Ben Laulan
Reporting and statements that mention Ben Laulan.
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Paris Games Biz showcased a guarded optimism in the face of turmoil, both locally and in the industry at large | Opinion
Despite civil unrest and industry-wide financial turmoil, the Paris Games Biz event showcased a guarded optimism among French game developers and publishers. Many smaller studios credited government funding initiatives with keeping them afloat, while discussions also touched on the potential of existing IP and the evolving role of marketing. Concerns were raised about the generosity of French government support compared to the UK, and the struggles of larger companies like Ubisoft were acknowledged.
Evil Empire "will always miss Dead Cells," but it's already working on its dream collab
Evil Empire's CEO Thomas Pfeiffer and Head of Business Ben Laulan reflect on their studio's origins supporting Dead Cells and discuss future projects. While they express nostalgia for Dead Cells, they are excited about their current work on The Rogue Prince of Persia, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and a secret dream collaboration they are already developing.
"Thank you, Hades" - Evil Empire on indie game discovery, how Steam early access has changed, and the rise of AI tools
Evil Empire's CEO Thomas Pfeiffer and Head of Business Ben Laulan discuss the studio's growth from supporting Dead Cells to developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse and The Rogue Prince of Persia. They highlight the success of their Triple-i Initiative for indie game discovery and share insights on collaborations with larger publishers. The pair also express concerns about the impact of AI on the creative process and the meaning of game development.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Went Through a Slower Dark Souls-Style Iteration During Development
Evil Empire's Ben Laulan revealed that Castlevania: Belmont's Curse underwent several development iterations, including a slower, Dark Souls-inspired version and one too similar to Dead Cells. The final game strikes a balance between respecting the Castlevania IP and modern gameplay. The title is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse swung between Dark Souls and Dead Cells to find the form that "feels good in your hands"
Evil Empire's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse aims to blend the exploration of Castlevania with the modern feel of games like Dead Cells and Dark Souls. Developers Thomas Pfeiffeir and Ben Laulan discussed the iterative process of finding the right gameplay balance, emphasizing creative control and player expectations. The game has launched on PC with strong initial player counts.
