FAQ

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What is Speechbound?
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Speechbound is a unique language learning RPG. Our objective is to fuse elements of contemporary language learning apps with more traditional adventure role-playing games, so that vocabulary and exercises are complimented by an immersive world and opportunities for the player to practically apply what they learn as they explore the story. caret
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How many languages will Speechbound offer?
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To begin with, we will be offering translations for English, Spanish, French and Simplified Chinese, with plans to add Portuguese, Italian, German, Korean, Japanese and Russian in the future. caret
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What is the planned release date?
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Currently our plan is to release the game for mobile in Q2 2026, followed by releases for Steam and Consoles in the coming months. caret
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What platforms is Speechbound going to be available on?
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Our initial release is planned for iOS, Android and Steam, with future plans for release on consoles (Switch, Xbox, Playstation). caret

TEAM

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Meet award winning and Emmy-nominated CEO Manu, who thinks his life is a RPG, always trying to level up on every occasion. As a true autodidact and already speaking 5 languages fluently, he’s currently learning Chinese and Russian, picking up new and diverse skills whenever needed.
As a former co-founder of the VFX powerhouse Stormborn Studios, his visual effects artistry has touched over 30 films and TV series. Now, as the visionary behind Speechbound, he’s ready to show the world that anybody can pick up a video game to enjoy advanced language learning!

Favourite RPGs: Final Fantasy VII: Remake, FFX, Persona 5

Manuel Tausch | CEO, Co-Owner

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Introducing Phil, the spirited Art Director and proud co-owner of Moonspire Games, infusing our creations with his vibrant vision. With an illustrious 20-year journey in film, 3D, and 2D design, Philipp has left an indelible mark on blockbusters like Shang Chi and the Legend Of The Ten Rings and Captain Marvel. From crafting captivating ad campaigns for industry giants to sculpting exquisite figurines for Schleich, Philipp’s imaginative brilliance knows no bounds, constantly transforming creative ideas into beautiful imagery.

Favourite RPGs: KULT RPG (Pen&Paper),Fallout, Gothic2, Stalker

Philipp Amelung | Art Director, Co-Owner

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Variously from backgrounds in VFX, animation, comics and writing, Thom originally hails from Melbourne, Australia and now calls Vancouver home. His short stories and animations have won a number of awards, and when not cobbling together strange and macabre tales until all hours of the night, he loves painting, movies, videogames, and making music. And yes, heโ€™s aware that he has the same name as Spider-Man.

Favourite RPGs: Disco Elysium, Bloodborne, Dark Souls, System Shock

Thom Holland | Creative Lead

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Evgeniy is our Lead Unity Programmer. A graduate in Computer Science, he began his career crafting mobile games before transitioning to work on digital twin simulators. Driven by his lifelong passion for game development, Evgeniy returned to the gaming industry where he truly belongs. With exceptional proficiency in ECS, he excels at implementing complex features and elevating gameplay experiences. When he’s not coding, you’ll find him playing games and enjoying life.

Favorite RPGs: Divinity 2, Fallout, Disco Elysium

Evgeniy Kraevskiy | Lead Unity Developer

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Have you met Daniil, our formidable Senior Unity Programmer? A graduate in Computer Science, his adept skills as a Software Architect give him an unrivaled expertise in software architecture and blockchain technology. When he’s not implementing complex features or enhancing gameplay, you’ll find him delving into the fascinating world of music and game design. As a dedicated blockchain enthusiast and an ardent ECS evangelist, Daniil is at the heart of our technical innovation.

Favourite RPGs: Divinity, Dragon Age, Fallout, TES

Daniil Tsyvakin | Senior Unity Developer

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When he isn’t bringing polygons to life as our skilled 3D Artist, Stefan enjoys the thrills of mountain biking and trail exploration. This adventurous spirit has a softer side, though, as seen in his love for gardening (tomatoes being his favorite) and his strong advocacy for animal rights. As a father, Stefan appreciates life in all its forms. Whether he’s adventuring into the wild, tending to his garden, or championing for the voiceless, Stefan embodies the essence of “Ride On!”

Favourite RPGs: Illusion of Gaia, Chrono Trigger, FF7, Fallout Series, Darksiders I&II, Mass Effect Trilogy.

Stefan Tรคgl | 3D-Artist / 3D-Generalist

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You wonโ€™t see any of Elsenโ€™s work in game, but you will certainly hear it. At a very young age he learned to play the drums, and his love for sounds kept him only searching further for more instruments. However, whenever he first played Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask is when he first realized how powerful an OST can be in the experience of playing a game. Now, he wants to be the one to tie the OST to the game, and recreate the experience for others all over again, this time with a healthy dose of language learning.

