Is Team Cherry Still Only 3 People? The Mystery Unveiled

The simple answer, based on all available public information, is yes, Team Cherry is still composed of the core trio: Ari Gibson, William Pellen, and Jack Vine. Despite the massive success of Hollow Knight and the anticipation surrounding Hollow Knight: Silksong, there’s no indication that the core team size has changed. This makes their accomplishments even more remarkable. It’s truly a testament to their dedication, skills, and collaborative spirit that they’ve been able to create such beloved and intricate games with such a small team. The persistent silence regarding Silksong’s release has fueled speculation about internal changes, but concrete evidence pointing towards a larger team or the addition of new members remains absent. They are an amazing and talented team.

The Core of Team Cherry: A Deep Dive

Let’s delve into the roles and backgrounds of the individuals who make up Team Cherry, which is based in Adelaide, South Australia:

• Ari Gibson: Co-director and artist. Gibson brings a wealth of artistic experience to the team. Before Team Cherry, he ran the animation studio Mechanical Apple, working on numerous projects across film, games, and music videos. His creative vision is crucial to the unique art style and atmosphere of Hollow Knight.

• William Pellen: Co-director and designer. Pellen partners with Gibson to steer the overall vision and design of the games. His design sensibilities, combined with Gibson’s artistry, have resulted in the engaging world-building and challenging gameplay that fans love.

• Jack Vine: Coder. Vine is the coding powerhouse behind Team Cherry. He’s responsible for bringing the designs and art to life, ensuring that the game functions smoothly and that the intricate mechanics work as intended. His technical expertise is vital to making their ambitious ideas a reality.

This combination of artistic, design, and technical skills is what makes Team Cherry such a potent force in the indie game development world. Their ability to wear multiple hats and collaborate effectively has allowed them to punch far above their weight class.

The Impact of a Small Team: Advantages and Challenges

The fact that Team Cherry has remained a trio throughout their journey has both advantages and challenges:

• Advantages:

  • Streamlined Communication: With only three members, communication is inherently more straightforward and efficient. Ideas can be discussed and implemented quickly.
  • Shared Vision: A small team is more likely to share a unified vision, leading to a more cohesive and focused game.
  • Flexibility: Smaller teams are often more agile and adaptable, able to pivot and adjust their plans as needed during development.
  • Stronger Collaboration: Intimate team size can create a sense of family and camaraderie, fostering deep collaboration and shared ownership of the project.

• Challenges:

  • Heavy Workload: Each member has to handle a larger share of the workload, leading to potential burnout.
  • Limited Expertise: While the core team is highly skilled, they may need external assistance for specialized tasks that fall outside their expertise.
  • Slower Development: A smaller team generally means a longer development cycle, especially for a complex game like Hollow Knight: Silksong.
  • Higher Risk: The impact of one member leaving the team would be significant.

Despite these challenges, Team Cherry has proven that a small, dedicated team can achieve incredible things in the game development industry.

Hollow Knight: A Monumental Achievement for a Trio

Hollow Knight serves as a shining example of what a small team can accomplish. The game’s rich world, intricate level design, challenging combat, and haunting soundtrack have captivated players worldwide. Its success is a testament to the team’s dedication and creative talent. The original Hollow Knight game was so well made it made it onto the Games Learning Society website as a case study in 2D Metroidvania game design. You can read about other studies on their webpage at GamesLearningSociety.org.

The development of Hollow Knight was initially crowdfunded through Kickstarter, which allowed Team Cherry to dedicate themselves to the project full-time. The game’s success not only validated their vision but also provided them with the resources to embark on their next adventure: Hollow Knight: Silksong.

The Silksong Enigma: Patience and Expectations

The anticipation surrounding Hollow Knight: Silksong is immense. The game was initially announced in February 2019, and since then, information has been scarce. This prolonged silence has led to a mix of excitement, speculation, and, at times, frustration among fans.

Team Cherry has maintained a relatively low profile, preferring to focus on development rather than constant updates. While this approach can be frustrating for fans eager for news, it also suggests that they are committed to delivering a high-quality game that meets their own exacting standards.

The lack of a release date has also fueled speculation about the team’s size and resources. Some have wondered if the long development time indicates that they’ve expanded the team, while others believe that the trio is still working diligently to bring Silksong to life. As noted, the lack of any confirmed news of a change in Team Cherry’s size indicates that it’s still comprised of the same three original developers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Team Cherry

Here are some common questions about Team Cherry, their games, and their development process:

1. What type of company is Team Cherry?

Team Cherry is an independent (indie) video game development studio. They operate independently of large publishers and are self-funded, allowing them creative control over their projects.

2. Where is Team Cherry located?

Team Cherry is based in Adelaide, South Australia.

3. Was Hollow Knight Team Cherry’s first game?

Yes, Hollow Knight was the first commercial release by Team Cherry.

4. How old is Team Cherry as a company?

Team Cherry was established in 2014, around the start of the development of Hollow Knight.

5. Who are the co-founders of Team Cherry?

The co-founders of Team Cherry are Ari Gibson and William Pellen.

6. Are Ari Gibson and William Pellen the CEOs of Team Cherry?

Yes, Ari Gibson and William Pellen both serve as Co-CEOs of Team Cherry.

7. Why is Silksong taking so long to develop?

Several factors could contribute to the prolonged development of Silksong. It may be due to:

• Scope and ambition: The game may be significantly larger and more complex than Hollow Knight.
• Quality focus: Team Cherry is likely prioritizing quality over speed, ensuring that the game meets their high standards.
• Small team size: As a small team, development may naturally take longer.
• Perfectionism: The developers might be aiming for perfection, fine-tuning every detail to create the best possible experience.

8. What game engine does Team Cherry use?

Team Cherry uses the Unity game engine to develop their games.

9. How did Team Cherry meet?

Ari Gibson and William Pellen initially connected when William sent Ari a copy of Lulanda, which led to the formation of the company. They worked together on game jams to hone their skills.

10. Are there any LGBTQ+ characters in Hollow Knight?

Yes, there are a couple of canonical same-gender relationships in Hollow Knight, though these are optional questlines.

11. Is Team Cherry British?

No, Team Cherry is an Australian video game developer.

12. Is Zote from Hollow Knight a Vessel?

While there’s been speculation, it’s generally accepted that Zote is not a Vessel.

13. How long did it take to develop Hollow Knight?

It took Team Cherry 2 years of full-time development to create Hollow Knight.

14. What is Hollow Knight about?

Hollow Knight is about exploring a decaying kingdom filled with bugs and secrets. The player controls the Knight, who must uncover the source of the Infection and save Hallownest.

15. What is the saddest ending in Hollow Knight?

One of the saddest endings is where Hornet becomes a seal similar to the Dreamers, as it signifies that both the Knight and Hornet are trapped within the Black Egg for eternity.

The Future of Team Cherry

Team Cherry’s future remains bright, despite the uncertainty surrounding Silksong. Their track record of producing high-quality, engaging games has earned them a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim. Regardless of how long Silksong takes to develop, their dedication to quality and their unique creative vision ensures that their future projects will be eagerly anticipated. Their legacy is a testament to the power of small teams and independent game development.