Heroki developers on working with SEGA and ‘very challenging’ mobile environment

It's not easy to stay motivated on the same project for five years, yet that is precisely what Picomy did with Heroki. Since 2010, the team has been tinkering away on making a 3D platforming experience for mobile while holding down full-time jobs. It's a familiar story that others in the community can relate to and potentially be inspired by, knowing that they didn't put their lives on hold and instead did their best to balance personal responsibilities with the project's timeline. Game development is said to be a rewarding space, which Picomy is in a position to confirm now that they're enjoying the fruits of their labor. GameZone reached out to the team to learn more on the SEGA-published game during what is an exciting time for the company.

Before even getting into Heroki's inner workings, the charming atmosphere and crisp polish make it discernibly clear that this was a project driven by heart from the beginning. Charm also spreads to its cast, the main character (who the game is named after) being a propeller-headed hero who sets off to save a village populated by other propeller-headed residents. What also stands out are the subtle references that speak to an earlier era of platforming heroes, with the likes of Klonoa and Rayman as some examples of visible inspiration. Picomy's co-founder, Michael Balm, relayed that these beacons helped guide the direction the team wanted for Heroki. "We really love the oldskool classic platformers such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Sonic, Kirby etc..," said Balm. "The good stuff!"

While the game does have its share of subtle homages — and some "less subtle," according to Balm — it was paramount that Heroki not be trapped following existing footprints and instead forge its own beginnings as a potential new face of platforming excellence. "We really wanted to create something unique so that Heroki stands out as its own IP."

Balm shared that the team's early belief in the idea helped get them through the years of development process. "One of the hardest things was to keep focus and stay motivated, but since we're close friends, we kept each other motivated," Balm said, speaking for his small team of four. He was quick to acknowledge that "working in the evenings and weekends for five years was really tough." Even so, Balm describes it as "an incredible feeling" to reach the finish line and to do so having executed almost every idea they had for the project.

Along the way, the team has been grateful for the support they received from SEGA since 2011, when they first published a teaser trailer on their YouTube channel. "The trailer got picked up by SEGA and a few days later, we received an email showing their interest in publishing Heroki." Having SEGA as a business partner was a real boon for the project, as Balm says they have been "very supportive and flexible," even when it came to the project's lengthy timeline.

Have these experiences paved the way for Heroki to become a stand-out hit? As of now, it's prospects for long-term success can't be measured. Still, Balm and the rest of the Picomy team aren't naive about current market conditions. "One thing we see is that making profitable premium games nowadays is very challenging. Especially for games that are over $5," Balm shared. Incidentally, Heroki fits both criteria. Balm cites Apple's recent "active support" of premium titles as a glimmer of hope that could work in their favour. And it looks like that's already the case, as Heroki was awarded Editor's Choice on the App Store.

Depending on the game's performance, there is potential for Heroki to arrive on other platforms. "As an indie developer, I think it's important to keep all options open," Balm said, adding that "platforms that utilize a touch screen" could be a good secondary destination. Hopefully the support they've already received as well as support still to come will propel both Heroki and the company to future heights, whether that means new distribution or a following of would-be propeller-headed supporters.