"Among Us" just came in time at the peak of the pandemic. The survival game has simple mechanics: be alert and don't get caught by the impostor. Truly, developers from Innersloth have invested a lot of time to meet the fans' demand in the game--but at the cost of their health.
Initially launched in 2018, the game has gained $50 million in revenue. While the Twitch success of the video game is clearly uncontested, the once-quiet game is now affecting the lives of its creators behind the screen.
'Among Us' Developers Were Burnt Out Already
In an interview with YouTuber Anthony Padilla on Wednesday, June 16, "Among Us" developers have been impacted by the weight of the game's expectations placed on them. The team, composed of three persons, has been locked down by the sudden pressure.
When Padilla asked them about the game, the Innersloth developers said that they are gradually becoming "burnt out." What they usually think is if they will meet the wants of the players for the game's improvements.
According to Amy Liu, an Innersloth artist, the viral influence of "Among US" to its fans has been faring fine, but not in the case of the people who are making it. Liu continued that the "pressure to get things done quickly" has been high.
Since players wanted "Among Us" to be playable across different platforms besides mobile and PC, the team has been contemplating how they would pull it out successfully on next-gen consoles including PS5 and Xbox.
This sounds easy for someone who does not know about game animating and development, but for those who are doing it, it would take a long time before it happens. Usually, it would take months or years. Specifically, Liu mentioned that they are struggling to create it in only three months.
Liu was emotional during the interview and said that it has been a tough battle, especially since they would not be able to see their family and friends. She ranted about the missed holidays with her family--which she considered the "hardest time."
It's undeniable that "Among Us" is now at the zenith of the gaming community based on its players. Although, many players will mean money, Marcus Bromander, a game designer said that the "newfound money" and other things have definitely helped them, but it also has increased the growing pressure on them.
"The amount of attention that we had on us, and like, every little thing we do is gonna get looked at and criticized. We changed the font at one point because it needed to be changed, and people were like 'Bring back the old font! I don't like this new font," Bromander said.
Could 'Among Us 2' Still Happen?
According to Kotaku on Friday, June 18, many players have been calling "Among Us 2" a "dead game." For this reason, the developers have managed to grow a thick skin for their sanity. They took the sayings as constructive feedback at their end.
Bromander saw a series of negative comments about the game which have affected his feelings. It came to a point that he wanted to quit already.
Innersloth developers have been immersed in the stress of the pressing community. According to Forrest Willard, a programmer, "Among Us" graphics have been simple to everyone's eyes, that's why they assume that the creation of it would be too easy. Certainly, this "boring" art style as many players said has taken a toll on the developers because of the pressure.
If players are enjoying the game, the least they could do is to appreciate it or buy the in-app accessories to keep it alive. Most importantly, they should also think of the developers' lives who sacrifice their time and attention just to develop this game.
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Written by Joseph Henry
