With 1 day left until you can all enjoy Follow the meaning, we hope you can pass the time learning more about HiKing Mind Studio and their debut title through this final Devlog and Q&A! Thank you to everyone who left us a question for the HiKing Mind team, we hope you’ll all enjoy the answers provided below! Happy reading!
[h3]Q&A with HiKing Mind Studio, developers of Follow the meaning[/h3]
Q: “What’s the story behind the name of your studio?” @Spectro_VI
A: When we decided to create games, we knew we wanted to focus on puzzle and logic games with engaging narratives. The word "Mind" in our name reflects our goal to challenge and stimulate players' thinking in a visually appealing way. Puzzle and logic games are like a workout for your brain—a fun and healthy way to keep it sharp. That’s where "Hiking" comes in. Just as hiking is a joyful exercise for the body, our games are meant to be a rewarding workout for the mind. Plus, if you break down "Hiking" into "Hi King," it’s a nod to our focus on the mind as the true "King" in our games. That's why our logo features a quirky pink brain wearing a crown, symbolising the "Mind King" embarking on a hiking adventure.
Q: “How did the idea for the game come about?”
“How many people work permanently in the studio?” @LoveMeerkat
A: There are just the two of us working permanently at the studio - Jakub and Marcin. We're brothers: Jakub is the artist, while Marcin handles the programming. We wanted to tell a concise yet meaningful story, paired with visually appealing graphics that would help us make our mark in the gaming industry. Our main inspiration came from Shutter Island and a few other philosophical themes that have a strong impact on our modern reality.
Q: “How long does it take to develop a game like this?” @danylb
A: It's hard to give an exact timeline because many ideas came from casual conversations and brainstorming sessions that aren’t easy to quantify. However, once we committed to developing the game, it took about a year to build the core elements. After that, we spent an additional few months fine-tuning the details and making adjustments. So, overall, the entire development process took around 15 months.
Q: How long is Follow the meaning? @gizmothecat
A: After as many playtests as possible carried over 6 months, we settled on an estimation of roughly 1.5 hours of average gameplay time. Some sessions took over 1 hour and some took longer, between 1.5 - 2 hours. But Paul has more than one case for you to investigate so there will be plenty to do in Follow the meaning!
Q: “Were you inspired by outside sources while making Follow the meaning? And if yes, which ones?” @Sammy
A: A major part of creating Follow the Meaning was deciding what the final game should look like. We did some research to see which point-and-click games were popular and what players enjoyed. We looked closely at games from Amanita Design and Rusty Lake, which gave us valuable insights into effective gameplay mechanics and art styles. Point-and-click and puzzle games have evolved over time, so studying how these experienced studios adapted over the years gave us a clear idea of what would work best for Follow the Meaning.
Q: “How difficult will it be compared to the Rusty Lake games that inspired you?” @1enaki
A: We’re not really aiming to judge the difficulty of our game by traditional standards. Instead of making puzzles that are objectively "hard" or "easy," we want them to challenge players to see things from a new angle and think creatively. It's less about difficulty and more about engaging the player's curiosity and problem-solving skills. Our goal is to create puzzles that are satisfying to solve, encouraging players to think differently without labelling them as strictly easy or hard.
Q: Will there be more hints, so that if the player is stuck with a puzzle it can help them?
@monali_eliander
A: Yes, we've included optional hints that highlight interactive areas on the screen, making it easier for players to see what they can interact with. However, when it comes to actually solving the puzzles, we haven’t added step-by-step guidance. Our goal was to design puzzles that wouldn’t require additional hints, but if a player gets truly stuck, they can access the menu and watch a video guide that explains how to solve each puzzle.
Q: “What were your boundaries on the strange/weird when setting a tone for the world?” @hareshsundra
A: I believe everyone needs to play the game before we can fully answer this question! 😀
Our goal was to create a strange atmosphere in the game, but without straying too far from reality. We wanted to introduce ideas that don't exist in our world, but without creating a purely fantasy or imaginary setting. The real world is the foundation we work with, though we do push its boundaries at times.
Q: Did the spam in the junk mail on www.Followthemeaning.com mean anything? @Kitty 🐈
A: It’s a great coincidence to have you ask us this question, @Kitty 🐈, however, we think it’s best to have you all figure this one out ;) Just make sure to keep an eye on Followthemeaning.com
( 👁️👁️👁️ )
Q: “Will the game (Follow the meaning) be released on mobile?” @Syeddabanu
A: Right now, we are focused on the Steam release, but yes! We are planning to release a mobile version next year as soon as possible. :) So stay tuned and get ready for the Android and iOS versions!
Q: “Do you have any ideas about projects after this (sequel, different game)?” @clairesphotos2
A: Absolutely! We have a lot of ideas. But right now, we’re focusing on the launch of Follow the meaning. After this, we’ll need to take a step back, reflect, and see how the game is received by a larger audience. We do have a few prototypes we’re planning on working on in the near future, but we believe that releasing the first game is always a significant step. We need to focus on this, gather feedback, and summarize the whole experience before moving on to bigger steps in our next project. This will help us improve and deliver something truly special in the future!
[h3]1 Day Left 👁️[/h3]
Thank you to everyone who left questions for our Q&A! We hope the team at HiKing Mind Studio was able to satisfy your curiosity about their indie studio and debut game Follow the meaning, which by the way is launching in only 1 day!!
Follow the meaning is the debut point-and-click puzzle adventure game from new indie developer HiKing Mind Studio, published by Second Maze. The game launches tomorrow on Steam at 13:00 CET / 04:00 PT and will cost €/$ 4,99 full price, with a 25% launch discount in the first 2 weeks!
Very soon you’ll be able to join detective Paul Trilby as he works to unpick the mystery of his peculiar town. Over the wall and behind the doors of a mysterious hospital, a dark secret lies in wait. See you tomorrow detectives!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2720280/Follow_the_meaning/
