Beatshapers Ltd. is a Ukrainian video game developer based in Kyiv. It has rebranded and is now known as Fortell Games as of 2022.
Fortell Games
Fortell Games, Inc. is a Ukrainian-American video game developer based in Kyiv, Ukraine and Santa Monica, CA. It is a spinoff studio of Beatshapers, founded by game industry veteran Alexey Menshikov who previously ran the studio. The company is best known for its unexpected acquisition of the 2012 sandbox game Blocksworld in 2023 and Mixed Reality Game (now in Beta) - Holotanks.
History Fortell Games, Inc. was filed and created on 24 May 2022 in Wilmington, Delaware. It headquartered in Santa Monica in August that same year.
Acquisition of Blocksworld
Fortell first made a splash in late 2023 when rumors started circulating among online fan communities that Linden Lab's 2012 sandbox game Blocksworld had been sold to Fortell Games. The game, originally developed by Swedish company BoldAI AB, had shut down in 2020 after a steady decline over its lifetime. The news caused a stir among Blocksworld's remaining fanbase and generated a following for Fortell Games. On 3 April 2024, a post on Blocksworld's steam community was released by Fortell, announcing a Kickstarter to begin development. The Kickstarter was launched on 2 May 2024. The project achieved its funding goal on 29 May 2024, and on 1 June 2024, it was fully funded by 114.46%.
Games developed Game Developer(s) Publisher Platform(s) Date Holotanks Fortell Games, Beatshapers Fortell Games Meta Quest 24 August 2024, full release TBA Blocksworld Fortell Games, Blocksworld LLC Fortell Games Steam, iOS (other platforms announced Meta Quest, Android XR, Apple Vision Pro, Android) TBA
Games developed/Own IP MelodyBloxx (PS minis, cancelled) BreakQuest: Extra Evolution (PSP and PS Vita) StarDrone Extreme (PS Vita) Z-Run (PS Vita) Ready to Run (PS4) #killallzombies (PS4 and Nintendo Switch) RC Soccer (iOS, Android, VR) StarDrone VR (PS VR) Machines of Madness (Postponed indefinitely)
Games ported
PlayStation Minis BreakQuest NormalTanks Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter Enigmo Jane's Hotel Best of Solitaire (for Cosmigo GmbH) Carnivores: Ice Age Galcon Labs Canabalt Wizorb Jetpack Joyride PlayStation Network StarDrone Snowy: Treasure Hunter (for Alawar) PlayStation Vita StarDrone Extreme Furmins (with Housemarque) VR Mission ISS Gear VR (with Oculus/TMUG/Magnopus) Fantastic Beasts VR (with WB/TMUG/Framestore) X8 VR (Thirdverse, Japan)
Games published PlayStation Minis BreakQuest (PSP minis launch title) NormalTanks Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter Jane's Hotel Enigmo Carnivores: Ice Age Galcon Labs Canabalt Wizorb BreakQuest: Extra Evolution Jetpack Joyride PlayStation Network StarDrone (PS3 – PS Move launch title) StarDrone Extreme (PS Vita launch title) BreakQuest: Extra Evolution Freemium and PRO edition (PS Vita) Furmins (PS Vita) Z-Run (PS Vita) #killallzombies (PS4) RC Soccer (Apple ARkit, Android Razer Phone exclusive) StarDrone VR (PlayStation VR)
Awards Finalist StarDrone, IndieCade Festival 2011 Honorable Mention MelodyBloxx, IGF Mobile 2010 Developer Dash 2007 PlayFirst's Developer Dash Award 2007 Semi-Finalist RC Soccer VR, Global VR Challenge 2016 (China) Nominee StarDrone VR, IMGA Awards 2017 finalist
References
Sources
PushSquare interview and Carnivores sequel teaser
PlayFirst Developer Dash official press release BreakQuest reviews including paper magazines references Interview with Beatshapers CEO at PlayStation LifeStyle Independent Games Festival Mobile 2010 finalists and honorable mentions StartGame interview StarDrone official announcement Enigmo PlayStation minis announcement IndieCade Festival 2011 finalists Ready to Run announce on EU PSN blog StarDrone VR IMGA 2017 nominee StarDrone VR release announce Official website / PushSquare interview and Carnivores sequel teaser
PlayFirst Developer Dash official press release BreakQuest reviews including paper magazines references Interview with Beatshapers CEO at PlayStation LifeStyle Independent Games Festival Mobile 2010 finalists and honorable mentions StartGame interview StarDrone official announcement Enigmo PlayStation minis announcement IndieCade Festival 2011 finalists Ready to Run announce on EU PSN blog StarDrone VR IMGA 2017 nominee StarDrone VR release announce Holotanks MR announcement UploadVR Summer Fest recap with Holotanks and Blocksworld