Research

History is our foundation

Research is the foundation our games are built on. We treat accuracy as the start of fun, not its limit.

Every decision we make starts in the archive.

Why does accuracy matter in games?

The cultural influence of video games is huge, and consumption increases yearly, particularly for young people in education and those who may not otherwise interact with history and heritage.

Video games build historical empathy, foster powerful interaction with archives and collections, and spawn new communities of historical enthusiasm. At Capstan, we embrace these hugely powerful dimensions of video gaming for the transformational educational opportunities they offer.

More accurate ≠ less fun.

Accuracy & fun are partners

When a historical setting is wrong, players feel it, even if they can't quite name why. Historical depth and immersion go hand-in-hand. Real history has stakes, characters, and settings which don't need creative embellishment.

Working with the experts

We celebrate scholarship and expertise in all fields related to our game worlds. These collaborations both sharpen our work and, wherever possible, reshape it from the ground-up.

  • Maritime historians and curators as advisors.
  • Partnerships with museums and archives for access and direct collections integration.
  • Sailors and tradespeople leading art and systems development.

Our process

Research prototype playtest refine

We try to get research into code as early as we can. If something works on paper but doesn't play, it doesn't ship.

Want to collaborate?

If you're a historian, archivist, curator, or someone who actually sails the period, we'd like to hear from you. We're easy to get hold of, and we credit everyone who helps.

Get in touch