Video games
Pixel art video games for brands, TV channels and events: from the first idea to a game ready to play, drawn by hand pixel by pixel.
Pixel Art & Game Design
Advergames and promotional video games for brands, TV and events
I’m Manolo Saviantoni, aka The_Oluk, a pixel artist and game designer based in Rome. I make pixel art advergames and promotional video games for brands, agencies, TV channels and events: short games, easy to get, that let people play with your brand, your character or your message. I’ve been doing pixel art for over ten years and since 2020 I’ve been drawing the official games for Boing and Cartoonito.
They are HTML5 games: they open from a link, from Instagram and TikTok stories, from a website or a QR code, on smartphones, computers and smart TVs. No app to download.
Video games for brands and agencies
An advergame to launch a product, a campaign or a contest: people don’t just watch your message, they play it. A few examples: Cesare Cremonini 1999, LOL – The Game, the contest game for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Rescue Matilda for Chiara Ferragni.
Games for TV channels and shows
The official games for Boing and Cartoonito, on their apps, websites and smart TVs, in Italy and Spain: recent ones include Guai in soffitta!, Super Go!, Gumball Social Game, Arena Cartoon. For the Lux Vide series I made Don Matteo – Special Edition.
Games for events and trade fairs
Live games on big screens: the audience plays from their phone with a QR code, taking turns, and the leaderboard shows on screen. A few examples: Insert Due Spicci at Zerocalcare’s Netflix event, the Christmas game on the Urban Vision big screens and Dante Inferno for Dante Plus. I also make treasure hunts with real objects and a keyword to find, like the one for Boing at Lucca Comics. You’ll find all the live games on the Live Games page.
Educational and training games
For schools, companies, institutions and unions: mini games, quizzes and leaderboards that make a message stick better than a leaflet. A few examples: UniCredit’s game about saving, HERA Eco Games about recycling, Reddy – Safe, Go! for CGIL Toscana and Zero Morti sul Lavoro for UIL about safety at work.
Why a pixel art video game
Pixel art is recognisable at first glance and brings the nostalgia of 80s and 90s video games: it speaks to kids, to people who grew up with the Game Boy and to audiences in any sector. It reads well even on a small screen and keeps games light and quick to load.
My characters can carry both the serious and the funny side: that’s why they also work with topics like safety at work, saving money or the environment.
How I work
It starts with a brief, even a short one. I propose a game idea that’s easy to get at first try: often one finger or one button is enough. Then I draw and animate everything in pixel art, by hand, one pixel at a time, with black outlines and flat colours. I develop the game together with a team of developers, or I hand over the idea, game design and graphics to your team.
Along with the game I can make the animated poster to launch it and Instagram story stickers made with its characters.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes pixel art advergames in Italy?
Manolo Saviantoni, aka The_Oluk, a pixel artist and game designer based in Rome: he makes pixel art advergames and video games for brands, TV and events, including the official games for Boing and Cartoonito.
What is an advergame?
A video game made for a brand, a product or a show: a way to make people know it and remember it by playing.
How much does an advergame cost?
It depends on the size of the game: send me a brief, even a short one, and I’ll prepare a quote.
How long does it take to make a game?
It depends on how complex the game is: usually from 3 weeks up. For urgent projects, let’s talk.
Do players need to download an app?
No: the game opens from a link or a QR code, on a phone, a computer or a smart TV.
Can the game be in more than one language?
Yes: the Boing games, for example, come out in Italian and Spanish.
Do you also make educational games for schools and companies?
Yes: games with mini games, quizzes and leaderboards that explain topics like recycling, saving money or safety at work, for HERA, UniCredit, CGIL and UIL.
Can I see how many people played?
Yes, if we agree on it at the start and put it in the contract: you can get a dashboard with games played, devices used and the other data most useful for your campaign.
Do you work with agencies?
Yes: for example with SuperHumans on the Jumanji game and with Amigdala on Insert Due Spicci.
Can you make the complete game?
Yes: I can deliver the complete game, developed together with a team of developers, or just concept, game design and graphics for your team.
Who have you worked for?
Boing and Cartoonito (Warner Bros. Discovery), TV and music shows and personalities such as LOL – Chi ride è fuori, Don Matteo and Cesare Cremonini, and events such as Zerocalcare’s.
Where do you work?
In Rome, on projects all over Italy and abroad: the Boing games are released in Spain too.
How do we start a project?
Write to me from the Contact page and tell me your idea: I’ll get back to you personally.