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gRaViJa
Game Design
Why I think you should play my indie rpg – defining the Unique Selling Points of my game
As I’m preparing the Steam page for Eniko: Ghosts of Grace for launch and sharing the game on more forums and platforms, it forced me to look at my game from an outsider’s perspective and define what makes my game stand out. It’s actually difficult to do when you’ve been so involved with developing said game for so long.
In order to really understand which gamers might be interested in my indie rpg and how I should market it to that audience, it has to be crystal clear what the strong points of the game are. Because in order to stand out amongst the thousands of indie games released each year, I’ll have to indentify what will connect my game with, hopefully, you: it’s audience.
So, here’s a blatant but purposeful shilling of my game and why I think you should play it
A unique blend of retro pixel art and 2.5d graphics
Eniko: Ghosts of Grace pays hommage to jrpg games and 90’s gaming through it’s unique retro 2.5D pixel look, but is bold and refreshing enough to carve it’s own path. The game has a distinct and recognisable look but also early players and fans also compare them with Octopath Traveler, Dragon Quest III and Pokemon 4th and 5th generation.
An immersive world to explore
As Eniko: Ghosts of Grace started as a story rather than a game, I think I developed a lore and history that is worth diving into. I decided to present this lore and history in both the main story, but also through optional content in the form of Crypts, Shrines and smaller hidden treasure, puzzles, caves etc. These areas are hidden throughout the world, which is built in large regions that allow for a wide linear story. You’ll have to explore, use tools and solve puzzles in order to find all this content.
Intricate, loveable characters
Join Livia, a gusty but ambitious young Warrior, in a tale that explores family ties, betrayal and the long-term effects of war. After a fateful encounter, everything Livia believes in will be put to the test. As the game progresses, the story will both depict the bigger conflicts of the world it is set in and the connection between the two main characters who are very different in multiple ways but seem to find common values and a common goal.
A fun action battle system & customisable upgrading system – Test your skills in the Arena!
The game features an action rpg battle system that is easy to learn but allows for advanced tactics and set-ups. All weapons and armor are upgradeable and customisable. You can choose which upgrades and skills to unlock through the License Board system. The Licenses system obligates the player to think what set-up to use for specific regions or even specific battles. Think you have it all figured out? Test your skills in the Arena where you challenge formidable foes, including the Fenrir and other skilled Warriors. Winning these difficult battles is awarded greatly. Can you climb the ranks and become the Champion of Doirosz Arena?
A great soundtrack
An immersive soundtrack adds so much to games that make a lot of use of world building and lore to make an engaging experience. I think Nickolas Wolfe is doing an amazing job with the soundtrack for Eniko: Ghosts of Grace. It has a distinctive, original sound yet it also feels familiar for both lovers of 90’s jrpg’s and Souls-like games. To me, this is certainly and added value for anyone picking up the game.
Want to stay up to date? Join the Discord group now! https://discord.gg/JFvdsMvTPY
In order to really understand which gamers might be interested in my indie rpg and how I should market it to that audience, it has to be crystal clear what the strong points of the game are. Because in order to stand out amongst the thousands of indie games released each year, I’ll have to indentify what will connect my game with, hopefully, you: it’s audience.
So, here’s a blatant but purposeful shilling of my game and why I think you should play it
A unique blend of retro pixel art and 2.5d graphics
Eniko: Ghosts of Grace pays hommage to jrpg games and 90’s gaming through it’s unique retro 2.5D pixel look, but is bold and refreshing enough to carve it’s own path. The game has a distinct and recognisable look but also early players and fans also compare them with Octopath Traveler, Dragon Quest III and Pokemon 4th and 5th generation.
An immersive world to explore
As Eniko: Ghosts of Grace started as a story rather than a game, I think I developed a lore and history that is worth diving into. I decided to present this lore and history in both the main story, but also through optional content in the form of Crypts, Shrines and smaller hidden treasure, puzzles, caves etc. These areas are hidden throughout the world, which is built in large regions that allow for a wide linear story. You’ll have to explore, use tools and solve puzzles in order to find all this content.
Intricate, loveable characters
Join Livia, a gusty but ambitious young Warrior, in a tale that explores family ties, betrayal and the long-term effects of war. After a fateful encounter, everything Livia believes in will be put to the test. As the game progresses, the story will both depict the bigger conflicts of the world it is set in and the connection between the two main characters who are very different in multiple ways but seem to find common values and a common goal.
A fun action battle system & customisable upgrading system – Test your skills in the Arena!
The game features an action rpg battle system that is easy to learn but allows for advanced tactics and set-ups. All weapons and armor are upgradeable and customisable. You can choose which upgrades and skills to unlock through the License Board system. The Licenses system obligates the player to think what set-up to use for specific regions or even specific battles. Think you have it all figured out? Test your skills in the Arena where you challenge formidable foes, including the Fenrir and other skilled Warriors. Winning these difficult battles is awarded greatly. Can you climb the ranks and become the Champion of Doirosz Arena?
A great soundtrack
An immersive soundtrack adds so much to games that make a lot of use of world building and lore to make an engaging experience. I think Nickolas Wolfe is doing an amazing job with the soundtrack for Eniko: Ghosts of Grace. It has a distinctive, original sound yet it also feels familiar for both lovers of 90’s jrpg’s and Souls-like games. To me, this is certainly and added value for anyone picking up the game.
