Our journey into the heart of Smolville has been a venture into crafting a world that is both captivating and meaningful. Smols once lived in peace on the planet of Smolville, right up until the point that the world was shattered into smithereens by an unseen catastrophe.
These things happen. This event is pivotal to the game's lore (with much for the players to uncover!) as the answers to what happened to the world are inextricably intertwined with solving the question of what must be done to put things to rights. Of course, things are never as simple as they sound, and the destruction of our world has caused things to get a little weird. There are going to be some truly odd, remarkable, unpredictable, and zany adventures lying in wait!
Oftentimes, backstory or lore is treated as something of a “holy grail” in game development. These are the truths that players are meant to discover, the puzzles that they solve, and the tapestry that they weave together. Lore is treated as a reward in and of itself. When handled properly, this can be an amazing experience as a well-told tale slowly comes to fruition. The counter to this is when all of the interesting or fun things happen only in the backstory. By their very nature, things that happen in the past are static; immutable. This can often leave players wondering what the point of their exploits in the presence are - couldn’t we just be reading this as a book instead? Clearly the backstory was the story the developers wanted to tell!
For us, we wanted a story that contextualizes and gives depth and meaning to what players are doing in the present. This is more than a setting, it’s also a set of rules - the events that shatter our world happened for reasons, those reasons have outcomes, and those outcomes manifest in consistent, intuitive ways. Remember when we said that things were going to get weird? Well, they definitely are, but there’s a method to the madness (we promise!) that ties all of this together.
Because our world was shaped through purpose and causality, it is our sincere hope that players are able to speculate and theorize about the many details of not only what has transpired, but also the ramifications of those events - instead of just waiting for dialogue that reveals the whole of it. Yes, we will be checking for your wildest headcanons.
Drawing inspiration from the colorful tapestry of daily life, our creative journey in shaping the backstory has been an eclectic blend of whimsy and wonder. Infused with the need for humor and zany vibes, our world's history mirrors the quirks and unpredictability of everyday existence. Cue: Stubbing your toes, cats wrecking furniture, submitting hilariously wrong homework assignments (oh no), adult woes of escaping from work, childhood dreams of flying on paper airplanes and the like!
We've taken cues from the smallest interactions, mundane routines, and the beauty of human connection to craft a narrative that can resonate with players on a relatable level. Moreover, our deep affection for anime has left an indelible mark, infusing the tale with a dash of animated charm and larger-than-life emotions. From expressiveness, to the power of bonds, right up to dramatic world-shaking plot twists, our world exudes the vibrant energy of this beloved medium. The ability to balance the dramatic with the comedic has been a hallmark of successful shounen, and one that we’ve channeled to ensure players embark on a journey that's as heartfelt as it is uproarious.
That being said, we want players to control the story they tell. Our role as the world creators is to create the snippets to discover and directions it can take. Then, we hand the pen to fellow players to weave the Smol’s tale based on their own playthroughs and experiences. For instance, our paper prototype sessions have been getting to some of this—players discuss and decide where and with whom they explore, as well as how they solve for the obstacles ahead. This has led to some truly heart-racing events, such as victory-or-game-over literal coin toss, and a character sacrificed for the greater good!
Central to Smolville's world are its inhabitants, each with their own distinct personalities and stories. As an example, let's meet a trio of rabbit brothers: Bramble, Thistle, and Moss. Once inseparable, the catastrophe separated them across different island shards of Smolville.
Bramble, the oldest, blames Thistle for their separation due to a fateful choice. Thistle, in turn, regrets his decision and seeks redemption. Finally Moss, the youngest, just yearns to bring his brothers back together again. As players interact with each brother, they can influence and watch their drama unfold, altering their journeys and the outcome of this trio’s quest!
Our goal is to grant players the power to navigate the remnants of Smolville with their choices and actions. The interactions with characters like Bramble, Thistle, and Moss aren't locked to a single outcome; they're responsive, adapting to the player's decisions and shaping the course of the narrative. The player's journey, much like the broken world they traverse, is a tapestry of their own making.
As we move forward with Smolville, our team remains committed to nurturing the world's shattered beauty, offbeat charm, and the stories that bind it all together. Join us in future dev diary entries as we explore character design, gameplay mechanics, and more. Until then, Smols, may your path through Smolville be filled with the echoes of zany tales and the forging of new ones!
