The beginnings
Aku, Rebirth of Shadows is much more than just a video game; it is the realization of a childhood dream come true. Created during the winter of 2019 by Aurélie Haymoz, this project began as a simple desire to bring an imaginary world to life, a personal goal born from various artistic experiences. From music to drawing, theater to video, Aurélie explored many fields before deciding to try her hand at video games.
Passionate yet inexperienced in game design and level design, she embarked on a journey of learning. She read specialized books and watched videos to educate herself on these concepts that were new to her.
An ambitious project
Over time, Aku, Rebirth of Shadows took on a significant role in Aurélie’s life, consuming all her free time. Positive feedback began pouring in from those who discovered the project, confirming that her efforts were paying off. In November 2022, the project was selected by Pro Helvetia to participate in the 2023 She Got Game program. This experience was not only a recognition of the quality of the game but also a source of motivation and enrichment.
Creation of the company
Developing a video game doesn’t come without its challenges. The coding aspect, a discipline Aurélie does not master, requires external expertise. A few developers have donated some of their time to lay the initial groundwork for the code.
In 2024, as the project continued to grow in scale, Aurélie’s partner, Ludovic Sartori, suggested creating a company to structure the game's development and give the project a professional dimension. This led to the birth of their general partnership, Once Upon a Time SNC, based in Aigle, Switzerland.
With his background in sound engineering, Ludovic naturally took charge of mixing and mastering the original soundtrack, as well as the sound design. He is also responsible for promoting the project.
Balancing passion and profession
Alongside this adventure, Aurélie works as a teacher, training apprentices in the field of multimedia. Meanwhile, Ludovic works in the insurance industry, where he applies his attention to detail and analytical mindset.
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