Interview: Building Immersive Fantasy Worlds for Goddess Order

Pixel Tribe's Goddess Order: A Deep Dive into Pixel Art, World-Building, and Combat

This interview with Ilsun (Art Director) and Terron J. (Contents Director) of Pixel Tribe offers a fascinating glimpse into the development of their upcoming Kakao Games title, Goddess Order, a mobile action RPG.

Pixel Art Inspiration: A Lake of Creativity

When asked about the inspiration behind Goddess Order's pixel sprites, Ilsun explained that the process is less about specific references and more about a nuanced accumulation of experiences. The team draws inspiration from countless games and stories, creating a "lake of inspiration" they tap into. The initial characters—Lisbeth, Violet, and Jan—were born from Ilsun's solo work, but their development was significantly shaped by collaborative discussions and brainstorming sessions with colleagues, including scenario writers and combat designers. This collaborative process is central to the game's art style.

World-Building: Characters First

Terron J. highlighted that Goddess Order's world-building starts with its characters. Lisbeth, Violet, and Jan provided the foundation for the game's immersive gameplay. The characters' inherent personalities, missions, and stories drove the narrative and world creation. The team focused on fleshing out these characters, allowing their stories to organically shape the game's setting and overall narrative. The emphasis on manual controls stems from the powerful personalities of the characters themselves.

Combat Design: Synergy and Technical Optimization

Goddess Order's combat system, explained by Terron J., involves three characters using linked skills to create synergy. The design process emphasizes creating unique roles for each character and ensuring that their abilities contribute strategically to the battle. The team iteratively refines character designs and abilities to maintain combat balance and ensure an engaging experience.

Ilsun added that the visual representation of combat is equally crucial. Despite the 2D pixel art style, the team strives for three-dimensional movement in the animations, adding depth and visual interest. The team even uses real-world weapons to study movement for greater authenticity.

Terron J. concluded by emphasizing the importance of technical optimization to ensure smooth gameplay on mobile devices, even on less powerful hardware. The team carefully balances visual fidelity with performance to maintain a consistent and immersive experience.

The Future of Goddess Order

Ilsun shared that future updates will focus on expanding the narrative, adding activities like quests and treasure hunts, and introducing challenging advanced content. The team plans to continuously update both the main chapter stories and the origin stories of the individual knights. They are excited to continue developing Goddess Order and welcome player feedback.