PLEASE START US OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF:
Hi! I’m Elwin, the only developer behind HiWarp, an indie studio based
in Spain and focused on bringing to life unique and personal games.
I’ve always had a passion and admiration for games that offer
something different: something introspective and meaningful. Creating a
complete game on my own has been a dream since I was a child, and
now I’m finally making it a reality with NAIAD that I hope you will enjoy
playing soon.
TELL US ABOUT NAIAD
NAIAD is a relaxing exploration game about flowing down a river, where
you take on the role of Naiad, a little freshwater nymph.
Naiads are personifications of the river itself, and their name means "to
flow."
The game focuses on interacting with the environment, discovering
serene landscapes, meeting adorable animal friends and helping them
find their way. There are also some puzzles and obstacles that must be
overcome to move forward.
NAIAD has a deep and beautiful story full of metaphors, talking about
the water cycle, life, and the importance of nature. The journey begins
at the spring where the river is born, and as it progresses, the water
inevitably loses its purity due to human impact. It’s a journey of self-
discovery and growth, inviting players to get lost and found, to connect
harmoniously with the environment.
I’ve put a lot of love into every detail and have tried to share a part of
myself in it.
HOW HAS THE DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY BEEN
Developing NAIAD has been quite a challenge, a long road of learning,
experimentation, and dedication. I’ve worked with a continuous iteration
approach, trying to do the best with very few resources. As a solo
developer, I wanted to cover all aspects of creating a game, taking care
not only of development and design but also music, sound, and even
creating the typography. I also worked on bringing the game to all
consoles, which was a huge challenge but also very rewarding.
WHICH GAME ENGINE DID YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
The engine I used to create NAIAD is Unity, although from the beginning, I was clear that I wanted to make a very polished, homemade game, so I worked a lot on my own solutions and assets.
For example, I created an editor to generate all the level geometry procedurally, based on splines. I also use only my own shaders. I implemented a custom Scriptable Render Pipeline (SRP) to have full
control over how the world of NAIAD is drawn. There’s a lot of artistic and technical work, from lighting and shadows to character movement and hair. All of this to achieve a very particular visual style and a dreamy
atmosphere.
My purpose with this game has been to learn and experiment to discover "what it means for me to create a game," searching for my own identity and essence.
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT HURDLE SO FAR?
The biggest challenge, without a doubt, has been creating a complete
game, all by myself while maintaining a healthy and positive
development philosophy.
As a solo developer, there are a limited number of hours in the day to
tackle so many tasks. It can be overwhelming if not managed properly.
Keeping motivation through the years is perhaps one of the most
important things, as well as finding a balance between all the different
areas of work. My daily self-advice, which I repeated like a mantra, has
been: "little by little." I’ve tried to enjoy every single day and every task
in the process without focusing too much on reaching the end. Just
moving forward.
Putting an end to something so artistic and personal has been another
of the biggest challenges. I wanted to make a good game, and there’s
always room for improvement. But I also have to be honest with myself
and say: "This is the best game I can create today."
ADVICE FOR FELLOW DEVS?
I don’t think there’s any advice or formula for easy/fast success. I believe everyone has to pursue and find their own path.
I’m convinced that everyone has something special to offer, and that often, sadly it’s silenced by fears or insecurities. For example, I don’t consider myself a good developer, talented artist, or music composer...
But should that stop me from creating something and sharing it? The moment you stop putting up those barriers, you begin to learn and to enjoy what you create. “If it’s meaningful to you, it will be meaningful to others”. This is perhaps the message of inspiration and creative freedom that I would like to convey.
What I admire most about indie games lies precisely in that pure, wild, and genuine essence. If you create something with passion and put a lot of your love into it, everything else will come by itself.
ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?
I’m incredibly grateful to have created my first game and finally share it with the world!! I think it’s a game with a daring and different concept. So I appreciate all the support and appreciation I’ve received. I just hope players enjoy it, find something interesting in their experience, and have fun with all the secrets, details, and symbolism within NAIAD.
-Elwin
❤️
