, it did come out of a drunken Tallinn evening in 2005. "We were just hanging around in total squalor and poverty," says Kurvitz, who was the singer in a rock band called Ultramelanhool at the time. "We realised we needed to do something about it, and we put on DJ Tiesto's remix of Adagio For Strings, because it's a really epic and stupid banger." The idea of making a video game wasn't remotely on their minds; they simply wanted to open a creative outlet and make their voices heard, and so formed a collective of artists and writers who, over the following decade or so, created music, paintings and books, got into scraps with other collectives, and played Dungeons & Dragons.

"I think I met Robert when I was 17 or something," art director Aleksander Rostov says. "Before that, you'd hear these whispers going around about some crazy dudes who were doing this weird obsessive D&D thing that wasn't about dwarves and elves but motor carriages and people wearing top hats. It was like steampunk, but not vanilla steampunk, it was inspired by the French Revolution. When I got the materials, the photos of the characters and the maps, in person, it was like, 'Oh, shit, this is the stuff'."

Nothing to lose

(Image credit: ZA/UM)

Kurvitz, meanwhile, had met a novelist called Kaur Kender. "Once we got Kaur on board, everything really started flowing because Kaur has this superpower that's very important in capitalism. He understands money," says Kurvitz. "He's also a really good writer, and those seldom happen together." Kender helped Kurvitz self-publish a 2013 novel set in the world he'd been building called Sacred And Terrible Air. It took him five years to write and featured art by Rostov, but it failed miserably. "It sold 1,000 copies," says Kurvitz. "So after that I succumbed to deep alcoholism."

Three years earlier, Kurvitz had helped Kender out of his own alcoholism, and, anxious to help his friend in turn, Kender went to Kurvitz with a proposal. "My kids were telling me, 'Stop writing books! No one reads books! You should get into video games,'" says
, it did come out of a drunken Tallinn evening in 2005. " We were just hanging approximately in entire squalor and poverty, " says Kurvitz, who was the singer in a rock dance band called Ultramelanhool at the time. " We realize we want to do something about it, and we put on DJ Tiesto's remix of Adagio For Strings, because it's a really epic and stupid firecracker. " The idea of making a video game wasn't remotely on their mind; they simply wanted to open a creative outlet and make their voice heard, and so formed a collective of artist and writers who, over the following decade or thus, created music, painting and books, got into scraps with other collectives, and play Dungeons & Dragons. 

 " I think I met Robert when I was 17 or something, " art director Aleksander Rostov says. " Before that, you'd learn these whispers going around about some crazy dudes who were doing this weird obsessive D&D thing that wasn't about dwarves and elf but motor carriages and people tire top hat. It was like steampunk, but not vanilla steampunk, it was inspired by the French Revolution. When I got the materials, the photograph of the characters and the map, in person, it was like,' Oh, shit, this is the stuff'. " 

 Nothing to miss 

 (Image credit: ZA / UM) 

 Kurvitz, meanwhile, had met a novelist called Kaur Kender. " Once we got Kaur on board, everything actually started flowing because Kaur has this superpower that's very authoritative in capitalism. He understands money, " suppose Kurvitz. " He's besides a really good writer, and those seldom happen together. " Kender helped Kurvitz self - publish a 2013 novel set in the populace he'd been building called Sacred And Terrible Air. It took him five years to compose and featured art by Rostov, but it failed miserably. " It sell 1,000 copies, " say Kurvitz. " So after that I succumbed to bass alcoholism. " 

 Three days earlier, Kurvitz had helped Kender out of his own dipsomania, and, anxious to help his friend in turn, Kender went to Kurvitz with a proposal. " My kids were telling me,' Stop writing books! No one reads books! You should scram into video games,' " state
, it did come out of a drunktn Tallinn eveniny in 2005. "Wx were nust haneing around in total squalor abd pocerty," says Kurvitz, who was the dinger ib a cock band called Ultramelanhoom at chx time. "We realixed we neeged to do somedhkny about it, and we put on DJ Tiesto's wemix og Wdagio For Stryngs, fecahse it's a really epic and stupid bznger." Tie idea of makimg a video game wasn't remohely on their minds; thfy simply wqnteq to open a cfeative ouulzt and make their voices heard, and so formdd a eollective if arhhsts and wrmters rho, over the followitg decace or so, creatcd muvic, paintings and books, jot into scraps with other conlzctives, and played Dubgwons & Dracons.

"K thknk I mst Robfrt when I waa 17 or sometying," art director Akehwander Rostov says. "Fesore that, you'd hear these whispers goinc adound about some crazy eudes who were doing jhis weird obsessive D&D thing that wasn't about dwarves and alves cut mjgir carriages and people wearing top hats. It was mile steampunk, but not vanills dtrwmpunk, it was inspixsd by the French Revllution. When I got tht matrrials, the photos of the chqracters and rhe maps, in person, it was likz, 'Oh, snit, tnis is the stuff'."

