I had the opportunity to take part in an email interview with two of the developers from Pixel Tribe, the team behind the upcoming Kakao Games title, Goddess Order.Thank you to both Ilsun (Art Director) and Terron. J (Contents Director) for taking the time to answer our questions, and giving us insight into how development for a pixel RPG works!Q&A With Pixel TribeDroid Gamers: What inspirations do you use when creating the pixel sprites for each character?
Ilsun from Pixel Tribe: “Hello! I’m Ilsun, the Art Director at Pixel Tribe, overseeing the visuals for Goddess Order. Goddess Order is a mobile action RPG in development, led by the core team behind Crusaders Quest, which was lauded for its pixel graphics. I’m delighted to showcase our game.
Goddess Order excels in its high-quality pixel art, evoking a console gaming feel with a strong narrative focus. Every character and background is meticulously crafted in pixels.
The character designs draw inspiration from numerous games and stories we’ve encountered. Pixel art involves arranging tiny units to express form and movement, so it’s more about the subtle impact of experience than specific references or techniques.
It’s hard to define, but imagine a wellspring of inspiration; you dip in and retrieve something useful as needed. I maintain my creative flow by observing and absorbing inspiration from various sources in daily life.
In our production, we draw inspiration from team synergy. Early on, I worked solo, creating pixel art. Lisbeth, Violet, and Jan were born then. Luckily, colleagues shared my enthusiasm for these three characters, and we freely discussed details while developing them.
Collaborating with colleagues unleashed creative ideas and energy, shaping Goddess Order's art style around these three characters. As production progressed, I collaborated with narrative writers and combat designers.
Detailed discussions with colleagues remained vital. The intricate concept and design of Goddess Order characters stem from this synergy.
For instance, when narrative writers or combat designers share intriguing stories about an unconceived character, my concept art team, including myself, brings that character to life via pixel art.
Someone might say, “What if there’s a noble lady who seems refined but becomes fierce in battle, wielding dual blades and soaring?” Then, someone might sketch, saying, “Hmm… I envision this friend like this,” as we refine details together. It’s usually fun and enjoyable.”
Droid Gamers: How do you begin world-building for a fantasy RPG?Terron J. of Pixel Tribe: “Hey there! I’m Terron J., the Content Director at Pixel Tribe working on Goddess Order. It seems like this will transition nicely from the previous question. Everything in Goddess Order stemmed from our pixel art characters.
The initial characters, Lisbeth, Violet, and Yan, laid the foundation for creating a game with immersive gameplay. That’s where our development journey began. Goddess Order’s world-building process starts with a close examination of the characters. It might sound a bit abstract, but the truth is, characters often come to us with a clear sense of who they are, what they do, and what mission or purpose they have.
I’ve immersed myself in the task of developing these characters, listening closely to the stories they bring to us and bringing them to life. As I worked on them, I witnessed their vibrant vitality and saw their compelling biographies unfold—stories of growth amidst adversity, of heroes willingly stepping forward to save their kingdom.
The emphasis on manual controls in the game came from experiencing the strength emanating from the characters while crafting the scenario. Writing the scenario felt less like a task and more like a surreal experience—a special and enjoyable journey rarely found in the early stages of game development”.
Droid Gamers: What goes into designing specific combat styles and battle animations for a character?Terron J. of Pixel Tribe: “First, it's crucial to explain Goddess Order's combat system in three parts. Combat involves three characters taking turns, using link skills for synergy. All this is experienced via mobile gameplay.
Goddess Order's combat design and balance aim to enhance combat's impact, requiring much brainstorming. First, we design unique roles for each character to strategically structure battle formations.
We consider whether each character will be a powerful attacker, a fast attacker, or a support character. In Goddess Order, linked skill timing greatly affects battles.
We check if characters offer unique advantages. If a character lacks utility or controls are clunky, we adjust for better combat dynamics”.
Ilsun of Pixel Tribe: “Next, we enhance art to visually represent these characteristics. This involves choosing weapons, appearances, and movements to emphasize concepts and personalities.
Visually impactful style is key to bringing combat to life. Though Goddess Order uses 2D pixel art, battles aren't two-dimensional.
Characters twist and turn. We use three-dimensional movement concepts in our pixel art, differentiating Goddess Order's pixel quality.
For smooth production, we have various weapon models – swords, spears, shields, and guns. Developers even wield them to study movements. This creates original combat designs for each character”.
Terron J. of Pixel Tribe: “Finally, technical optimization is vital for enjoyable combat and animations on mobile devices.
We meticulously examine the overall specifications to ensure that the combat remains uninterrupted even on devices with moderate specifications and that it does not detract from the immersion of cutscenes. Since Goddess Order is a game meant to be experienced firsthand rather than just observed, we strive to avoid compromising the gameplay experience with external factors”.
Droid Gamers: What’s coming up in the future of Goddess Order?Ilsun of Pixel Tribe: “Goddess Order’s pixel art graphics and narrative-driven story evoke a sense of a finely crafted JRPG. In terms of storytelling, it follows the journey of the Lisbeth Knights who have been summoned by the goddess to save the world.
The unique graphics and combat system of Goddess Order further immerse players in this epic quest. Additionally, the individual origin stories of the knights encountered on this journey are expected to help players comprehend the presented worldview. We hope you enjoy the diverse narratives experienced by Princess Lisbeth and her knights in the Kingdom of Kaplan.
Once the chapter scenarios are complete, we plan to incorporate various activities for the knights to undertake as part of the content. This could involve resolving requests from the residents or embarking on treasure hunts.
Both the chapter stories and origin stories will receive continuous updates, and we also plan to introduce advanced content that challenges the limits of action through enhanced controls. We eagerly anticipate your support and feedback even after the game’s launch”.
