// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did attraction say to attraction? You attract me.
| Attractio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developers | GameCoder Studios Renderfarm Studios |
| Publisher | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Engine | Custom |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, Vita |
| Release | 19 January 2016 |
| Genre | Puzzle-platform |
| Mode | Single-player |
Attractio is a puzzle-platform game by Mexican[1] developers GameCoder Studios, Renderfarm Studios and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment.[2] Attractio takes place in the Entertainment Space Station (ESS), an artificial satellite orbiting Mars where players will solve deadly physics-based puzzles using gadgets that manipulate gravity. This futuristic puzzle platformer draws its gameplay inspiration from games like Portal, while also being inspired by futuristic stories like those similar to Running Man.[3] The game received mixed reviews. It was the first video game developed in Latin America to be published globally by Bandai Namco Entertainment,[4][5]
Development
[edit]The game was first announced for Steam Greenlight in 2013,[6] and successfully "Greenlit" the following year.[7] Shortly after, the developers announced the game was now being published (after improvements) by Bandai Namco Entertainment,[8] an early access of Attractio, supporting Windows and already with plans for the Oculus Rift, was available: "GameCoder Studios has announced that its indie first-person puzzle title, Attractio, will be launching via early access on Thursday, 20th March."[9]
The music was composed by Novelli Jurado. He mixed electronic music with classical and tribal textures gathering a variety range of emotions. With this work he is the first latinamerican composer whose work was distributed worldwide by Japanese renown company Bandai-Namco for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Steam.[citation needed]
Attractio and Bandai Namco partnership (2015–2016)
[edit]In 2015, GameCoder Studios presented a prototype of Attractio at a Sony industry event. The game's mechanics, based on gravity manipulation, secured a publishing deal with Bandai Namco Entertainment.[4] This agreement marked a milestone for the regional industry, as Attractio became the first Latin American video game to be distributed globally by the Japanese publisher for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC.[5]
The game was released in January 2016. Critical reception was mixed; while outlets like Hardcore Gamer praised the complexity of its puzzles,[10] other publications such as Destructoid criticized the narrative and production values.[11]
Reception
[edit]| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Hardcore Gamer | 3.5/5[12] |
| The Escapist | 3/5[13] |
| Push Square | 5/10[14] |
| GameRevolution | 4/10[15] |
Attractio has received mixed reviews from critics.
Thomas Ella of Hardcore Gamer gave the game a 3.5 out of 5 saying, "There's not a lot about Attractio to pull you in from a distance. It doesn't look, sound or even feel that great. Its story is obvious and uninteresting. Everything about it screams “knockoff” like a “ROLAX” watch, but don't be fooled: if you're a fiend for devious puzzles, Attractio is the real deal."[12] Mitchell Saltzman from The Escapist rated the game a 3/5 saying, "Die-hard puzzle fans that are always on the lookout for ways to give their brain a workout may want to give Attractio a shot. Others may not be willing to look past the game's glaring surface flaws."[13][16]
Awards
[edit]Concurso Nacional de Videojuegos MX (2015): 2nd Place for Attractio.[17]
GameCoder Studios
[edit]| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video game industry |
| Founded | November 20, 2012; 12 years ago |
| Founder | Marcel Stockli Alberto Ramírez Luis Vargas |
| Headquarters | Guanajuato City, Guanajuato, Mexico |
| Products | Attractio Sophie's Guardian |
| Services | Video game development, Porting, Co-development |
| Website | gamecoderstudios |
GameCoder Studios (registered as GC Studios S.A. de C.V.) is a Mexican video game developer based in Guanajuato City, Mexico, and best known for developing Attractio. Founded in 2012, the company specializes in the creation of original intellectual property, virtual reality (VR) experiences, and provides co-development and porting services for consoles and PC. It is also known for its technical contributions to franchises such as Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl and PBA Pro Bowling 2026.
History
[edit]GameCoder Studios was founded on November 20, 2012, in Guanajuato by Marcel Stockli, Alberto Ramírez, and Luis Vargas. The founders, engineers with previous experience in the technology sector, established the studio in the Bajio region with the aim of fostering local software development.[18] During its early years, the team focused on low-level engineering, developing a proprietary game engine initially known as GC Engine, which was later registered as the Lodestone Engine.
