We delved too deep.
Ventura's last, great mobile title was going to fix it all.
On paper, it had everything. Fresh, dynamic not-an-infinite-scroller-BUT gameplay, an actually playable MVP that testers couldn't put down, a brand-new set of visual features that simulated dynamic lighting on mobiles, a shop, unlockables, customizable character rides, achievements, social sharing, enormous levels that could span up to 10000 floors without breaking old Android phones... it was the single largest mobile investment Ventura put forward, taking a serious chunk of our remaining budget and savings.
Unfortunately for us, while Salvage Heroes ticked every box on every must-invest list you can imagine, it simply failed to make a dent in the market. While gameplay was immersive and fun, so were a million other titles on the market. And we simply forgot to make it... memorable enough.
Plus, naturally, I am certain it could have cooked a little longer. This single game is the only one in my career where I completely ignored my instincts and pursued other goals. And it was the game no one even noticed.
Never ignore your instincts, kids. They're there for a reason.