Brainy Studio

Brainy Studio LLC is a Russian entertainment and independent video-game development company based in Perm. The studio was established in January 2013 by students of Perm National Research Polytechnic University: web developer Evgenii Romin, programmer Anton Baranov, and digital artist Ilya Antonov. Its early work focused on small games for mobile and Windows-based platforms, allowing the young team to build experience across design, programming, art, and digital distribution. The studio's first reported release was WitchCraft, a Windows Phone game launched in 2013. The title placed second in the Russian finals of Microsoft's Imagine Cup, giving Brainy Studio early visibility within the student and independent-development communities. During 2014, the company expanded its team by adding Unity developer Alexander Frolov and marketer Dmitri Ogorodnikov. Frolov later left the studio in the summer of 2015. Brainy Studio's principal breakthrough was TurnOn, a platform-oriented game built around a world without conventional electrical lighting. The project attracted recognition during the 2014 Imagine Cup international finals in Seattle, where it won the Games category. The award also gave the studio access to AppCampus, an acceleration program organized by Microsoft and Nokia in cooperation with Aalto University in Finland. TurnOn additionally received recognition at Russian game-development events, including a Best Indie Game award at DevGamm Moscow 2014, third place at GamesJam Kanobu 2014, and a semifinal position in the Adobe Design Achievement Awards' game-art and design competition. A first demo episode of TurnOn was released for Windows Phone in February 2015. Brainy Studio then used Steam Greenlight to build support for a wider PC release; the project was approved by the community on April 17, 2015. The completed game was scheduled for release on Xbox One through Microsoft's ID@Xbox program and on Steam on June 1, 2016. The development and distribution path reflected the studio's emphasis on digitally distributed independent games and on Microsoft's ecosystem, while also extending the title to PC and console audiences. In addition to TurnOn and WitchCraft, the studio's listed catalogue includes Clumsy Sheep Lullaby and Angry Bees. These smaller mobile and Windows Store projects illustrate Brainy Studio's early cross-platform approach, spanning iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Windows Store. Public reference material identifies the company primarily through its game-development activities and awards rather than through a large publishing operation, extensive corporate structure, or a broad non-gaming services portfolio. Information about its later ownership, current leadership, subsequent releases, financial performance, and present operating status is not established in the supplied reference material.

Brainy Studio was founded in January 2013 in Perm by Evgenii Romin, Anton Baranov, and Ilya Antonov, students at Perm National Research Polytechnic University. Their initial structure combined web development, programming, and digital art, giving the studio a compact multidisciplinary team suitable for small independent projects. The company's first listed game, WitchCraft, appeared in 2013 for Windows Phone. It placed second in the Russian finals of Microsoft's Imagine Cup in Moscow, an early indication that the studio intended to use competitions and platform ecosystems as routes to visibility. The studio broadened its activities in 2014. Unity developer Alexander Frolov joined the team, as did marketer Dmitri Ogorodnikov. Frolov later departed in summer 2015. During this period Brainy Studio developed TurnOn, a game whose central concept and visual identity were based on a world without ordinary electrical lighting. The project became the company's defining title. At the international Imagine Cup finals in Seattle in 2014, TurnOn's prototype won the Games category. The result gave Brainy Studio access to the AppCampus acceleration program, created by Microsoft and Nokia with Aalto University in Finland. TurnOn also accumulated recognition in independent-game circles. It was named Best Indie Game at DevGamm Moscow 2014, placed third at GamesJam Kanobu 2014 among 450 entries, and reached the semifinal stage of the Adobe Design Achievement Awards in the Game Art and Design category. These results helped position the Perm-based studio beyond the student competition circuit and connected it with broader developer, publisher, and digital-platform communities. In February 2015, Brainy Studio released the first demo episode of TurnOn for Windows Phone. The company subsequently began a Steam Greenlight campaign, and the project was approved by the community on April 17, 2015. The planned full release targeted both PC and console audiences: Xbox One through Microsoft's ID@Xbox independent-development program and Steam. The scheduled release date was June 1, 2016. Brainy Studio's other listed releases include Clumsy Sheep Lullaby and Angry Bees, both released across combinations of iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Windows Store. Together with WitchCraft, these games show the studio's early concentration on accessible, digitally distributed titles and its willingness to work across several operating systems. The available reference material does not establish a later corporate parent, ownership structure, financial history, current executive team, or verified current release catalogue. Accordingly, the studio's later status remains uncertain in this dossier.

