listed for reference as Indonesia's leading game studio. ## Why Toge Productions Matters - **Coffee Talk** acclaimed series - **Indonesia's largest** game studio - **Publisher arm** indie support - **Regional pioneer** APAC gaming - **Since 2009** industry builder

Smile More Productions

AAA Narrative Design

## About Smile More Productions Smile More Productions is a narrative design and game writing studio founded in 2024 by Claire Lily Squire, a former Ubisoft Shanghai narrative designer. Specializing in story services for small to medium studios, they offer decades of combined experience across world-famous IPs. ## Company Overview - **Founded:** 2024 - **Founder:** Claire Lily Squire (CEO) - **Background:** Former Ubisoft Shanghai - **Focus:** Narrative design outsourcing ## Services ### Narrative Design - Story development - Narrative systems design - Lore creation and management - Documentation and style guides ### Game Writing - Script writing - Dialogue writing - Character development ### Localization - English localization revision - Translation review - Script reading and feedback ### Voice Production - Voice acting casting - Voice direction ### Mission Design - Design documentation - Layout and playtesting ### World Building - Setting development - World refinement ## Philosophy Founded after Claire noticed differences between how small/medium and large studios handle narrative, aiming to bring AAA narrative expertise to studios of all sizes. ## Why Choose Smile More Productions - **Ubisoft veteran** AAA experience - **Full narrative** design to direction - **World-famous IPs** background - **English localization** expertise - **Boutique approach** personalized service