Benoît Freslon: Thinking Outside the EnigmBox

main

Development Exclusive Interviews Indie

Benoît Freslon: Thinking Outside the EnigmBox

December 5, 2018 — by Catherine Quinton

We first saw Benoît Freslon’s game EnigmBox at Casual Connect’s Indie Prize in London 2018 where it won the Best Game Design award. Also at Casual Connect Asia 2016 in Singapore, EnigmBox won the Most Innovative Game and Best in Show: Critic’s Choice award. Winning these prizes gave Benoît the motivation to keep working with the experimental game. But as proud as he was of the awards, he was equally happy with the friends he made there.

Benoit believes the prizes he won with EnigmBox gave him credibility with publishers and partners. Specifically, Asian publishers would like to publish the game in China, but he is still in negotiations with them.

A Game With Potential

Now Benoît has a new version of the game, EnigmBox 2.0. He felt that the game, created in 2013, had become outdated in terms of design, user interface, user experience and game feel. As well, he had many new puzzles he would like to experiment with. And a significant number of players and publishers had asked him to create a version for Android. So, with the awards from Indie Prize confirming that the game had potential, Benoît decided to work on a new version of EnigmBox, but this time using Unity 3D.

Benoit began the process of creating the new version by listening to feedback from players and experts. Then he started redesigning and polishing the design, the monetization, the UI, the UX, the tutorial, the puzzles and even the colors.

Europe 2018 Video Coverage

Philippe Dao: Asmodee and the Best of Digital Board Games | Casual Connect Video

November 29, 2018 — by Catherine Quinton

For any developer who has tried to adapt a board game to a digital game, what are some of the challenges you’ve faced. At Casual Connect Euorpe, we had Philippe Dao, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at Asmodee Digital, address the insights and learns learned from Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne and Splendor in his speech called The Challenge of Adapting a Board Game to Digital. This included different angles like publishing, marketing and of course game design.

Events Game Design News

Indie Prize Asia 2018 Participants from Western Europe

November 7, 2018 — by Catherine Quinton

Western-Europe-participants-featured-image-1-960x540.jpg

The participants in Indie Prize at Casual Connect Asia always show amazing creativity and diversity, and this certainly true of these entries for Indie Prize Asia 2018 from Western Europe. From creative learning apps to complex puzzles to adventure games, and even some filled with horror, there is something here for every kind of gamer.

Game Title: Looters
Developer: Karizma Studio
Platform: Android
Country: Iran
Video: https://bit.ly/2REDTyf

Once upon a time there was a magical game studio named KARIZMA. They were known across the land for developing games, and one day a glorious castle emerged from the studio. The castle was filled with magic and gold so it attracted every looter in the world. Eventually the castle became known as Looters.

Events Game Design News

Casual Connect Eastern Europe 2018 Indie Prize Entries From Western Europe

September 14, 2018 — by Catherine Quinton

Entries for Indie Prize at Casual Connect Eastern Europe 2018 from Western Europe show amazing creativity. One game brings art to life with gyroscope technology, another has players surviving and building in a world of garbage. Using music and rhythm to create challenging levels, creating your own comic book through a point-and-click adventure game, playing a variety of puzzle games or participating in MMO battles or retro arcade games, you are certain to find games that are fascinating to play.

Game Title: Flotsam
Developer: Pajama Llama Games
Platform: Desktop Win, Desktop Mac
Location: Belgium

Everything is flooded, and islands of garbage float among the ruins of tall buildings and the polluted coral reefs. This is the world of Flotsam, and you must find a way to survive. You will manage a team of drifters and salvage what you need to build boats and buildings from scrap and flotsam. And you must rescue the seagulls and dolphins who will help you find fresh water and seafood. Flotsam won the prizes for Best Game and Best Game Design at White Nights Prague 2017 and was nominated to participate in Indie Prize.

Events News

The 22nd Indie Prize Winners at Casual Connect Europe 2018

June 1, 2018 — by Catherine Quinton

Indie Prize London 2018 featured many exciting games that we will enjoy playing. The judging is now complete and Casual Connect Europe is happy to announce the winners and nominees in each category.

Best Game Audio award was given to *Zebrainy ABCs*, created by Zebrainy Limited

The winner of Best Game Audio is Zebrainy ABCs, created by Zebrainy Limited from Ukraine. This is an alphabet learning game for young children that takes them on a journey where they learn to construct each letter and then to know animals, objects and characters that begin with that letter.

Nominees for Best Game Audio were: LUNA the Shadow Dust, developed by Lantern Studio from the United Kingdom, a point-and-click puzzle adventure set in a fantasy world; Nishan Shaman by Next Studio from China, inspired by ancient Chinese Manchu mythology; and Hyperforma by Nord Unit of Russia, an arcade puzzle in a steampunk setting.

The winner of Best Game Design was EnigmBox by Benoit Freslom from France. EnigmBox is a puzzle game that requires you to use all the functionalities of your smartphone to solve the puzzles, including things like the location service, plug-in accessories and much more.

Industry News

Presenting the Indie Prize Finalists from Europe Part 2

May 24, 2018 — by Catherine Quinton

Indie Prize at Casual Connect Europe 2018 has attracted many entries from all over Europe, including Italy, France, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, as well as the United Kingdom. And the innovation in these games is remarkable. Competitive games have a variety of new twists that require speed, precision and skill to succeed. Adventure and narrative games pit the player against novel situations and obstacles. Settings range from the historically accurate (or inaccurate) to fantasy or dungeons or even the player’s mind. And a variety of puzzle games challenge players’ thinking in different ways. Whatever kind of gaming you prefer, there are games here you will enjoy. These fantastic games total 38 from Europe. The finalists have been broken up into two parts. To see the other 19, see this article.