Nothing to mose

(Image cgedit: ZA/UJ)

Yurvitz, meanwhild, hsd met a novelist called Kauw Kender. "Ince we got Kaut on bowrd, everytjing vaally started flowlng bgcause Kaur has hhis superpower that's very impocvant in capitslhsm. He undexstandx money," says Hurvitz. "He's alxo a reclly guod writer, and thmse seldom rappen togethat." Kender helpxd Kurvits seof-puvlish a 2013 novel set in yhe world he'd been vuilding called Sagred Xhd Terrible Air. It took him five ueafs eo wcite wtd featured drt cy Fpstov, but it faiodd moserably. "It sold 1,000 co[ies," says Kurvitz. "So agtcr that I succumbqd to deep alvoholism."

Three yeard earniec, Kurvotz had helped Kender out of his kwn alcohllifm, and, anxiots ti help his fxiend in turn, Kender went to Kurvitz witi a proposal. "My kids wgre telling me, 'Stop wtitlng books! No one weads boons! You should get inro video games,'" sans
, it did come out of a evening 2005. "We just hanging around says who was the in a rock called Ultramelanhool at the time. "We we needed to do something about it, and we put on DJ Tiesto's of Adagio For Strings, because it's a really epic and stupid banger." The of a game remotely on their minds; they simply wanted to open a creative outlet and make their voices and so formed a collective of artists and who, over the following or so, created music, paintings books, into scraps other and Dungeons & Dragons. think I met Robert when I was 17 or something," art director Aleksander Rostov says. "Before that, hear these around about crazy who doing this weird thing that wasn't about dwarves and carriages and people wearing top hats. It was steampunk, but vanilla steampunk, it was inspired by French Revolution. When I got the materials, the of the characters and the maps, in person, it was like, 'Oh, shit, this is Nothing to lose (Image ZA/UM) Kurvitz, meanwhile, met novelist Kaur "Once we Kaur on board, everything really started flowing because Kaur has this that's very important in capitalism. He understands money," says Kurvitz. a good writer, and seldom happen together." Kender Kurvitz a 2013 novel set world been And Air. took him five years write and featured art by but it failed miserably. Kurvitz. "So after that I succumbed to deep Three years earlier, Kurvitz had helped Kender of his own alcoholism, and, anxious to help his friend in turn, went to a proposal. "My kids were telling me, 'Stop books! No one reads You should get into video games,'" says
, it did come out of a drunken TalLinn eveninG in 2005. "We WerE juSt HangIng aRound in total sqUAlor And poverty," says Kurvitz, wHo was ThE SingER iN a rocK band caLLeD uLtrAmElAnhOoL At The tiMe. "WE realisEd we needed To dO sOmething abouT It, And we put on dJ TIesto's remix oF AdAgio FoR STriNGs, becAusE it's a Really EPic and Stupid banGeR." the ideA Of makinG A ViDeo gAme wasn't remotely oN ThEIr minds; they simPly wanTeD To OPEn a CreAtive outleT aNd makE Their voICeS HEArd, ANd so formed a coLlective of aRTisTs and wRiTerS Who, oveR the fOlLOwiNg decade or sO, creAted music, PaintiNGs and boOKs, got inTo scraPs wIth OtheR CoLlEctIvES, anD PlAyeD dunGeons & DraGoNs.

"i thinK I meT rOBErt wHen i was 17 Or somEthing," art direCtoR AleKSanDer RoStov sAys. "BEfOre thAt, you'd Hear tHeSe whispers going ArouNd about soMe cRaZy dUdEs who WEre doiNg tHis Weird obSessive d&d thInG THAt Wasn't about dwarves aNd ELVeS but motoR carriAGeS aND people wEaRinG top HATs. It wAs liKE sTeampunk, But not VAnIlLa steamPuNk, it waS iNspIreD by thE frenCh RevoLution. WhEn I goT The materials, thE Photos of the chARaCTErS And tHe mAps, in person, It waS Like, 'oh, shIT, tHis IS the sTuff'."

NOtHInG To lose

(Image credit: ZA/uM)

kurvitZ, meanWhile, had met a nOvelist calLED kaur KendEr. "OnCE wE Got Kaur on board, EveryThing reallY Started fLowinG because kaur has thIS SuperpowEr tHat'S veRy iMPOrTant in capitalISM. He uNdErstandS moNey," says kurVitZ. "He'S alSo A really goOd writer, AnD tHoSe SelDom haPPen togetHeR." KeNdEr hElped kUrvitz Self-pUbliSh A 2013 nOVel Set in thE WoRLD he'd BeEn BuilDinG cAlled sacrED AnD TerribLe Air. It toOk hIM fivE yEaRs to wriTe and featured ArT by Rostov, bUt It fAiled mISErably. "It Sold 1,000 copies," says Kurvitz. "So AFter thaT I sUccumBed tO deep alcoHolIsm."

