"Goddess Order Devs Reveal Secrets to Crafting Fantasy RPG Worlds"

I had the privilege of conducting an email interview with two key developers from Pixel Tribe, the creative force behind the highly anticipated Kakao Games title, *Goddess Order*. I extend my gratitude to Ilsun, the Art Director, and Terron. J, the Contents Director, for their time and insightful responses about the development process of this pixel RPG.

Q&A With Pixel Tribe

Droid 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, responsible for the graphics in Goddess Order. This mobile action RPG, developed by the team behind the acclaimed Crusaders Quest, is known for its stunning pixel graphics. I'm excited to share more about our game with you.

Goddess Order stands out with its meticulously crafted pixel art, evoking the feel of console gaming with a focus on storytelling. Every character and background is designed with pixel precision.

Our character designs are inspired by a vast array of games and narratives we've encountered over the years. Pixel art involves arranging tiny units to convey form and motion, which is more about the subtle influence of our collective experience than specific references or techniques.

It's challenging to pinpoint exactly where inspiration comes from, but think of it as a reservoir we can draw from whenever needed. I constantly seek to enrich my creativity by absorbing inspiration from various aspects of daily life.

In our production process, we thrive on the synergy among team members. In the initial stages, I worked alone, pouring my heart into creating pixel art. This is when Lisbeth, Violet, and Jan were born. Thankfully, my colleagues resonated with these characters, and our discussions helped bring them to life.

Engaging with my team sparked a wealth of ideas and energy, shaping Goddess Order's art style around these three characters. As development progressed, I collaborated with scenario writers and combat designers, yet the importance of detailed discussions with my colleagues never waned. The intricate design of Goddess Order's characters is a testament to this collaborative spirit.

For instance, when scenario writers or combat designers describe a character yet to be fully realized, my concept art team and I bring that vision to life through pixel art. Someone might suggest, 'Imagine a noble lady who seems refined but becomes fierce in battle, wielding dual blades and soaring through the air.' Then, another team member might sketch and say, 'I think she might look like this,' and together, we refine the details. It's a fun and enriching process."

Droid Gamers: How do you start the process of world-building when creating a fantasy RPG?

**Terron J. of Pixel Tribe:** "Hello! I'm Terron. J, the Contents Director at *PixelTribe*, working on *Goddess Order*. This question nicely follows from the previous one. Our journey with *Goddess Order* began with the pixel art characters.

The initial characters, Lisbeth, Violet, and Yan, set the stage for creating an immersive gameplay experience. Goddess Order's world-building starts with a deep dive into the characters. It may sound abstract, but characters often arrive with a clear sense of identity, purpose, and mission.

I've dedicated myself to fleshing out these characters, listening to the stories they bring and bringing them to life. As I developed their narratives, I saw their vitality and rich backstories unfold—tales of growth through adversity, of heroes stepping up to save their kingdom.

The emphasis on manual controls in the game stemmed from the strength I felt emanating from the characters while crafting their scenarios. Writing the story was less of a task and more of a surreal, enjoyable journey—a rare experience in the early stages of game development."

Droid Gamers: What goes into designing certain combat styles and battle animations for a character?

**Terron J. of Pixel Tribe:** "To start, it's essential to understand the combat system in *Goddess Order*, which is structured around three main components. In *Goddess Order*, battles involve three characters fighting in turns, using link skills to activate synergies among two or more knights on the battlefield. This is all experienced directly through mobile gameplay.

Our combat design and balance aim to enhance the thrill of combat, which involves extensive brainstorming and discussions. The first step is to harmoniously design unique roles and positions for each character to strategically structure the battle formation.

We discuss whether a character should charge up for a powerful attack, increase their range to shorten battle duration, or serve as a versatile support with healing skills to aid in stage completion. In Goddess Order, battles can be significantly advantageous depending on the timing of link skills.

We continually assess whether characters deliver their intended utility. If a character's role lacks uniqueness or if the controls feel cumbersome, we're not afraid to make bold adjustments to improve combat dynamics."

Ilsun of Pixel Tribe: "The next step involves enhancing the art elements to visually represent these characteristics. We consider what weapon a character should use, what appearance would be suitable, and what movements should highlight their concept or personality.

We believe that visually appealing and impactful styles are crucial for bringing combat to life. Although Goddess Order uses 2D pixel art, the battles are designed with three-dimensional movements in mind, setting our pixel quality apart.

To aid in smooth production, our studio maintains an arsenal of various weapons like swords, spears, shields, and guns. Our developers sometimes use these to study detailed movements, ensuring originality in each character's combat design through diligent effort."

Terron J. of Pixel Tribe: "Finally, we focus on technical optimization to ensure that both combat and animations run smoothly on mobile devices.

We meticulously check the overall specifications to ensure combat remains uninterrupted even on devices with average performance and does not disrupt the immersion of cutscenes. Since Goddess Order is meant to be experienced firsthand, we aim 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 and narrative-driven story create an immersive JRPG experience. The game follows the journey of the Lisbeth Knights, summoned by the goddess to save the world.

The unique graphics and combat system deepen player immersion in this epic quest. The knights' individual origin stories will help players understand the game's worldview. We hope you enjoy the diverse tales experienced by Princess Lisbeth and her knights in the Kingdom of Kaplan.

Once the chapter scenarios are complete, we plan to introduce various activities for the knights, such as resolving quests from 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 refined controls. We look forward to your support and feedback even after the game's launch."