Favourite videogames: Team Fortress 2, Deep Rock Galactic, Helldivers 2, Pizza Tower, Legend of Zelda

Elsen | Music Composer


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As a concept artist and illustrator, David possesses a unique ability to bring environments to life through visual development, concept art, and illustration. Beyond his specialities, he harbours a fascination for all facets of art and game development. David thrives on problem-solving, brilliantly translating challenges into conceptual art designs. Fueled by a deep passion for creation and storytelling, he revels in world-building, striving to generate immersive, inspiring stories and games that captivate and resonate with players.

Favourite RPG: The Outer Worlds

David Joseph | Concept Artist / Illustrator

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Having spent years in the animation industry, working on Movies, Video Games & Television productions, Jared went onto Creative Director roles in Virtual Reality, and various studios, before finding his way to academics, where he heads up a department of creative professionals. His off time has always included something either artistic, or that gets him outdoors. Or, ideally, a bit of both.

Favourite RPGs: The Legend of Zelda (og NES), Diablo II (2000), Spiderman (2018)

Jared Barber | Contributing Artist

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Digital artist based in Norway. Julian has a broad interest in multimedia and digital design, and especially enjoys 3D and pixel artworks, which he shares under the handle @Voidfruit. When not pushing pixels he enjoys bridging the gap between 3D and traditional 2D design.

Favourite RPGs: Destiny 2, Elden Ring, Skyrim, Hollow Knight

Julian Portillo | Environmental Artist

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Meet Lee, the web wizard of our team! With a keyboard as his sword and code as his ninja moves, he’s a web developer extraordinaire. When he’s not slaying bugs or conjuring up pixel-perfect designs, you can find him throwing punches in the dojo. Lee’s martial arts skills come in handy during intense gaming sessions where he dominates the virtual battlefield like a true warrior. And let’s not forget his love for anime, where he can quote entire episodes without missing a beat. With his killer coding skills and geeky passions, Lee is the ultimate combo of brains, brawn, and otaku charm.

Favourite RPGs: System Shock

Lee Hernandez | Web Developer

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Zhi Ting loves to create environments through visual development and illustration. She has a good eye in using lighting and colour to convey the mood and atmosphere.

As a Studio Ghibli and Japanese anime fan, Zhi Ting’s artworks are often bright and vibrant, giving people positive emotions. Besides her passion for illustration, Zhi Ting enjoys watching tv shows and japanese anime, listening to music, eating and cooking.

Zhi Ting | Concept Artist

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All of our amazing character portraits are hand-drawn by Avetetsuya Studios, an art commission studio based in Indonesia with a team of skilled artists who specialize in anime and semi-realism art styles.

Avetetsuya Studios has been in the art commission world since 2021 and one of their biggest achievement is that they collaborated with Tencent Games, a Chinese game company for one of their game “Tower of Fantasy”.

Avetetsuya Studios | Character Design

Company

Welcome to Moonspire Games, the pulsating heart of innovation where gaming and language learning unite to craft an exceptional experience. Anchored in Vancouver, our indie studio boasts a diverse team of impassioned creators, collectively fluent in eight languages, including our polyglot CEO and co-founder, Manuel Tausch, and imaginative Co-founder and Art Director, Philipp Amelung.

We’re trailblazing a new path in the RPG arena, merging compelling gameplay with language learning and state of the art technology. Picture yourself in a breathtaking game universe, unravelling epic tales, combating adversaries, and through immersion mastering a new language on the go. Under the guidance of Manuel and Philipp, who bring over 30 years of design and visual effects experience, Moonspire is poised to rival even the most captivating RPGs.

Moonspire Games stands as a testament to the power of self-belief and passion. Manuel, the bold visionary, forwent his Emmy-nominated, award-winning VFX company to put it all on the line and ignite this ambitious venture, demonstrating an unwavering commitment. As we gear up for our Kickstarter campaign launching in Q1 2024, we cordially invite you to join us on this thrilling journey, culminating with our dream project hitting the market in Q2 2025. Get ready for a revolution in gamified language learning!

Roadmap

Q4 2022
MOONSPIRE GAMES INCORPORATION
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Q2 2023
PROTOTYPE LAUNCH
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Q3 2023
WEBSITE LAUNCH
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Q1 2024
ALPHA LAUNCH
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Q2 2024
KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
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Q1 2025
Beta Launch
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Q1 2025
GAME RELEASE MOBILE
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Q4 2025
GAME RELEASE STEAM
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Q1 2026
GAME RELEASE CONSOLES
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Contact

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