NUTMEG!
Overview
NUTMEG! was the brainchild of Secret Mode’s directors in collaboration with the Sumo Academy’s training staff. The concept was pitched and prototyped by Academy apprentices before receiving the green light from Secret Mode.
The development remained under the leadership of the Academy’s training staff, while Sumo provided professional support across production, design, and art to bring the game to completion. Former Academy graduates also returned to contribute programming expertise and mentor junior staff over an 18-month project from concept to release.
“The Academy team blew our expectations out of the water by coming up with an entirely new take on football management, then repeatedly adapting and improving the idea in response to the input and feedback of the Secret Mode team. We wanted to make a fun game rather than an accurate simulation of being the football boss and the Academy delivered something unique that was way above our expectations. The experience of making a game with Sumo Academy has been truly inspirational!” – James Schall, Chief Publishing Officer – Secret Mode
Project Details
Genre: Simulation, Deckbuilding
Partner: Secret Mode
Service: Full Development
Engine: Proprietary
The Ask
- Creating a nostalgic and original football management game set in the 1980s and 1990s, authentically capturing the golden era of football
- Blending accessibility with depth, welcoming casual players, while offering the strategic complexity football management fans expect.
- Conceiving, designing and developing an entirely new concept to be released before the World Cup.
Our Involvement
- Rapidly prototyped and iterated on card game mechanics.
- Delivered innovative deckbuilding mechanics and original card-based match resolution system.
- Designed immersive in-world interface and hub, centred around the 80s and 90s.
- Elevated production values that exceeded expectations across multiple areas.
- Recorded and implemented immersive and engaging voice-over commentary.
- Mentored and successfully graduated 15 apprentices.
Impact
Our work on NUTMEG! demonstrates Sumo’s ability to:
- Collaborate effectively with partners to create authentic, fan-focused experiences.
- Rapidly prototype and iterate on game mechanics.
- Embrace customer feedback and quickly pivot the design.
- Embed valuable talent development experiences into live projects.
“The whole Sumo Digital team have done a truly amazing job of crafting a nostalgic trip down memory lane, with incredible little details & Easter eggs. They hit the brief head-on and, quite frankly, have produced one of my top three favourite video games of all time.” – James Schall, Chief Publishing Officer – Secret Mode
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