Key Takeaways:
- Award-winning student game Meowmentum has secured a grant from Baby Ghosts’ Peer Accelerator Program, empowering its creators – VFS Game Design alumni – to continue development as an independent studio.
- The team credits their VFS training, collaboration across disciplines, and mentorship as crucial to their success – both in winning a Unity Award and forming their own studio.
- With a Steam Early Access launch planned and full release in 2026, Meowmentum is evolving from a classroom project into a commercial title that aims to leave a mark on the speedrunner genre.
In 2023, Meowmentum Mori took home the coveted Unity Award for Best Student Game. Developed by five students from Vancouver Film School’s Game Design program, with external collaborators from VFS’s Sound Design for Visual Media program, it became the fourth VFS student game to win this prestigious award.
Since then, these talented alumni have wasted no time putting their skills to use, with their hard work being rewarded in the form of a new grant from Baby Ghosts’ Peer Accelerator Program! This is an incredible opportunity for our alumni, which they’ll use to further develop their game through their studio PurrfectPace Interactive for an anticipated 2026 Steam Release, under a new name – Meowmentum.
Take a look at the origins of Meowmentum, in its first-ever trailer from 2023:
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ‘MEOWMENTUM’ TEAM
We were fortunate enough to catch up with Apoorv Taneja (Technical Designer/Project Lead), Ivan Restrepo (Programmer/Game Designer), Pablo Moctezuma (Level Designer/Game Designer), Ivonne Medina (3D/2D Artist), and John Santana (3D/UI Artist) to chat about the exciting future for their passion project, which began on-campus at Vancouver Film School.
Congratulations on receiving the grant! How did it feel to get the call that Meowmentum had been selected?
We are deeply grateful to the amazing team at Baby Ghosts, who have already supported so many independent studios. It felt incredibly validating, and we couldn't be more thankful to everyone who has supported us thus far.
How will this grant help you further develop Meowmentum?
We first heard about Baby Ghosts through one of our mentors at VFS (Daffodil) whose studio, Daffodil & Friends, also received a grant which helped them publish their game Street Uni X.
After graduating from VFS, we explored different funding options to achieve a major goal - to become an independent, fully incorporated studio. We looked into the Baby Ghosts Peer Accelerator Program and after a couple rounds of interviews we were finally being accepted into their fourth cohort of studios.
The grant has made it possible for us to afford all incorporation-related legal processes and will also help cover software licenses, marketing strategies, and other opportunities that once seemed out of reach.
Do you feel that your VFS training was a catalyst for your success?
Vancouver Film School’s Game Design program was absolutely crucial to our project's success. Without it, we wouldn’t have had the chance to cross paths or receive invaluable guidance on the production floor from instructors, mentors, and fellow classmates (or win the 15th Unity Award for Best Student Project, for that matter!).
The classes, feedback, and daily discussions all played a key role in shaping not just our game's design, but also our personal journeys as game developers. These experiences and teachings, combined with our continued learning after graduation have strengthened our passion and dedication to Meowmentum.
The Meowmentum team’s commitment to continually evolving their skill set, along with their new grant, have allowed them to elevate the game’s visuals.How has the game evolved from student project to now?
From being a student project to where we are now, our game has evolved significantly. Each of us has worked hard to continue improving our skills in our respective specializations, constantly looking for ways to apply new knowledge to the game.
The art style has undergone a drastic transformation as we’ve embraced a more unified and defined look. Our level designer continuously updates and refines levels based on extensive playtesting, ensuring they’re as engaging as possible. Gameplay and networking features are also being iterated on regularly as we explore ways to create unforgettable moments and experiences for our players. Additionally, we want to optimize performance so that Meowmentum can run on as many PCs as possible, reaching as broad of an audience as possible without compromising our core vision for the game.
What’s next for the game? What do you see as the finish line?
We’re aiming for a Steam Early Access release this year, with the full release scheduled for 2026. Our next steps include adding more levels, mechanics, and integrating narrative to provide a broader, more unique experience. We’ll also continue refining and evolving our art style to ensure players are fully immersed. We’re incredibly excited to put our own unique twist to the speedrunner genre both through gameplay and aesthetics.
The end goal for us is to ship Meowmentum as authentically as we possibly can - as a charming, whimsical, first-person magical cat speedrunning platformer.
As game designers who graduated only a couple of years ago, what advice would you give to aspiring designers who want to make games?
AT: Never stop learning. It doesn't matter who you're talking to, there's always something to learn from them. If you ever get close to burnout, step away and do something else entirely for a bit. You need hobbies and activities to refresh your mind.
PM: Keep going. There's always going to be a million reasons not to do something, but if you really want to make games, you'll find your way through them.
IR: Never lose focus. Keep learning, keep playing, keep experimenting and, most importantly, have fun with your creations. Learn from them and from the people surrounding this community. It’s important to enjoy the steps, failures, and successes.
JS: Focus on understanding your role to collaborate with others and don’t waste time on things that have no real impact in the project.
IM: Never stop learning! There's always something new to discover and get excited about, and the further you go, the better you'll become at your craft.
On April 17, Meowmentum was a part of Science World’s gaming-themed ‘After Dark’ event and was available to play by all attendees.How has the game evolved from student project to now?
AT: Meowmentum is a shared dream that we're all working towards bringing to reality. It's our collective child, and the first fully-owned ripple we get to make in the industry as developers. I'm grateful for the project and the team every single day.
PM: It's my way of betting on myself and fighting to make my dreams come true. The game is a tangible manifestation of that fight. It's also the best project I've ever been a part of and I'm extremely lucky to be a part of a team filled with wonderful people.
IR: It means an achievement and a promise. It's the project that has demonstrated to me what having a marvelous and passionate group is able to do and show to the world, and also, a vow to keep going and bring to this world the best experiences possible with people like the ones who are by my side now.
JS: The start of something great. Games have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and now I’m finally doing things I once could only dream about.
IM: A dream come true. Before coming here, I told myself to give my best to create an unforgettable game alongside a team I could later call my colleagues in our own studio – and that's exactly where we are now!
HOW TO GET INTO GAME DEVELOPMENT
Vancouver Film School is where creatives (from game designers to filmmakers, actors, writers, and beyond) turn their passion into a career. If you’re as passionate about making games as the group behind Meowmentum, VFS’s #1-ranked Game Design program is where you’ll launch your career.
In just 1 short year, you’ll specialize as a coder, game artist, or level designer, create a retail-ready game for your portfolio, and debut your work to the industry in our exclusive Pitch + Play event. Get started and apply today!.
Read about everything that’s been happening at our Game Design campus, including our Unreal Engine Gold Certification and our recent partnership with Asus.
FAQ
1. What is Meowmentum?
A whimsical, first-person magical cat speedrunning platformer originally developed by students at Vancouver Film School. It won the Unity Award for Best Student Game in 2023 and is currently in development for a 2026 release.
2. What is the Baby Ghosts Peer Accelerator Program?
An indie game grant in Canada and mentorship initiative that supports early-stage game developers. Meowmentum recently received a $25,000 grant from the program for continued development.
3. When will Meowmentum be available to play?
The team is aiming for a Steam Early Access release later this year, with a full release expected in 2026.
4. How did VFS support the development of Meowmentum?
Vancouver Film School provided the collaborative environment, expert instruction, and industry mentorship that helped shape the game. It also helped the team form meaningful connections and develop an industry-driven game design skill set.
5. Can I learn how to make games like Meowmentum at VFS?
Yes! VFS’s 1-year Game Design program trains students to become game artists, level designers, and coders. Graduates develop strong portfolios – including a retail-ready game – and connect directly with industry.