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2Dコンセプトアートや3Dモデリングを制作する「Immortals Studios」のAlex Riabov氏にインタビュー! TGS2023訪問の目的を聞いてみた
Interview

At the Tokyo Game Show 2023 (TGS2023), held from Thursday, September 21 to Sunday, September 24, 2023, we interviewed Alex Riabov, Chief Business Development Officer of Immortals Studios ("Immortals Studios"). We interviewed Alex Riabov, the Chief Business Development Officer of Immortals Studios, at TGS2023! He talked about the purpose of his visit to TGS2023 and the Japanese game market.

We interviewed Alex Riabov of Immortals Studios!

- First of all, please introduce yourself and tell us about Immortals Studios.

My name is Alex Riabov and I am the Chief Business Development Officer at Immortals Studios. We are a vibrant group of about 120 artists, 3D modelers, and project managers working towards the same goal of creating visually stunning games. Our company was born about 5 years ago and our first office was in Xi'an, China. A year ago we decided it was time to grow and opened a new branch office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

One of the coolest things about us is that we are international. Our team speaks over 7 languages, which allows us to work with clients from different parts of the world. We have been lucky enough to work with big companies like NetEase, Tencent, Ubisoft, Hi-Rez, and tinyBuild.

One of the coolest things about us is that we are international. Our team speaks over 7 languages and we get to work with clients from different parts of the world. We have been lucky enough to work with major companies such as NetEase, Tencent, Ubisoft, Hi-Rez, tinyBuild, and now most of our team is heavily involved in Blizzard's "Diablo 4" project.

"Immortals Studios"のオフィス
The Immortals Studios office
Immortals Studios
- What is your company's specialty, style, and appeal?

Immortals Studios is an all-in-one toolkit when it comes to game art. We specialize in services ranging from 2D and 3D art assets to complex level design, fluid animation, and VFX. Over the years, it has been difficult to find a style or genre that we have not worked in, and we aim to cover as many disciplines as possible to meet the diverse needs of our clients.

Although our capabilities are diverse, our approach is very organized. Different departments are assigned to different genres and styles, allowing us to be as focused and specialized as each project deserves. This organized way of working allows us to be deeply involved in each genre without mixing or overlapping, and our flexibility and discipline set us apart in this fast-paced industry.

Environment concept
Environment concept
Immortals公式サイト
- Why do you have offices in Xi'an and Kuala Lumpur?

There are very strategic reasons for having offices in Xi'an and Kuala Lumpur. Xi'an is not only a city steeped in Chinese history, but also a center of artistic talent. And Xi'an is not only a city steeped in Chinese history, but also a center of artistic talent. Its art universities are crammed with art colleges and produce incredibly skilled classical and digital artists.

Kuala Lumpur, on the other hand, is not only a modern, bustling city, but also a high-tech and gaming hotspot. The city is famous for its top-class animation academies and schools. In addition, being next door to industry heavyweights such as Sony PlayStation, Namco Bandai, and Larian Studios is nothing short of inspiring.

In a nutshell, Xi'an has a deeply rooted artistic culture, while Kuala Lumpur offers a progressive, tech-savvy environment. The team has deep artistic roots and a keen eye for the future.

ENVIRONMENT MODELING
Environment concept
Immortals公式サイト
- What are the characteristics and attractions of each location?

Xi'an and Kuala Lumpur have their own unique atmospheres that influence our work and inspire our creativity. In Xi'an, we are basically next door to the Terracotta Army. But seriously, Xi'an's ancient landmarks and historical atmosphere remind us daily why art is so important. It's like having a history lesson right outside our office, which is pretty spectacular inspiration for our artists.

Now, Kuala Lumpur is a completely different story. Imagine walking out of your office and being greeted by a skyline of skyscrapers like the Petronas Towers. Every day you will feel like you have stepped into a science fiction movie. We are surrounded by tech startups and gaming giants, so here you are expected to push boundaries and think outside the box. It's like a food roller coaster, and it will stimulate your palate as well as your imagination!

- What is the purpose of TGS2023?

Exhibiting at the Tokyo Game Show is a milestone for us. This is our first time in Tokyo and our expectations are high. We have a mixture of business and love for games. We want to showcase our skills, but we also have the same desire to meet the developers of the games we admire. TGS is like the Olympics for game developers, a place where you can find the best of the best, not only in terms of projects, but also in terms of the people who make them happen. We are looking for potential partners and clients, but we are equally excited about making friends in the industry. The gaming world is a small one, and the people we know today can be our collaborators on tomorrow's blockbuster games.

- How was your visit?

