When I started this series, I was basically looking for a fun way to document my journey in both the gaming space and the Kickstarter universe. My first editorial discussed my first couple Kickstarter campaigns that I backed and from there many fun and exciting opportunities opened for myself. What is exciting about part 15 of my series is that the game I backed at the beginning of my journey called Summer in Mara was made by Chibig and now I have the amazing opportunity to have an interview with one of the team members who is part of its PR team.
I had reached out to the Chibig team on X and was told to send an email. This email led me to Irina Moreno, a member of the marketing team at Chibig. At the time I had emailed Chibig they had already finished the latest game in their library Mika and the Witches Mountain. A few days after contacting Chibig they had announced Elusive as a new game they were planning on bringing to Kickstarter and from there the pieces fell into place.
Currently in Chibig’s Library:
- Deiland – 2018
- Summer in Mara – 2020
- Deiland: Pocket Planet Edition – 2021
- Stories of Mara – 2021
- Ankora: Lost Days – 2022
- Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara – 2023
- Creatures of Ava – 2024
- Mika and the Witch’s Mountain – 2024
Looking at this list I have played most of them and have backed 4 of them on Kickstarter. Knowing the incredible talent that it takes to create these games I recognize the time it takes from the amazing people who work tirelessly to create and promote the stories they want to tell. Knowing this I was very happy to be able to reach out to Irina at Chibig and get her thoughts on Kickstarter, working at Chibig, and the gaming community. Before we dive into the insightful interview from Irina lets discuss the next game in Chibig’s legacy.
Elusive
In this game you will follow a brave raider named Zoe as you explore an old house owned by humans. Much like other series such as The Borrowers and The Secret Life of Arrietty, Zoe is a small individual in a world of giants. The game offers elements of adventure and exploration with some metroidvania tossed into the mix. Discover the houses secrets as you discover yourself as well as treasure.
The 3D environment combined with the 2D paths gives you plenty to explore in the vast interior of this house. You will get to craft and enhance your gear and gadgets that help you traverse the terrain. Boot enhancements and a grappling hook help you reach new places while you gather more materials to further your exploration but watch out for the cat and the raven who will try their best to devour you.
Check out the latest campaign on Kickstarter from Chibig. Also please enjoy other articles and interviews in my Kickstarter series to catch up. Now let’s hear from Irina, who so kindly provided feedback to my interview questions and was a pleasure to get to know. Please enjoy.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Interview:
Who are you and what role do you play in your company?
I’m Irina Moreno and I’ve been part of Chibig’s team for almost 3 years, although I also try to help and perform tasks in other areas (I’m in Marketing) to support the team and develop new skills.
Tell us about Chibig and its History?
Chibig began with Abraham Cozar, its founder, in 2007 and the development of Deiland for mobile. His desire has always been to create games with touching stories and visually appealing, pillars that still share the current developments in the studio.
Over time, and especially after the success of the Kickstarter campaign for Summer in Mara (2019), the studio raised enough resources to moderately expand the team and continue creating new games independently.
Have you utilized Kickstarter before?
I was familiar with the platform before I joined the team, but it wasn’t until the Mika and the Witch’s Mountain campaign that I had my first contact with Kickstarter.
It was kind of like a crash course, especially considering how the 30 days of that campaign unfolded, and I like to think that I learned a lot of things that have served me well for the subsequent Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara and Elusive campaigns, which is about to start (or has already started at the time of publishing this).
What do you like about Kickstarter?
The excitement of all the new people discovering your project and involving them somehow in the development with the personalized rewards and stretch goals. It’s like a team marathon.
Who or what drives your motivation behind this project?
Personally? The references to Studio Ghibli movies, as in almost all Chibig games hahaha the secret World of Arrietty is one of my favorite movies from the studio, and a game inspired by it is all I need to jump into it.
What inspires you in your career and personal life within the gaming industry?
I’m not going to say anything new for anyone, but Victoria Tran inspires me every month with her newsletter. Looks like a VERY talented person, with TONS of knowledge and a personality (at least, in public) that instills a lot of encouragement and good vibes.
Any advice for people thinking about starting a Kickstarter campaign?
As a person who is dedicated to Communication and in daily contact with the community: don’t forget the people who supported you after the campaign is over. After all, they are the first to trust your idea!
Where can people reach out to you?
I’m starting to have very negative feelings about X/Twitter, so I’m transitioning to Bluesky. Either one is fine for now.
Bonus question: What are your favorite video game franchises? What is your favorite Chibig game?
My favorite video game franchise since I was a kid is Pokémon, and to this day, it still is. I’m aware that the latest releases have been very “controversial” for various reasons, but I still get excited with each new announcement and each new game. Nostalgia hits hard in my case haha.
My favorite Chibig game is Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, for the theme, for the critique and for the aesthetics.
Thank You!
I wanted to highlight this interaction I had Irina. During initial email correspondence with Irina she had said, “I don’t know if someone with my position (Social Media Manager/PR) will be of any interest for your written interview…,” and I had responded “I think anyone no matter how or what they contribute to an organization has a voice and story,” It was in that moment that I realized everyone has something to bring to the table and I knew I had the right person for this interview. I reflected on my response because I felt that though I do tasks for my day job, podcasting, and writing, I must remind myself that I to have a voice and story to tell. Thank you, Irina, for reminding me of this.
As usual I want to one day be part of a Kickstarter campaign and to see for myself the challenging work that goes into the process. For now, I will continue my Kickstarter journey, so please check out my past editorials in the series and if you have a campaign that you would like me to interview you or check out, please let me know. Contact and reach out to @Stillsaneshane on X/Twitter or Bluesky I would love to hear from you. Cheers friends!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Share your reactions below or join the conversation on the Boss Rush Discord.
Shane Kelley is a Senior writer for Boss Rush Network, as well as a writer for Another Zelda Podcast. His favorite game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can find him on X or Bluesky to talk video games, Marvel, cribbage, and axe throwing.
Featured Image: Kickstarter.com
Images: Provided by Chibig Presskit
Leave a Reply