Following the release of Attractio, the studio expanded into virtual reality (VR) development. In October 2016, they released Sophie's Guardian, a wave shooter survival horror game. The title was recognized as one of the first Virtual Reality video games developed in Mexico released on the Steam platform.[19]
From 2018 onwards, GameCoder transitioned to a hybrid business model, providing "work-for-hire" and co-development services for international publishers such as GameMill Entertainment and Maximum Entertainment. The studio has contributed engineering, porting, and art assets to established franchises, including the Maximum Football expansions and character modeling for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.[20]
Original intellectual property
[edit]| Year | Title | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Attractio | PS4 & PS Vita | First LATAM game distributed globally by the publisher.[21] |
| 2016 | Sophie's Guardian | Steam VR | First Mexican VR game in Steam.[22] |
Co-development and/or Work For Hire
[edit]| Year | Title | Platform | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Agent Awesome | Steam | Support on launch |
| 2015 | Kerbal Space Program | Steam | Support on launch |
| 2021 | Open Country | Steam | Game Development & Art Development |
| 2021 | Cris Tales | Steam, Epic Games Store, GoGG.com, and Microsoft Store | Support on launch |
| 2021 | In Sound Mind | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch | Porting & Post-launch support |
| 2021 | Stranded Deep | Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S | Game Development and Cooperative mode |
| 2021 | Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Store | Full Art Development |
| 2021 | Nerf Legends | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch | Game & AI Development |
| 2021 | Super Animal Royale | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and Facebook Gaming | Porting & Post-launch support |
| 2022 | Them's Fightin' Herds | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch | Porting & Post-launch support |
| 2023 | Echoes of Empire | PC | Game, 2D Art, 3D Art Development |
| 2024 | Lil' Guardsman | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch | Console Porting & Quality Assurance |
| 2024 | Smalland | PS5 & Xbox Series X|S | Console Porting & Crossplay programming |
| 2024 | Forgotten Runiverse | Browser | Full Development |
| 2024 | Kena: Bridge of Spirits | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One | Console Porting |
| 2024 | Squirrel with a Gun | PS5, and Xbox Series X|S | Console Porting |
| 2024 | Maximum Football | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC | Gameplay programming & backend services |
| 2025 | PixelShire | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC | Porting, Bug Fixing & Implementation |
| 2025 | Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC | Porting and UI Support |
| 2025 | Pro Bowling | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC | Console Porting |
References
[edit]- ↑ "@gamecoder_team" on X (formerly Twitter)
- ↑ "Attractio". attractio-game.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ↑ "E3 2015: Running Man meets Portal in Attractio". Nerd Reactor. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- 1 2 Villafranco, Gerardo (20 January 2016). "El videojuego mexicano que abrió todas las puertas" [The Mexican video game that opened all doors] (in Spanish). Forbes México. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- 1 2 "Attractio, el estudio mexicano GameCoder Studios publica su primer juego en PS4, Vita y Steam" [Attractio: Mexican studio GameCoder Studios publishes its first game on PS4, Vita and Steam] (in Spanish). Xataka México. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ↑ "Attractio on GreenLight! feature". 20 March 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ↑ "Steam Community :: Discussions". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ↑ @GameCoder_Team (17 April 2015). "Bandai Namco escogió #Attractio para mejorarlo y publicarlo globalmente. #PS4 #PSVita y PC! próximamente + material" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 June 2015 – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Attractio Launching Early Access Version this Thursday - VRFocus". VRFocus. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ↑ Ella, Thomas (19 January 2016). "Review: Attractio". Hardcore Gamer. Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ↑ Whitaker, Jed (19 January 2016). "Review: Attractio". Destructoid. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- 1 2 Ella, Thomas (27 January 2016). "Review: Attractio". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- 1 2 Saltzman, Mitchell (27 January 2016). "Review: Attractio". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ↑ "Review: Attractio (PS4)". 27 January 2016.
- ↑ "Attractio Review". 9 February 2016.
- ↑ "Attractio Hands-On Impressions: Thinking with Puzzle Boxes". 14 August 2015.
- ↑ "Concurso Nacional Videojuegos MX" (in Spanish). VideojuegosMX. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ↑ "Game Coder Studios: Pasión por los videojuegos, negocio también" (in Spanish). Platino News. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ↑ "Hablamos con los desarrolladores del primer juego mexicano de realidad virtual". VICE. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ↑ "Videojuegos y estudios de México: una industria llena de joyas e interesantes promesas" [Video games and studios in Mexico: an industry full of gems and interesting promises] (in Spanish). LevelUp. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ↑ Garrido, Rodrigo (19 January 2016). "Attractio, el estudio mexicano GameCoder Studios publica su primer juego en PS4, Vita y Steam". Xataka México (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ "Sophie's Guardian, el primer videojuego mexicano de terror en VR". MILENIO. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