Game Title: Falling Sky
Developer: Falling Sky
Platform: Desktop Win
Country: United Kingdom/Norway

Falling Sky is a cinematic 3D mystery game. It was developed at the National Film and Television School and the project leader and sole developer was Jonathan Nielssen. The game uses Unreal Engine and motion capture technology to create immersive, narrative-driven drama. It has a Twin Peaks influence and elements of open world adventure.

The characters of the game are brothers Daniel and Tommy, who are attempting to solve the mystery of their mother’s disappearance. Guided by a series of cryptic messages, the boys set off on a quest to find the truth.

Events News

Presenting the Indie Prize Finalists from Europe Part 1

May 22, 2018 — by Catherine Quinton

earth-with-internet-lights-desktop-wallpaper-960x540.jpg

Indie Prize at Casual Connect Europe 2018 has attracted many entries from all over Europe, including Italy, France, Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, as well as the United Kingdom. And the innovation in these games is remarkable. Competitive games have a variety of new twists that require speed, precision and skill to succeed. Adventure and narrative games pit the player against novel situations and obstacles. Settings range from the historically accurate (or inaccurate) to fantasy or dungeons or even the player’s mind. And a variety of puzzle games challenge players’ thinking in different ways. Whatever kind of gaming you prefer, there are games here you will enjoy. These fantastic games total 38 from Europe. The finalists have been broken up into two parts. To see the other 17, see this article.

Game Title: Circle of Sumo
Developer: Yonder
Platform: Desktop Win, Desktop Mac
Country: Italy

Circle of Sumo is a fast-paced competitive multi-player game where players alone or in teams fight for supremacy in the ring. This intense challenge requires power, precision, quick reflexes and cunning. Yonder describe the game as “a real mini-games box, a sort of kaleidoscope of playable pills with a joyful and inclusive soul.” But the competitive aspects are always retained. There are dozens of different arenas and the ring could be anywhere a circle could be imagined, even a traffic circle.

Events News

Indie Devs from Spain, Tunisia, France and Paraguay Coming to Kyiv

October 16, 2017 — by Catherine Quinton

One independent development team from Spain, one from Tunisia, one from France, and one from Paraguay will compete at the swiftly coming Indie Prize and Casual Connect Kyiv 2017.

The only participant in Indie Prize from Spain is fittingly named Solo. It combines the best of puzzle adventure with introspection.

Game Title: Solo
Developer: Team Gotham
Platform: Desktop Win
Website: http://www.teamgothammadrid.com/

In Solo, you are exploring a dream-like archipelago while contemplating your love relationships. This metaphoric puzzle adventure invites introspection and reflection.

Contributions Events Indie News

Representatives from Western Europe at Indie Prize Singapore 2017

April 20, 2017 — by Yuliya Moshkaryova

Four games from France, three games from Germany and three games from United Kingdom will represent Western Europe at the international Indie Prize showcase during Casual Connect Asia 2017 in Singapore.

LILY - COLORS OF SANTA LUZ, SKYBOLT ZACK and Sticky Boy - games that were developed by students from ISART DIGITAL who will be graduated in July 2017. Isart Digital is a french school specialized in video games and 3D animation-VFX.

Game Title: LILY - COLORS OF SANTA LUZ
Developer: Lily Team
Platform: Desktop Win
Website: https://isart-digital.itch.io/lily-colors-of-santa-luz
Country: France
Video: https://vimeo.com/173047057

War is near. A dark militia invaded Santa Luz. Confronted to violent humiliations, the inhabitants are losing their colors. Running away form the darkness threatening to swallow the city, Yvan will do everything to prevent his daughter from seeing the horrors and fight for Lily to keep her colors.

Europe 2017 Video Coverage

Mohamed Fadl on eSports and How They Are Evolving | Casual Connect Video

March 22, 2017 — by Catherine Quinton

Where is the eSports sector of the game industry heading? How can you get an audience for eSports? How do you create an enjoyable spectacle? The eSports sector is very complex, with varied nuances among the eSports disciplines. So how do you find your way?

Mohamed Fadl is Head of Global Esports, Wargaming.net

Mohamed Fadl has the knowledge to offer excellent guidance. Knowing that entertainment is constantly evolving, they insist, “This generation doesn’t believe in TV anymore. TV is dying.” And eSports is one of the alternative channels for entertainment that is taking that place. “We call it eSports so we can connect it to something we know and explain it,” they point out, but it is a form of entertainment with its unique aspects. In this developing sector, Mohamed describes “Technology is King; content is Queen. The King itself is nothing, it means nothing. It is just a medium. Content creates the culture. It creates the trust. It creates the channels to speak to the next generations.”

Mohamed began their involvement in eSports as Wargaming‘s director of community in Europe and is now head of global eSports at Wargaming. They have developed World of Tanks into one of the top eSports games and now oversee global development and evolution of the Wargaming.net eSportsLeague. To learn more from Mohamed, be sure to watch the video of his full session from Casual Connect Europe.

DOWNLOAD SLIDES

For more about Mohamed’s career and insights, see this exclusive article.

Older Posts