Fuad Kuliev: Companies here want to participate in shaping Cyprus’ game development scene

Speaking to GOLD magazine as part of a cover story featuring 18 of the top gaming developers based in Cyprus, Fuad Kuliev, CEO and Creative Director, Eschatology Entertainment recently revealed why he believes games always outpace any other entertainment alternative.

Among other things, he also shared his view on why international companies are choosing to set up shop in Cyprus and reveals a bit about what gaming fans can expect from Eschatology Entertainment over the coming period.

How did the focus on console games, particularly in the first-person shooter genre with apocalyptic elements, come about?

Firstly, due to the team’s experience in the companies we worked with previously (Wargaming, Valve, 4A), which specialise in developing games for PC/Consoles, particularly shooters, it naturally made sense to build a studio around our strengths. Secondly, we are all passionate gamers and the primary platforms for our team are also PC/Consoles. Therefore, it’s about doing what you know and understand best. As for the ‘apocalypse’ theme, it emerged during the development of our setting. We chose the western genre for many reasons, among the most significant being the high value placed on each bullet and the stereotype of the high noon duel. The combination of duel-focused gameplay and the need to conserve every shot perfectly complemented the mechanics of a Souls-like game. Once we realized that we were creating a western Souls-like, the apocalypse theme naturally followed. After all, the western genre inherently carries apocalyptic undertones. Images of empty deserts, lone wanderers, retribution and law in the hands of a single individual are common themes shared between westerns and apocalyptic worlds.

Walk us through your upcoming title and the reasons why you believe that it will be a success.

I can’t reveal many details until we make a public announcement but, I can assure you, it will be incredible! It’s hardly surprising that I’d say that about a project I’m involved in but it’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed playing raw builds as much as I do now, so I am being honest here. We’re inventing a new approach to what a hardcore single-player shooter looks like and, from the closed tests and reactions to them, we’re succeeding. It’s unnecessary to dwell on the Souls-like boom that blossomed after the success of Elden Ring. Most Souls-like games tend to be cautious, carefully copying the original formula and preserving its main components (third-person, slasher, recognisable mechanics). This is understandable as it lowers design risks but does little to advance the genre. We chose a different path. The conditions of a first-person shooter (FPS) inherently don’t allow us to stay within the confines of classic Souls-likes. Through a trial-and-error process, we’ve developed our unique approach to key game mechanics that will expand the genre. In addition to that, world-building, particularly by Viktor Antonov, one of the co-founders, is creating an absolutely mesmerising world. The 19th-century American frontier slowly descending into a hellish inferno is captivating.

HBO’s success with The Last of Us and collaborations between acclaimed filmmakers and game creators like Jordan Peele and Hideo Kojima suggest that gaming is on the way to becoming the dominant entertainment medium. What prospects do these developments open for game developers?

Well, games always outpace any other entertainment alternative simply because of the cost per hour of entertainment to dollar ratio. For roughly the same amount of money, you can spend 2 hours at the cinema or 100 hours on a game. As this becomes more apparent, the gaming market grows. With that growth come more significant players and resources in the industry, opening doors to new ambitious projects like ours. Of course, the industry is equally influenced by the wonders of proprietary engine development, making it more accessible than ever to create AAA-level products in our time.

Given the growing popularity of e-sports and its evolution into a major sporting event, including an annual e-sports World Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia, what opportunities does this remarkable surge present for game developers?

I’m not an expert in e-sports and we are generally focused on the single player experience above all else, though we do have co-op and player vs player (PvP) multiplayer in our game. While I do play Hunt: Showdown and Rainbow Six Siege, I wouldn’t venture to make predictions about the impact of a complex subject like e-sports on the market, which has tripped up seasoned experts in that field in the past.

Your studio, among others developing console and PC games, has chosen to establish itself in Cyprus. What specific attributes make the island an appealing destination for you?

The reason for choosing Cyprus is our affinity for the island (as well as the very favourable tax policies for IT companies). Our COO Boris and I relocated to Cyprus nearly 7 years ago with Wargaming and we have settled in quite comfortably. Therefore, as half of our co-founders are based in Cyprus, we chose it as the centre of our operations. I was born in Azerbaijan and I really like the Cyprus climate, which reminds me of childhood trips to the countryside. July and August are my favorite times of the year because everyone leaves Cyprus due to the heat, making the streets surreally empty through the prism of the heated air. As a remote company, of course, the location of our headquarters doesn’t really matter. Two of our other co-founders are based in France and Ukraine, while our growing number of employees work from 16 different countries.

The recent decision by the House of Representatives to reduce the naturalisation period for C-level executives to four years reflects efforts to establish Cyprus as an IT and games hub. What other changes, policy or otherwise, do you believe would further support this goal?

Cyprus responds wisely to community needs; for example, preserving tax incentives when changing employers was a reaction to the complex situation faced by many who relocated as part of a large company and later decided to start their own business. I was very pleased with this decision. On the other hand, Cyprus can be quite entrenched in bureaucratic processes. Changes or documentation often proceed very slowly and inconveniently, especially in relation to banks. Don’t get me wrong, there have been noticeable improvements over the last seven years. At least no-one asks me to use the strange gadget that generates numbers, which was issued to me upon arrival on the island! However, there is still much room for improvement in document handling and administrative procedures. In addition to this, Cyprus has a flourishing community. Though mostly occupied with work, I hear about this mostly from our partners at GEM Capital, who, having settled in Cyprus, actively participate and invest in the Cyprus community. The few times I’ve attended local events, I was left with a favourable and increasingly improving impression. Companies here want to participate in shaping the game development scene of Cyprus, which is quite heartening.

(This interview first appeared in the January edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.)