1. Flint: Treasure of Oblivion
  2. News

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion News

🤝Meet Savage Level, the crew behind Flint: Treasure of Oblivion🏴‍☠️

On 24 October 2024, players will be able to jump on board Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, an epic narrative and tactical adventure taking place at a time when piracy was at its peak. Here, you can learn more about Savage Level, the studio behind this unique game!

[h2]The studio’s origins: a story of two brothers[/h2]

First and foremost, Savage Level is a family story. Its founders – Aurélien and Maxime Josse – are brothers. As early as the 2010s, they worked together at Tindalos Interactive, the first studio co-created by Aurélien, which released games like Aliens Dark Descent and Battlefleet Gothic Armada. One day, the pair decided to embark on a new shared adventure: “We knew that we could work together, and all the stars were aligned,” Maxime told us. In May 2021, Savage Level was born.



And how did the name come about? In Maxime’s words: “We’re both fans of Rage Against The Machine. One day, while driving, I was listening to a song with the lyrics ‘take ’em to the seventh level’. I heard ‘savage level’, and I thought ‘that sounds awesome!’ It’s like a video game level that’s beyond hard. Later, I realized that I’d misheard, but it didn’t matter, because the name is cool.” The developers decided to set up their studio at an amazing industrial site in the Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhood of Paris, where they began their work.

When it came to choosing a publisher, Savage Level instinctively turned to Microids for two main reasons. “Microids’ plans to extend their publishing line closely matched what we had to offer,” said Maxime. “What’s more, we’ve been inspired by comic art to tell the story of Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, and the group Média-Participations, which Microids is part of, is one of the mainstays of the Franco-Belgian comic book scene.



[h2]A talented team guided by values[/h2]

Today, the studio Savage Level is formed of 25 people, working in various roles ranging from production to 3D modeling and audio. The third brother of the Josse family – Kristen – is also on the team, working in game design. Heading up the studio are Aurélien, a graphics nerd, who takes care of the production side, while Maxime manages the company’s operations. The pair work in perfect synergy. “We’ve built everything together; we have loads of shared references,” Maxime enthused. “He only needs to say a few words, and I instantly know what he means. Having that kind of relationship saves so much time.



The team is built on strong values. In respect of the team itself, the focus is on inclusiveness. Everybody is welcome at Savage Level, whatever their background or beliefs. “For us, it’s all about people,” stated Maxime. “We founded this studio primarily to enable people to make a living doing something that they love.” Their values also extend to the players: “We’re not interested in using ploys to get people hooked and spend their money. Our ambition is to create rich worlds that players will enjoy.

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion will be the first game developed by Savage Level, which is set for release on 24 October. But that certainly doesn’t mean it’s a title designed by beginners! Savage Level’s team includes people with more than 25 years of experience in the business. “Collectively, we’ve contributed to more than a hundred games in the past, including both indy and triple A titles,” pointed out Maxime. The team is preparing an exceptional pirate adventure that breaks new ground with its combat mechanics and comic book-style narrative design.



🏴‍☠️ Wishlist Flint: Treasure of Oblivion now

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2366130

📬 Stay connected!

Flint Official Twitter - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Flint Official TikTok - TikTok - Discord

🎮 At the heart of the tactical RPG gameplay ♟️

Ahoy there!

Discover the many challenges and questions the folks at Savage Level had to address when crafting the gameplay of Flint: Treasure of Oblivion in this third Making-of!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

🏴‍☠️ Wishlist Flint: Treasure of Oblivion now

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2366130

📬 Stay connected!

Flint Official Twitter - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Flint Official TikTok - TikTok - Discord

🏴‍☠️ Flint: Treasure of Oblivion takes part in the Isometric RPG Sale 2024 ♟️

Ahoy there!

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion takes part in the Isometric RPG Sale 2024!



Have a look at some new screenshots!



🏴‍☠️ Wishlist Flint: Treasure of Oblivion now

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2366130

📬 Stay connected!

Flint Official Twitter - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Flint Official TikTok - TikTok - Discord

🏴‍☠️ Fortunes, fights & fate await for you in the Story Trailer 💎

Ahoy there!

What good would be a pirate story without a bit of danger, treasure and mystery?
Discover the new Story Trailer for Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, available on October 24th!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

🏴‍☠️ Wishlist Flint: Treasure of Oblivion now

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2366130

📬 Stay connected!

Flint Official Twitter - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Flint Official TikTok - TikTok - Discord

🏴‍☠️ Drawing inspiration from comics for a truly unique narrative 🖼️

A tactical RPG set in the world of 18th-century pirates, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion stands out, not least, for its story told using comic-book codes. In this latest article, we explain how and why Savage Level adopted this original narrative style.


[h2]A comic-book-inspired narrative dimension[/h2]

In Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, players explore immersive environments created with Unreal Engine 5, and fight in turn-based combat. The twist is that the story unfolds in the style of a comic book! For example, during a dialogue, a first box appears with our hero and his speech bubble, followed by a second with his interlocutor... In this way, we gradually build up a real on-screen comic strip.

Aside from dialogues, Flint: Treasure of Oblivion also uses comic-book codes to accentuate actions and emotions. During a thunderstorm, for example, you'll have the chance to admire a beautiful illustration of a bolt of lightning accompanied by the onomatopoeia "Kraakk!" An image of a surprised face will also pop up when our crew attacks an adversary. Finally, comic bubbles will be integrated into the scenery, above characters’ heads, to share their day-to-day discussions.

Aurélien Josse, Chief Creative Officer at Savage Level, explains the reasons behind this choice: "It all started with the observation that in many narrative games, the story and dialogues are conveyed by large blocks of text, which can be tedious and cause players to lose interest. In seeking a solution to this, I made the link with comics, which have always fascinated me. With their images and pace, they're a much more engaging alternative. And thanks to the comic strip format, it's also possible to display a variety of emotions, which 3D characters can struggle to achieve without the benefit of an AAA budget."


[h2]A first-class team and a complex creative process[/h2]

For Aurélien, this approach is also a way of paying tribute to Franco-Belgian comics, whose reading experience is "a pleasure in itself ". Indeed, Savage Level called on some of the best in the field to produce the artwork for Flint: Treasure of Oblivion! In charge of the drawings is Fabrice Druet, whose work includes Methraton, the spin-off from the Black Moon Chronicles. But also Bruno Tatti, a talented colorist who worked on XIII and Blake and Mortimer…

The team also includes a storyboard artist and several writers. Not forgetting the game designers, who created the comic book system from scratch using Unreal Engine 5. "We had to develop speech bubbles that would adapt to the space taken up by each language, while respecting the layout of the boxes," says Aurélien. "Another challenge was to strike a balance between what was shown in the comic strip, in 3D, and in simple speech bubbles. It had to be just right, otherwise the narrative flow wouldn't work."

A final challenge was to ensure visual consistency between 3D characters and their comic book alter egos. For this, Savage Level has a process that's fairly unique in the video game industry, first creating concept art, then a comic book version, and finally a 3D model. Thanks to all this work, the studio is confident of offering a truly original game formula at the end of the year. "Our comic-book-inspired narrative is the true innovation of the game," comments Aurélien, "and we hope it will leave a lasting impression - but the feedback we're getting from players has already convinced us of that."


🏴‍☠️ Wishlist Flint: Treasure of Oblivion now

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2366130

📬 Stay connected!

Flint Official Twitter - Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - Flint Official TikTok - TikTok - Discord