GamesCity BuilderManor LordsSolo developer behind Steam’s hit new city-builder Manor Lords says he got his studio name from a Witcher 3 vs Mass Effect memeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesCity BuilderManor LordsSolo developer behind Steam’s hit new city-builder Manor Lords says he got his studio name from a Witcher 3 vs Mass Effect memeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
The earliest example of that meme that I can find is from a 20179Gag post, which compared Mass Effect Andromeda’s awkward facial animations to a picture of Geralt of Rivia, suggesting that the former game was made with a $40-50 million budget, and the latter was the result of “vodka and Slavic magic.” There are several things worth unpicking from that meme, not least that The Witcher 3 struggled with several performance issues at launch, and had a total reported budget of $80 million. Accounting for marketing budgets, in fact, Andromeda and Wild Hunt cost comparative amounts to make, but don’t let facts get in the way of a good joke.
Nevertheless, Styczeń’s Witcher-fueled inspiration is far more wholesome than its source might suggest, and points to Poland’s growing impact on the global games industry; CD Projekt is certainly the headliner, but studios like Dying Light developer Techland also punch above their weight. As just one developer, Styczeń might not have quite the same reach as those games, but he’s evidence of the amazing grassroots and indie scenes that can spring up around major developers.
As as the hotly-anticipated city-builder hits Steam, check out ourManor Lords review.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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