• 2016

  TurnOn is scheduled for Xbox One and Steam

  [1]Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The full game is scheduled for release on Xbox One through ID@Xbox and on Steam on June 1.

• 2015

  First TurnOn demo episode is released

  [1]Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Brainy Studio publishes the first TurnOn demo episode for Windows Phone in February.

• 2015

  TurnOn passes Steam Greenlight

  [1]Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The project is approved through Steam Greenlight on April 17.

• 2014

  TurnOn prototype wins the international Imagine Cup Games category

  [1]Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Brainy Studio wins the Games category at the Imagine Cup international finals in Seattle.

• 2014

  Studio enters the AppCampus program

  [1]Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The Imagine Cup result gives the company access to the Microsoft-Nokia-Aalto University AppCampus acceleration program.

• 2013

  Brainy Studio is founded in Perm

  [1]Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Evgenii Romin, Anton Baranov, and Ilya Antonov establish the studio as students of Perm National Research Polytechnic University.

• 2013

  WitchCraft launches on Windows Phone

  [1]Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The studio releases its first listed game, which later places second in the Russian Imagine Cup finals.

An independent game studio focused on inventive, visually distinctive games for mobile, PC, and console platforms, with early growth driven by student entrepreneurship, competition recognition, and digital distribution.

• Mobile game · 2013

  WitchCraft

  WitchCraft is Brainy Studio's first listed game. It was released for Windows Phone in 2013 and helped introduce the young Perm-based team to competitive technology and game-development audiences. The title placed second at the 2013 Russian finals of Microsoft's Imagine Cup in Moscow, providing the studio with an early achievement before its later international success with TurnOn.

• Mobile and Windows game · 2014

  Clumsy Sheep Lullaby

  Clumsy Sheep Lullaby is one of Brainy Studio's early cross-platform releases. It was listed for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Windows Store. The game belongs to the studio's initial group of compact digitally distributed projects, produced while Brainy Studio was developing a broader portfolio beyond the competition-recognized TurnOn prototype.

• Mobile and Windows game · 2014

  Angry Bees

  Angry Bees is an early Brainy Studio title released across iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Windows Store. Its multi-platform availability reflects the company's early strategy of distributing small independent games through mobile and Windows storefronts. The supplied reference material does not provide detailed information about its mechanics, commercial performance, or later support.

• Platform puzzle game · 2015

  TurnOn

  TurnOn is Brainy Studio's best-known game and the project associated with its international recognition. Its concept centers on a setting without conventional electrical lighting, giving the game a distinctive visual and thematic identity. A prototype won the Games category at the 2014 international Imagine Cup finals, while the title also received awards and placements at independent-game events. A first demo episode appeared on Windows Phone in February 2015, followed by Steam Greenlight approval. The full version was planned for Steam and Xbox One through ID@Xbox.

• 2015TurnOn Steam Greenlight campaign

  International PC digital market

  Brainy Studio used Steam Greenlight to seek community approval for a wider PC release of TurnOn after the game's Windows Phone demo.

  Outcome. TurnOn was approved by Steam Greenlight on April 17, 2015.

  Source

• 2015

  Expand TurnOn beyond Windows PhoneStrategy

  Background

  Following the Windows Phone demo, Brainy Studio sought a broader audience for its flagship independent game.

  Action taken

  The company began a Steam Greenlight campaign and planned releases for Steam and Xbox One through ID@Xbox.

  Aftermath

  The project passed Steam Greenlight and was positioned for PC and console distribution.

  Source

• 2014

  Pursue international competition and acceleration supportStrategy

  Background

  After developing TurnOn, Brainy Studio entered the international Imagine Cup competition, building on its earlier Russian-final placement with WitchCraft.

  Action taken

  The studio presented the TurnOn prototype at the international finals and subsequently entered the AppCampus acceleration program.

  Aftermath

  The strategy brought international recognition and additional support through a Microsoft-, Nokia-, and Aalto University-associated program.

  Source

1. 1Brainy Studioen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Brainy Studio official websitebrainystudio.ru