Attending TGS was like stepping into a different world, where the legends of the Japanese gaming world are all competing against each other in a battle of creativity on the creative stage. Honestly, it was like a flashback to the glory days of E3. Everywhere you looked, there were eye-popping exhibits and stages, like a battle of gaming giants. This was not just a trade show, but a full-blown entertainment extravaganza.

But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. The Business Meeting Zone seemed to burst at the seams. TGS may have been a victim of its own success this year. Opening its doors to a more diverse audience, including media and influencers, is a great thing for the industry. For us in the industry, it was like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. I hope that future editions of the conference will increase the size of the business meeting area to accommodate the growing number of professionals.

会議の様子
Scene of the conference
Immortals Studios
- What do you think about the Japanese game market?

The Japanese game scene is like a milestone for us. I am a big fan of "Dark Souls" by From Software. Yes, it's challenging, but it's also a game that makes you say, "I did it! I did it! " moment. It doesn't just challenge you, it makes you think, adapt, and improve. Isn't that what games are about?

We often hear people talk about how precise and emotional Japanese games are. That is not wrong. When you play a Japanese game, you are not just pushing buttons, you are entering a whole new world, with a story and characters that stay with you long after you stop playing.

Yes, Japan knows how to make games that are not only fun, but memorable. They probably set the bar high not only in terms of technology, but also in the artistry required to create such titles.

- Tell us about the game business, genres, and Japanese content that you are currently focusing on.

We are working on many different types of games, both literally and figuratively. From fast-paced action-adventures to quiet, dialogue-heavy journeys that make you think about life. If we're talking about the Japanese video game scene, that's the sweet spot for me personally. I'm obsessed with studios like From Software and Square Enix. So any opportunity to collaborate on a project similar to that would be a delight.

As for Immortals Studios, we are truly a jack-of-all-trades. Our main work these days is on AAA titles. But don't get me wrong. We are involved in projects that push the envelope, whether they are well-known or indie titles. What matters to us is a passion for games that truly resonate, titles that players will not only play, but talk about, analyze, and remember. If you have such a project in mind, we would love to hear about it.

-What is the vision of Immortals Studios and who are the business partners you are looking for?

Our goal is not to be another cog in the game development machine. We want to set trends, break new ground, and maybe even redefine what is considered "cutting edge". There are moments in a game when you wonder, "How is this possible?" There are moments in a game when you wonder, "How is it possible to do this? That is what we are aiming for. But we cannot achieve this dream alone. We are looking for partners who are as ambitious and daring as we are.

And don't get me wrong, we value stability as much as any other studio. Our dream is to be involved from the very beginning of a project, riding shotgun from development all the way through to release, and ideally maintaining the partnership thereafter. We are not just talking about art assets, we are working on all nine yards. Do you need to send a team to Japan for professional training? Absolutely. Want to tweak the pipeline to fit your vision? We are flexible. We are flexible if you need to tweak our pipeline to fit your vision.

"Immortals Studios"で働く社員の皆様
Employees working at Immortals Studios
Immortals Studios
- Finally, what would you like to say to our readers?

Hello game enthusiasts and industry colleagues! If you are enthused by the latest game mechanics or raving about crazy boss fights, you are one of us. At Immortal Studios, we are just as passionate about creating impactful art as you are about exploring new worlds and conquering impossible levels. So, we have a message for all gamers and game enthusiasts. Keep raising the bar, keep chasing high scores, and most importantly, keep dreaming. Because who knows? Because the next groundbreaking game may have your name on it, or at the very least, it may come to life through the magic of Immortals.

- If you have anything else you would like to share with us, feel free to write.

If you've read this far, you're obviously interested, or procrastinating, or maybe both! What we are trying to convey is that the game world is a sandbox (sandbox) and we are all players in it. Ideas are building blocks, and conversations are mouse clicks to put those building blocks into action. So, if you have a concept you're itching to share, or just want to casually chat about the latest and greatest in the game, contact us. It doesn't matter if it's a doodle on a napkin or a 300-page design document. After all, the next big innovation in gaming could start with a simple "hello. Whether it's a DM or an email, we're working on it. Let's make it great, one pixel at a time!

We are pleased to bring you this interview with Alex Riabov!

We are pleased to present an interview with Alex Riabov, Chief Business Development Officer of Immortals Studios, a 2D concept art and 3D modeling company! We had a chance to talk with him about why the company has branches in Xi'an, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as well as about the Japanese gaming market. Immortals Studios has worked on projects for major developers such as NetEase, Tencent, Ubisoft, Hi-Rez and tinyBuild. Immortals Studios has been working on projects for major developers such as Ubisoft, Hi-Rez and tinyBuild, and we look forward to their future development in Japan.

DeepL

Sorry, this article is only available in Japanese and 繁體中文. at the moment.

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