Wait, what game company? thatgamecompany. Come on, you know the guys who made the critically acclaimed game Flow! Well they are back with a new game experience called Flower for the PlayStation Network ready for download February 12th.

Thatgamecompany was founded in the spring of 2006 by Jenova Chen and Kelle Santiago, two graduates of the University Southern California Interactive Media MFA program. They wanted to focus on creating small, experimental games with emphasis on innovation and experimentation to appeal to a new, yet untapped audience. They call these games “core games.” Their games are not solely directed at either hardcore or casual gamers, yet it includes the dormant gamers and non-gamers alike.

The small team has a unique view of how games should evoke different emotions and experiences. Rather than a traditional linear story that takes 10 hrs to complete. Their games, as they describe them, “are easier and less time consuming, yet possess emotionally rich and powerful interactive experiences.”

I have had the pleasure to speak with Jenova Chen, the Creative Director at thatgamecompany, about Flower and how he describes the game. “The message of the game is not about man “vs” nature, but instead it’s a balance and harmony between urban and nature.” says Chen. He goes on to mention that Flower is “a video game version of a poem for the harmony between urban and nature. An extension of your living room to the dream-like space of flowers.” Jenova and the team over at thatgamecompany are passionate about their work and it shows. Flower is a piece of art. And if this game doesn’t pursuade the “games aren’t art” naysayers I don’t know what will…

SIDENOTE: We, TheDuoGroup, wanted to help Jenova and thatgamecompany share their vision of Flower with the world. We are currently collaborating with them on a trailer for Flower. So check back soon, the trailer will be released by the end of this week. Oh and check out some amazing screens of Flower below.