How One Programmer Created Gaming's Most Complex Ecosystem

Summary

The script details the evolution of 'Rain World,' a 2D pixel art platformer, from Joar Jakobsson's initial prototype to its full development. Inspired by his time in South Korea and a desire to create a unique ecosystem, Jakobsson developed a game with a complex AI, procedural animation, and a dynamic environment. The game's challenging difficulty and living ecosystem received mixed reviews but found a cult following. The narrative includes a Kickstarter campaign, a publishing deal with Adult Swim Games, and the eventual release of an expanded version, 'Rain World Downpour,' showcasing the indie development journey's highs and lows.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Joar Jakobsson, the creator of Rain World, started as a graphic design student who learned programming to animate sprites on his computer screen.
• 🌟 The initial concept of Rain World was inspired by Joar's desire to create a character that could move in ways traditional platformers like Mario could not, leading to the creation of 'The Bear' creature.
• 🗺️ Joar's time in South Korea influenced the game's aesthetic, with the industrial landscape of Seoul inspiring the game's underground, dystopian setting.
• 📐 Joar opted for a limited color palette to create visual harmony, drawing inspiration from early 20th-century cartoons and graffiti.
• 🔄 The game's development saw a shift from a high-score chase in a maze to a survival game with a focus on ecosystem dynamics and AI behavior.
• 🎮 Joar implemented a blend of classical animation and procedural animation for the game's creatures, giving them a more naturalistic and expressive movement.
• 🤖 The AI pathfinding system in Rain World is complex, allowing creatures to navigate the game world intelligently and prioritize their own survival.
• 🎶 James Primate joined the project to create a chiptune-inspired soundtrack, which evolved over time to match the game's changing atmosphere.
• 🔗 Joar and James formed Videocult, securing a publishing deal with Adult Swim Games, which allowed Joar to work on Rain World full-time.
• 🛠️ Transitioning to Unity, Joar upgraded the game's lighting system and created an 'abstract creature framework' for efficient rendering of off-screen creatures.
• 📈 The game's release was met with mixed reviews, with critics often focusing on its difficulty, while user reviews were more positive, highlighting the depth of its ecosystem.

Q & A

What was the initial motivation behind Joar Jakobsson's creation of Rain World?

Joar Jakobsson, who was studying graphic design at the time, was motivated to create fun little games that he could play with his cousin who loves video games. He also wanted to create a platformer character that could fall, tumble, and crawl, unlike traditional upright standing characters like Mario.

What was the original concept of Rain World called and what was its gameplay like?

The original concept of Rain World was titled 'Maze Runner'. The gameplay involved a static camera that allowed players to see the entire level. Players controlled a character, referred to as 'Creature B', which was part of a food chain and had to eat smaller creatures ('Creature A') while avoiding being eaten by the apex predator ('Creature C'). The goal was to eat as many A-creatures as possible within three minutes to advance to the next level.

How did Joar Jakobsson's experience in South Korea influence the game's aesthetics?

Joar's time in South Korea as an exchange student inspired the game's underground, industrial aesthetic. The concrete structures and industrial parks of Seoul led to the creation of an environment filled with tunnels, rusted poles, and incomprehensible neon signs, which contributed to the game's unique atmosphere.

What inspired Joar to use a limited color palette for Rain World?

Joar was inspired by early 20th-century cartoons and considered using a black and white palette. He believed that having fewer colors that mainly convey light and distance would create visual harmony and prevent the game's environment from being too visually overwhelming.

What was the significance of the rainfall mechanic introduced in Rain World?

The rainfall mechanic was significant as it changed the premise of the game. Players could only hunt and collect food when the sky was clear, as the heavy rainfall could easily kill them. This mechanic added a layer of challenge and strategy to the gameplay.

How did Joar Jakobsson's background in graphic design influence the development of Rain World?

Joar's background in graphic design allowed him to create the game's unique art style and character designs. His experience with sketching and applying graphics to assets contributed to the visual identity of Rain World.

What was the role of James Primate in the development of Rain World?

James Primate, an American composer, joined the project after expressing interest in Joar's devlog. He initially focused on sound design but gradually took on additional responsibilities such as level design and the business side of the project, forming an equal partnership with Joar.

What was the impact of the Kickstarter campaign on Rain World's development?

The Kickstarter campaign was launched with a goal of $25,000, which was met within three days, and ultimately raised over $60,000. This funding, combined with a publishing deal from Adult Swim Games, allowed Joar to work on Rain World full-time and expand the game's scope, including the addition of a story mode and other features.

What technical challenges did Joar face when upgrading Rain World to Unity?

Joar faced challenges such as porting the game's code from Lingo to C# and transferring it to a more powerful engine. He also had to upgrade the game's lighting system to support dynamic shadows and varying light depending on the time of day, which was particularly difficult due to the game's 30 layers of graphics.

How did the development of Rain World's AI and creature behavior contribute to the game's ecosystem?

Joar implemented a blend of classical animation and code-based procedural animation, giving creatures freely moving interconnected limbs and body parts, each with their own weight and range of movement. This made the creatures look more naturalistic and expressive. Additionally, he developed an AI pathfinding system that allowed creatures to navigate the game world intelligently, contributing to a complex and robust ecosystem.

What was the reception of Rain World upon its release?

Rain World received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its art style, fluid animations, and soundtrack but criticized its high difficulty level. However, user reviews were more positive, with players who invested time in understanding the game's ecosystem appreciating its unique design and gameplay.