Interview: Goddess Order Developers Discuss How to Build a Fantasy RPG World

An exclusive email interview with Pixel Tribe, the creators of the upcoming Kakao Games title, Goddess Order, reveals insights into their pixel RPG development process. We spoke with Ilsun (Art Director) and Terron J. (Contents Director).

Pixel Tribe: A Deep Dive into Goddess Order

Droid Gamers: What inspires your pixel sprite creation?

Ilsun: As Art Director, I oversee Goddess Order's visuals. Building on the success of Crusaders Quest, we aim for high-quality pixel art with a console-like feel and strong narrative focus. Each character and background is meticulously pixel-crafted. Inspiration comes from a vast wellspring of games and stories, focusing on nuanced expression of form and movement through pixel arrangement rather than specific references. Collaboration is key; early character designs—Lisbeth, Violet, and Jan—evolved through team discussions, blending individual ideas into a cohesive art style. Ongoing dialogue with scenario writers and combat designers ensures character designs align with narrative and gameplay. For instance, a concept like "a refined noblewoman who becomes a fierce dual-blade warrior" sparks collaborative sketching and refinement.

Droid Gamers: How do you approach world-building in a fantasy RPG?

Terron J.: World-building in Goddess Order starts with our pixel art characters. Lisbeth, Violet, and Jan defined the game's core. Their inherent personalities, actions, and purposes shaped the narrative. Developing their stories felt less like work and more like a unique journey, uncovering their growth and heroic quests to save their kingdom. The emphasis on manual controls reflects the characters' strength and agency, making the scenario writing a deeply engaging process.

Droid Gamers: How do you design combat styles and animations?

Terron J.: Goddess Order's combat features three-character turn-based battles with link skills. Design involves defining unique roles for each character (e.g., powerful attacker, support healer) and strategically structuring battle formations. We ensure each character offers distinct advantages and avoids cumbersome controls. The timing of link skills is crucial for strategic combat.

Ilsun: The art style enhances these combat characteristics. Weapon choices, appearances, and movements emphasize character concepts and personalities. Despite the 2D pixel art, we aim for three-dimensional movement, differentiating Goddess Order's pixel quality. Our studio uses physical props (swords, spears, etc.) to study detailed movements, adding originality to each character's combat design.

Terron J.: Technical optimization is vital for smooth mobile gameplay. We ensure uninterrupted combat even on lower-spec devices, maintaining immersion during cutscenes and prioritizing a seamless player experience.

Droid Gamers: What's next for Goddess Order?

Ilsun: Goddess Order offers a JRPG-style narrative centered around the Lisbeth Knights saving the world. The unique graphics and combat system enhance immersion. Individual knight origin stories enrich the world-building. Post-launch, we'll add activities like quests and treasure hunts, alongside continuous updates to chapter and origin stories, and advanced content challenging players' skills. We welcome player feedback.