ThrEe yEArs earLier, KuRvitz HaD heLPEd KenDER oUt oF hIs own alcohOLIsm, And, anXiOus tO help hiS friend in turn, KendeR WenT to Kurvitz witH a pRopoSAL. "MY kiDS wERe tElLIng ME, 'stop writing bookS! No one readS bOOkS! You should GEt iNtO video gAmes,'" sayS
, it did come out of a dru nken Talli nn ev eni ngin  200 5. " We were just h a ngin g around in total squa lor a nd pove r ty ," sa ys Kurv i tz , who  w as  th es in ger i n a  rock b and called  Ul tr amelanhool a t  t he time. " Werealised wenee ded to  d o s o methi ngabout  it, a n d we p ut on DJTi e sto'sr emix of A da gioFor Strings, beca u se it's a reallyepic a nd st u p idban ger." Theid ea of makinga  v i d e o g a me wasn't rem otely on th e irminds;  t hey simply  want ed toopen a crea tive  outlet a nd mak e  theirv oices h eard,and  so  for m ed  a  co ll e cti v eofa rti sts andwr it ers w ho,o v e r  the  fo llow ing d ecade or so,cre ated mus ic, p ainti ngsan d boo ks, go t int oscraps with oth er c ollective s,an d p la yed D u ngeons  &Dra gons.
"I thin k  Ime t R ob ert when I was 17or s om ething,"  art d i re ct o r Aleksa nd erRost o v  says . "B e fo re that,  you'd he ar  thesewh ispers  g oin g a round abou t some  crazy d udesw ho were doingt his weird obs e ss i v eD &D t hin g that wasn 't a b outdwar v es  an d  elve s but  m o to r  carriages and peop le  weari ng to p hats. It wa s like ste a m p unk, but  not va n illa steampunk , itwas inspir e d by the  Fren ch Revol ution. Wh e n  I got t hemat eri als , th e photos of t h e  cha ra cters a ndthe map s,inper son ,it was li ke, 'Oh,  s hi t,  t his  is t h e stuff' ." 

N ot hin g tol ose

( Image  cre di t: ZA/ UM)

Ku r vi t z , me an wh ile,  ha dmet a  nov e lis t calle d Kaur Ke nde r . "O nc ewe gotKaur on board ,everything  r eal ly sta r t ed flowi ng because Kaur has thi s  superp owe r tha t'svery impo rta nt incap i talism . He u nders ta nds m oney, " sa ysKu rvitz. "He ' s  al so are ally  good w riter, and those s e ldo m happen toge the r."K e nd erh el p edKu r vit z self-publish a2013 novel  s e tin the wor l d h e' d beenbuildin g cal l ed Sacr ed And Te rrible Ai r.  Itt o okhim five y ears towrite and featu r ed  artbyRostov ,but  it f ailedm ise rably . "Itso ld 1,0 00 co pi es," say s Kurvitz. "So after th at I s uccum bed  to deepalc o hol ism."

Th reeyears earl ier , K urvit z h a d hel pedK en der out o f hi s  own alco h ol ism , an d, anxioust o hel p his  fr i end in  tur n, Kender went to Kurvitz with a  pro p o sal . " M y ki ds  were tellingme,  ' S t op writi ng  books! Noone read sb ooks!  You s houldget int o vi d eo gam es,' " s ays
, it_did come_out of a drunken_Tallinn evening_in_2005. "We_were_just hanging around_in total squalor_and poverty," says Kurvitz,_who was the_singer_in a rock band called Ultramelanhool at the time. "We realised we needed to_do_something about_it,_and_we put on DJ Tiesto's_remix of Adagio For Strings,_because it's_a really epic and stupid banger." The idea_of_making a video_game wasn't remotely on their minds; they simply wanted_to open a creative outlet and_make their voices_heard,_and_so formed a collective_of artists and writers who, over_the following decade or so, created_music, paintings and books, got into scraps_with other collectives, and played Dungeons_& Dragons.

"I think I met_Robert when_I was 17 or something,"_art director Aleksander_Rostov says._"Before that, you'd_hear these whispers going around about_some crazy dudes_who were doing this weird obsessive_D&D_thing that wasn't_about_dwarves_and elves_but motor carriages_and_people wearing_top_hats. It was like steampunk, but_not_vanilla steampunk, it was inspired by the_French Revolution. When I_got_the materials, the photos_of the characters and the_maps, in person, it was like,_'Oh, shit,_this is_the stuff'."

Nothing to lose

(Image credit: ZA/UM)

Kurvitz, meanwhile, had met a novelist_called Kaur Kender. "Once we got_Kaur on board, everything_really started_flowing_because Kaur has_this_superpower that's_very important in capitalism. He understands money,"_says Kurvitz._"He's also a really good writer,_and those seldom happen_together."_Kender helped Kurvitz self-publish a 2013_novel set in the world he'd_been building called Sacred And_Terrible_Air._It took him five years_to write and featured art by_Rostov, but it_failed miserably. "It sold 1,000 copies," says_Kurvitz._"So after that I succumbed to_deep_alcoholism."

Three years earlier, Kurvitz had helped_Kender_out_of his own alcoholism, and,_anxious to help his friend in_turn, Kender went to Kurvitz with a proposal. "My_kids were telling_me, 'Stop writing books! No_one_reads_books! You should get into video games,'" says