Fellow Traveller Games Explained

Surprise Attack Pty Ltd
Traded As:Fellow Traveller Games
Industry:Video games
Foundation:October 2011
Founders:Chris Wright

Surprise Attack Pty Ltd, trading as Fellow Traveller Games, is an Australian video game publisher. Chris Wright founded the company in 2011 as a marketing consultancy. It announced publishing label Surprise Attack Games in 2013 and relaunched the company as Fellow Traveller Games in 2018.

History

Surprise Attack was founded in October 2011 by Chris Wright, who previously worked as marketing director for Blue Tongue Entertainment. Wright also assessed game loan applications for Film Victoria, where he noticed that many developers did not consider marketing. This led to founding Surprise Attack as a marketing consultancy firm for independent game developers.[1] In November, Wright commented that many games were being released "without edit" for 15-year-olds in Australia that were restricted in the United States and Europe. He believed that the Australian Classification Board needed an "R18+ rating" for games, which legislation had recently approved implementation for.[2]

In July 2013, it launched publishing label Surprise Attack Games providing funding, marketing and distribution as Australia's first independent indie game publisher.[3] [4] In July 2018, the company relaunched as Fellow Traveller Games, focusing on unusual narrative games.[5] When Kotaku Australia enquired about the changed direction from showcasing Australian games, Wright stated they realised that while the industry appreciated their local publishing, consumers were not interested in where a game was made. He believed an identity with an established flavour or style of game is needed to stand out in the market, noting that 3-4% of the Steam purchases were Australian.[6] In April 2019, Fellow Traveller announced digital convention LudoNarraCon celebrating narrative games. The event ran from 10 to 13 May, with livestreamed panels hosted on storefront Steam.[7]

Games published

!Title!Release!Developer(s)!Platform(s)!Ref.
Oscura: Second Shadow2014Chocolate Liberation FrontiOS[8]
Screencheat2014Samurai PunkWindows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Vertiginous Golf2014Kinelco, Lone Elk CreativeLinux, Windows, macOS
Hacknet2015Team Fractal AlligatorLinux, Windows, macOS
Orwell: Ignorance is Strength2018Osmotic StudiosLinux, Windows, macOS
Hiveswap Friendsim2018What Pumpkin Games
Framed Collection2018Loveshack EntertainmentLinux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Blind2018Tiny Bull StudiosPlayStation VR, Windows
The Stillness of the Wind2019Lambic Studios, Memory of GodiOS, iPadOS, Windows, MacOS, Nintendo Switch
The Church in the Darkness2019Paranoid ProductionsLinux, Windows, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Pesterquest2019What Pumpkin Games
Neo Cab2019Chance AgencyiOS, iPadOS, TvOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
In Other Waters2020Jump Over the AgeLinux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Paradise Killer2020Kaizen Game WorksLinux, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Suzerain2020Torpor Games Android, IOS, IPadOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Genesis Noir2021Feral Cat DenLinux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
The Invisible Hand2021Power Struggle GamesLinux, Windows
No Longer Home2021Humble GroveLinux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Kraken Academy!2021Happy Broccoli GamesLinux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between2022Silverstring Media Inc.Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Citizen Sleeper2022Jump Over The AgeLinux, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Beacon Pines2022Hiding SpotLinux, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
The Pale Beyond2023Bellular Studios Linux, Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
1000xRESIST2024Sunset Visitor[9]
Times & Galaxy2024Copychaser GamesWindows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5[10]
Afterlove EP2024PikselnesiaWindows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S[11]
Great God Grove2024LimboLaneWindows
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector2025Jump Over the AgeWindows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S[12]
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo2025GallaWindows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Nirvana NoirTBAFeral Cat DenWindows, Xbox Series X/S[13]
Pine: A Story of LossTBAMade Up GamesWindows
Wander StarsTBAPaper Castle Games

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Serrels . Mark . 5 September 2012 . The Man Who Wants To Bring Australia's Games To The World . 14 April 2023 . Kotaku Australia . en-AU.
  2. Web site: Conditt . Jessica . Australian indie: From ratings systems to a boom of small studios, how AU will survive . Engadget . 13 November 2011 . 14 April 2023.
  3. Web site: Pitcher . Jenna . 17 July 2013 . Surprise Attack Games breaks new ground as Australia's first indie publisher . 14 April 2023 . Polygon . en-US.
  4. Web site: Starr . Michelle . 17 July 2013 . Surprise Attack launches Australia's first indie game publisher . 14 April 2023 . CNET . en.
  5. Web site: Handrahan . Matthew . 24 July 2018 . Surprise Attack relaunches as Fellow Traveller Games . 14 April 2023 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.
  6. Web site: Walker . Alex . Why One Publisher Is Moving Away From The Australian Made Brand . Kotaku Australia . en-AU . 25 July 2018 . 14 April 2023.
  7. News: Blake . Vikki . 9 May 2019 . Free, virtual narrative gaming celebration, LudoNarraCon, will launch next month . en . MCV . 14 April 2023 . 1469-4832.
  8. Web site: Signor . Jeremy . 2014-07-08 . Oscura: Second Shadow Review - Dim Light . 2023-05-03 . . en-GB.
  9. Web site: 2022-09-20 . ‘Hyper-cinematic narrative adventure’ game 1000xRESIST announced for Switch, PC . 2023-12-14 . Gematsu . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2023-05-02 . Point-and-click adventure game Times & Galaxy announced for PC . 2023-12-14 . Gematsu . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2022-03-28 . Games Industry Mourns Coffee Talk Creator, Who Passed Away At 32 . 2023-12-14 . Kotaku . en.
  12. Web site: LeBlanc . Wesley . Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Will Hit Xbox Game Pass On Day One . https://web.archive.org/web/20230824175421/https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/08/24/citizen-sleeper-2-starward-vector-will-hit-xbox-game-pass-on-day-one . dead . 24 August 2023 . 2023-12-14 . Game Informer . en.
  13. Web site: 2023-12-06 . Genesis Noir sequel Nirvana Noir announced for Xbox Series, PC . 2023-12-14 . Gematsu . en-US.