The Unfair Boundaries of Genre: A Conversation with the Original Stalker Designer on Eurojank in International Games

Exploring the Controversy of Genre Naming in Video Games

The world of video games is not just about gameplay and graphics; it also involves the way we categorize and label different genres. Interestingly, these genre names are sometimes used as insults, reflecting the attitudes of players and developers. One such example is the term “JRPG,” which was once used in a derogatory and exclusionary manner. Similarly, the term “walking sim” was often used ironically to belittle games that focused on exploration and narrative. Another term, “Eurojank,” emerged to describe ambitious yet imperfect games created by European developers.

Andrii Verpakhovskyi, a designer known for his work on the original Stalker games, shared his thoughts on the concept of Eurojank in a recent interview with Edge magazine. He highlighted the unfairness of categorizing games based on their geographical origins, citing examples like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines and Arcanum, which were developed by Troika Games, a team with roots in the Fallout franchise. Despite their technical flaws, these games possessed a unique charm that transcended traditional genre boundaries.

The term Eurojank was not something intentionally embraced by developers like Verpakhovskyi; rather, it was imposed on their creations by external perceptions. He emphasized that the team behind Stalker did not consider themselves distinct from developers in other regions, such as Japan or North America. Many of the developers were novices in the industry, lacking formal training in engineering or art, which contributed to the imperfections in their games.

Verpakhovskyi’s insights prompt us to reconsider how we label and define genres in the gaming industry. The genres that were once used as insults have undergone a reevaluation, indicating a shift in attitudes towards diverse gaming experiences. While some may still harbor prejudices against certain genres or regions, it is essential to appreciate the creativity and innovation that emerges from different cultural backgrounds.