PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:

Hello. I am Jun, a contemporary artist and solo game developer living in Korea.

I started developing games in January 2024 due to my deep love for gaming. Additionally, I was curious and felt challenged by the idea of combining the genre of games with modern art, wondering what kind of synergy could be achieved.

I gained my knowledge and studied game development through books.

I focus on creating games with "the pleasure of playing the game myself" as the top priority. Introducing the first result, ‘Little Boy: Whisper Tales’.

TELL US ABOUT WHISPER TALES.

"Little Boy: Whisper Tales" is a charming game that takes the motif of fairy tales everyone enjoyed reading as a child, allowing players to become the main character in a fairy tale world and solve problems. I drew strong inspiration from Disney animations and the game Cuphead.

Many mobile games today are loved for their flashy effects, graphics, and comfortable gameplay. However, for "Little Boy: Whisper Tales," I wanted to create a game that feels vintage and reminiscent of classic animations. It is designed to offer a sense of challenge, growth, and accomplishment by presenting stages where players directly control and solve problems. This differentiation strategy sets "Little Boy: Whisper Tales" apart from other games.

HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN

Game development began in earnest in January 2024. I started by using the 'mind map' technique to analyze the characteristics of the game I wanted to produce and solidify the plan. Then, I carefully checked the schedule, searched and collected references for asset production, and proceeded with creating assets. I aimed to take no more than two days from idea sketch to motion production. Lastly, I wrote a script and maximized its level of completion through repeated testing.

WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

I used the Unity engine for development due to its accessibility. With many books, videos, and materials available for reference, I felt it would be possible to solve difficult problems. Also, since I was aiming to create a 2D game rather than a complex 3D game, I decided Unity was the most suitable choice.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?

The biggest obstacle in my development process was my lack of experience. Developing a game for the first time was fraught with unexpected difficulties. These challenges disrupted the planned schedule, and resolving them was more difficult than I anticipated. To overcome these issues, I constantly searched for materials and studied to solve them one by one.

The second difficulty was managing everything alone. I created the graphics, music, UI, and motion for "Little Boy: Whisper Tales" by myself. This immense responsibility often made me anxious due to the constant time pressure, but I overcame it by staying calm and resetting my mindset.

ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?

My advice is to start with a detailed plan but ensure to make time for rest and relaxation. If you have a project you want to create, plan it carefully and delicately. This plan will require many modifications during the development process. However, with a well-thought-out plan, you can fix problems quickly when they arise and speed up the production process.

Second, it's essential to pace yourself and take breaks when needed. Development is like a marathon. To complete your game development, you need to approach it step by step and give yourself time to rest and recharge.

Lastly, don’t miss out on the ideas you discover during your downtime. Sometimes the best ideas come when you're not actively working, so make sure to take note of them.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

I encourage and applaud all developers. Creating a world through game development is an incredibly amazing and valuable task. The process is never easy, but if you persevere, you will definitely receive great rewards in some form.

I hope you always have fun and comfortable development. If you are interested in my game, please search "Little Boy: Whisper Tales" on Google Play. It's a free game, so please play and enjoy it to your heart's content :)

-Jun

❤️

LITTLE BOY: Whisper Tales – Apps on Google Play