CM LABS: UNLOOP

Let's face it, it's no secret that many game studio developers have their own pet projects or prototypes. Sometimes, the urge to bring these brainchildren to life can lead to talents from the studio. It's a lose-lose situation: the employee forfeits stability, creative environment, and colleagues, while the company loses a valuable team member and has to scramble to find a replacement.

We've cracked the code on how to avoid this dilemma with CM Labs, a program helping employees to turn their ideas into reality. And when we say "help" we mean it – not only do creators benefit from a supportive environment and expert advice, but they also receive initial financial support to kick-start their projects. Plus, recognising that great ideas take time to develop, we offer our authors the opportunity to dedicate up to 20% of their weekly working time to their titles.

So, how does one join CM Labs? Once a month, every company employee can present their project to a panel of experts consisting of our seasoned managers, department heads and board members. They evaluate its potential, feasibility, alignment with CM Games' vision, and other criteria. Since the launch of the program in 2022, the experts reviewed over thirty ideas, and today, we're thrilled to share the story of one of our program's finalists who received the green light for development.

Introducing UnLoop – a single-player VR puzzle adventure that throws you into a mind-bending time loop on a space station.

To escape, you'll need to use your spy skills and team up with your copies, as each timer reset brings forth your new replica mirroring actions from prior loops.

Artem Suleimanov, the brain behind UnLoop, conceived the basic mechanics back in 2015, drawing inspiration from puzzle game classics like Portal and mobile game Does Not Commute. To get the green light for development from the company, he got pretty creative! Despite lacking a full-fledged technical prototype, he tested game mechanics using … enthusiastic colleagues as player’s copies (who dramatically collapsed upon 'elimination'). This live testing confirmed the concept of core gameplay and mechanics – a game featuring time loops, duplicates, and self-coop.

In January 2023, the pitch secured development approval, marking the allocation of funds for a tech prototype on UE5 and the formation of a small team. Artem teamed up with a skilled programmer who brought all the ideas to life and a diligent manager who handled organizational matters, requirements, deadlines, and budgeting. By August 2023, the first full playtest validated the project's potential, and Unloop was officially a go for full development. Now, a public playtest is coming in 2024 with the Discord and playtest launch announcement right around the corner! Rock on folks! 

This marks the debut publication about CM Labs projects, and we're committed to keeping you in the loop about all the cool stuff brewing in our lab.

So, hang tight for more updates!