Economic Cybernetics Department
ERI of Business, Economics and Management of SumDU

From a Student Assignment to Steam: The 10-Year Development Story of “The Hollow”

🕹️ Sometimes a simple school assignment can turn into a lifelong passion. That’s exactly what happened with “The Hollow,” which recently became officially available on Steam.

The game’s creator is Poltava-based developer, historian, and lecturer Vitalii Chyzh. For students in our department, especially those enrolled in the “Esports and Computer Game Development” program, this case study is a great example of perseverance and creative evolution.

🌲 What is known about “The Hollow”?

This game is not just another release, but a true “Magnum Opus,” the work on which spanned an entire decade. Vitaliy Chyzh combined his experience as a historian and sociologist in the development, which added a special depth and authenticity to the game. The developer describes the game’s universe as something between the cult classics “Stalker” and “Far Cry.” Although the game is already available for purchase, the author calls it “unfinished,” as the created universe is so vast that it can evolve endlessly.

🎓 Why is this important to us?

The story of “The Hollow” began in the classroom. This serves as a reminder to every student: your current practical assignments or course projects could become the foundation for a future successful startup or product in the game development industry.

📚 This material was prepared based on information from DOU.ua: https://gamedev.dou.ua/forums/topic/59148/