World of Anterra Mobile: Studio Background and Platform Development

World of Anterra is an ambitious open world RPG developed by 81monkeys, a studio with deep roots in mobile gaming that has expanded into desktop and console development. While the game itself targets desktop and console platforms, the studio’s mobile gaming background significantly influences its design philosophy, particularly in creating accessible interfaces and streamlined gameplay experiences.

The Studio Behind World of Anterra

81monkeys is a game studio located in Port Moody, British Columbia, on Canada’s West Coast. Founded by Stephane Cotichini, the studio initially established itself in the mobile gaming space before expanding to larger platforms. Their mobile portfolio includes Sudoku Scramble, which holds a 4.1-star rating on iOS, and the Chore App, which gamifies household tasks for families.

The studio’s transition from mobile to desktop and console represents a strategic expansion while maintaining the design principles that made their mobile titles successful. According to podcast discussions with the studio’s founder, 81monkeys leverages its experience across casual and social gaming genres to inform World of Anterra’s development approach.

World of Anterra Platform and Development

World of Anterra is being developed as a highly interactive, nonlinear, open world RPG for desktop and console platforms. The game secured funding through a Kickstarter campaign and earned recognition as the Runner Up for Most Anticipated Game 2022 Award by CanadaGameDevs, an organization covering video games made in Canada.

GamesRadar described the project as looking like “SNES Skyrim,” highlighting its retro-inspired visual aesthetic combined with modern open world design. The game is built in Unity and represents the type of ambitious project that, according to the developers, only an independent studio could make.

Mobile Content Availability

While World of Anterra itself is not a mobile game, the studio has released mobile-compatible content for fans. The Teaser Bundle 1 includes high-resolution wallpapers designed for both desktop and mobile devices, along with concept art and a Dragon Eye profile avatar. This mobile wallpaper content allows players to bring Anterra’s aesthetic to their smartphones even though the full game experience remains on larger platforms.

Core Game Features

World of Anterra features an endlessly explorable open world with deep progression systems, fast-paced combat, and rich lore. The developers have designed the experience to be wrapped in what they describe as a satisfying and accessible interface.

A Diverse and Living World

The game world encompasses oceans, continents, regions, castles, towns, mountains, caves, and dungeons. Anterra is populated with life ranging from small insects to massive creatures. NPCs follow daily routines while responding dynamically to both world events and player actions. The design philosophy emphasizes free exploration at the player’s own pace.

Non-Linear Story Design

Story and quest progression follow non-linear, divergent paths. Players can choose where to go and whom to speak with, allowing their personal story to unfold naturally based on their chosen paths. This approach contrasts with more directed narrative experiences common in modern RPGs.

Conversational Dialogue System

The game introduces a unique conversational dialogue system that moves away from the wordy, linear dialogue trees prevalent in contemporary games. Instead, 81monkeys designed a retro-inspired system that allows more natural conversations with every character in the game. This design choice reflects the studio’s philosophy of reducing unnecessary complexity.

Party-Based Combat

Combat in World of Anterra is fast and fluid, featuring party-based encounters. The developers have applied their extensive experience across multiple gaming genres, including casual and social games, to create combat that remains engaging regardless of play duration. The system emphasizes streamlined UI and responsive feedback.

Interface Design Philosophy

The studio’s mobile gaming background particularly shines in World of Anterra’s user interface design. The developers prioritized creating an interface with minimal traditional “UI” elements and text. Rather than relying on extensive menus and lists, they implemented true-to-world items and intuitive icons.

This design approach stems directly from mobile gaming principles, where screen real estate is limited and clarity is paramount. The studio claims their interface design is so engaging it could function as a standalone game. This philosophy of accessibility and streamlined presentation carries over from their mobile development experience to create an experience that welcomes players without overwhelming them with information.

Mobile Gaming Influence on Design

The transition from mobile to desktop and console development brings unique advantages to World of Anterra’s design. Mobile game development demands exceptional clarity in visual communication, immediate feedback systems, and intuitive controls—all principles that enhance any gaming experience regardless of platform.

81monkeys’ background in casual and social mobile games contributes to their approach to player engagement and retention. Mobile games must capture attention quickly and maintain interest through clear progression systems and rewarding feedback loops. These lessons inform World of Anterra’s design even as it scales to the larger scope possible on desktop and console platforms.

Procedural vs. Design Considerations

According to podcast discussions with the studio founder, one significant challenge in developing a large-scale game like World of Anterra involves balancing procedural generation with hand-crafted content. This consideration affects how the vast world can maintain quality while offering extensive exploration opportunities. The studio’s experience with mobile game development, where efficient content delivery is crucial, informs these design decisions.

Kickstarter Campaign and Team Expansion

Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, 81monkeys expanded their team to tackle the ambitious scope of World of Anterra. The campaign allowed the studio to scale up from their mobile game development structure to support the demands of creating an open world RPG.

Working with a larger team after the Kickstarter success presented both opportunities and challenges. The expansion enabled more comprehensive content creation while requiring the studio to maintain the cohesive vision and accessible design philosophy that characterized their mobile work.

Community and Recognition

World of Anterra has garnered attention within the Canadian game development community and beyond. The game’s recognition by CanadaGameDevs and coverage by major gaming media outlets like GamesRadar demonstrates growing interest in the project.

The studio maintains an active presence through their website at worldofanterra.com, Twitter as @81monkeysStudio, and a Discord community for fans and backers. These channels provide updates on development progress and community engagement.

FAQ

Is World of Anterra available on mobile platforms?
No, World of Anterra is being developed for desktop and console platforms. However, mobile wallpapers from the game are available in the Teaser Bundle.

What mobile games has 81monkeys created?
81monkeys developed Sudoku Scramble and the Chore App before expanding to desktop and console game development with World of Anterra.

How does 81monkeys’ mobile experience influence World of Anterra?
The studio’s mobile gaming background informs World of Anterra’s accessible interface design, streamlined UI, and focus on engaging feedback systems.

What platforms will World of Anterra release on?
World of Anterra is being developed for desktop and console platforms, utilizing Unity as the development engine.

Where is 81monkeys located?
The studio is based in Port Moody, British Columbia, on Canada’s West Coast.

What is included in the World of Anterra Teaser Bundle?
Teaser Bundle 1 includes concept art, a high-resolution Dragon Eye profile avatar, and high-resolution wallpapers for both desktop and mobile devices.