Developers from Crazy Rocks and the publisher – PlayWay – have reasons to celebrate. Their newest game, Contraband Police, debuted on Steam on March 8th and can now boast 250,000 copies sold and a place among the most popular productions on Steam.
Contraband Police was developed over six years, starting with a small team of three and later expanding to a group of five creators in the final stages. Despite the lengthy development time, the dedication of the developers has paid off with positive reviews from players. With over 4000 reviews, an impressive 94% of them are positive.
We were not far away from missing this success.
"In 2017, our company was on the brink of bankruptcy. In order to continue making independent games, we approached PlayWay and together with an investor, we chose the theme for our future production." - recalls Stanisław Gromadowski, founder of Crazy Rocks studio. "Initially, it was supposed to be a simple simulator of searching for contraband at the border, and we had planned to complete the game within a year."
Gromadowski, who is a violinist by education, has worked in the past at People Can Fly, CD Projekt, and CI Games. He founded his own studio in 2015, and their first game - free-to-play Street Warriors Online - gained popularity among many players, but didn’t generate significant income. Contraband Police became a hope for a new start. "We postponed the release date multiple times, but honestly speaking- after 3 years of work, I knew it was my life's project. A production in which I can invest my many years of experience and create a unique game," he recalls.
Contraband Police - check out the latest trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moqj0AMrobg&t=1s
Contraband Police debuted on Steam on March 8th. Soon after, at its peak, the game reached over 8,100 concurrent players. The game created by Crazy Rocks has been occupying the Steam bestseller list for the past three weeks, competing with titles such as Sons of the Forest, Resident Evil 4, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. It's worth noting that during the premiere week Contraband Police was ranked 5th among all games, in terms of revenue.
Contraband Police puts players in the role of a border control inspector in a communist country in the 1980s, where smuggling, corruption, and forgery are nothing surprising. The player's task is to catch even the smallest violators. However, being loyal to superiors and the right values is not in favor of the local gang called Oberankov. Its members are desperate and ready for bloodshed.
As an inspector, we will have our hands full. Smugglers will try to surprise us with tricky techniques, but we cannot let ourselves be fooled. No amount of contraband can cross the border, and we have intelligence and special tools to help us with this task. It is also our duty to take care of the condition and equipment of the outpost, which will be invaluable during pursuits and shootouts. With the money we earn, we can upgrade and improve the base. Being the best pays off! The most skilled officers are handsomely rewarded by superiors.
Contraband Police - key features:
● Rookie on duty - as a young cadet from an officer school, you are assigned to work at a border checkpoint in a remote region. Entry into the Acarist People's Republic is strictly regulated by the party, so every move you make will be monitored.
● Papers, please - everyone must show valid documents. The absence of any signature or stamp equals the lack of permission to cross the border. Be careful not to be fooled by the tricks used by smugglers.
● What is in those boxes? - With the support of the intelligence, you will receive clues that will help you detect illegal cargo hidden in various places. A wide range of tools will allow you to identify prohibited contraband.
● Brutal extremity - during your work, you will come into contact with criminals who will stop at nothing. Your outpost is a constant target of attacks from the Oberankov gang, so you must be prepared for bloodshed.
● Police pursuits - cases can take an unexpected turn. Someone didn't stop for an inspection? Jump into a squad car and start the chase. Don't forget to maintain the vehicle in good condition, as it will make your job much easier.
● This is your land! - Upgrade and expand your outpost with the funds earned from doing a good job. Always be prepared to take sudden action or solve a criminal puzzle. Support your comrades and thwart the Blood Fist rebels.
The full press kit is available here.
More about PlayWay:
PlayWay was created in 2011 to build games for PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS. Since then it has produced and released over 100 games that are sold or downloaded worldwide. PlayWay is direct shareholder in more than 100 game development companies, with more than 200 games still to come. Company was founded by Krzysztof Kostowski, who has been working in the gaming industry since 1991.
More about Crazy Rocks:
Crazy Rocks is an independent studio founded by industry veterans. The team is led by Staszek Gromadowski, who has been creating games for over 20 years.