Want to stay up to date? Join the Discord group now! https://discord.gg/JFvdsMvTPY
Game Design
Four things I learned while developing my indie rpg game
Exciting times ahead! Very soon I will release a trailer and promotional art of the game and I will also launch the Steam page and share the public demo soon after. So expect many thing posts in the next weeks. Today I posted a devlog "Four things I learned while developing my indie rpg game"
Since I first started working on Eniko: Ghosts of Grace almost two years ago now, I have learned some valuable lessons about game development and online marketing. I wrote a down five tips I learned along the way that I think help me to make Eniko: Ghosts of Grace a more enjoyable experience. Let’s dive right into it!
Craft a plan, set your boundaries
A classic, but even though I had this in the back of my mind from the start, I still think I didn’t set my boundaries realistic enough and didn’t craft my plan thoroughly enough. I managed to change the scope of the game somewhat, even though it’s still a monstrous undertaking for a single developer, but it definitely took time to recognise when something just isn’t worth the time and scale back the game to something that might actually be finished one day.
For example, I spent countless hours trying to implement a system where the player can configure the gamepad buttons to their own liking without success, until someone on the Discord mentioned how even many AAA-games don’t even have this function. Just set up a good default configuration and move on!
Working hard on a project that has no clear boundaries or plan makes it very hard to complete it. Write your plan beforehand and then write down what you will try to complete each week until the day you finish development.
Start building a community as soon as possible
If you’re new to making games and are serious about wanting to release a commercial(-worthy) game, marketing should pretty much be on the agenda from literal day one. Too often I see promising games tossed into the bin after they fail to gather any attention. Simply because the developer simply built the game and then threw it on the internet without the any marketing effort.
I can dig very deep into digital marketing, I’ll do that in a devlog later on, but the first thing you should is just start with marketing on a very small scale, very early on. Create an Instagram account and Twitter. Build an Itch.io page and post some screenshots and stuff as you develop your game. Learn how to use some tools like Hootsuite. Start a small Discord-server and invite some people you know online for example so they can give you feedback on ideas and early builds.
Look into some bigger Discord groups too. post about your game, reach out, look for help. Along the way you will gather a small group of interested players and helping hands. You’ll have a base camp ready to build your epic marketing campaign on in later stages of development.
Make the player act, not read
When i started replaying the earliest builds of Eniko: Ghosts of Grace myself, I felt like I was trying to explain too many things too fast. Conveying dense info through long paragraphs of text simply does not work. Instead, I started blending the tutorials with gameplay and I try to allow the player to learn by doing. I also made changes to the pacing of presenting information about characters and lore.
Keep a journal and/or inspiration spreadsheet
You never know when inspiration strikes! After countless times of getting a great idea while falling asleep and forgetting about it the next day, i used the good old trick of placing a notepad on my nightstand.
What helped me even more, was building what I call an “Inspiration spreadsheet”. I often get great ideas while, reading, watching tv shows or playing other games. For example, the design of the Crypts in Eniko: Ghosts of Grace was inspired by a scene from Dark Souls 3. I simply took a picture, added it to the spreadsheet file and used it as a reference.
An older version of the Crypt of Doirosz, influenced by Dark Souls 3
I also have tabs containing contact info of developers, let’s players, journalists and more. When I find a well made game trailer, inspirational Instagram post or well thought-out Kickstart page: in goes in a list. A handy tool for character names or towns? On the list! Just as with marketing, start doing this from day one and let it grow organically. The spreadsheet has now grown in and almost endless source of inspiration and information.
Digital or paper based,just choose the type that you feel suits you best, and use it. Write down all your game design ideas. And keep it with you for when you’re suddenly inspired. For paper-based journals, I recommend using memo or pocket-sized notebook to jot everything down. It’s much easier to carry. Plus, you never know when inspiration will strike. Having an idea journal with you when you’re out whether it’s via your phone or notepad can come in handy.
Can't wait to try the demo? Join the Discord group now and play the closed beta demo today! https://discord.gg/JFvdsMvTPY
Since I first started working on Eniko: Ghosts of Grace almost two years ago now, I have learned some valuable lessons about game development and online marketing. I wrote a down five tips I learned along the way that I think help me to make Eniko: Ghosts of Grace a more enjoyable experience. Let’s dive right into it!
Craft a plan, set your boundaries
A classic, but even though I had this in the back of my mind from the start, I still think I didn’t set my boundaries realistic enough and didn’t craft my plan thoroughly enough. I managed to change the scope of the game somewhat, even though it’s still a monstrous undertaking for a single developer, but it definitely took time to recognise when something just isn’t worth the time and scale back the game to something that might actually be finished one day.
For example, I spent countless hours trying to implement a system where the player can configure the gamepad buttons to their own liking without success, until someone on the Discord mentioned how even many AAA-games don’t even have this function. Just set up a good default configuration and move on!
Working hard on a project that has no clear boundaries or plan makes it very hard to complete it. Write your plan beforehand and then write down what you will try to complete each week until the day you finish development.
Start building a community as soon as possible
If you’re new to making games and are serious about wanting to release a commercial(-worthy) game, marketing should pretty much be on the agenda from literal day one. Too often I see promising games tossed into the bin after they fail to gather any attention. Simply because the developer simply built the game and then threw it on the internet without the any marketing effort.
I can dig very deep into digital marketing, I’ll do that in a devlog later on, but the first thing you should is just start with marketing on a very small scale, very early on. Create an Instagram account and Twitter. Build an Itch.io page and post some screenshots and stuff as you develop your game. Learn how to use some tools like Hootsuite. Start a small Discord-server and invite some people you know online for example so they can give you feedback on ideas and early builds.
Look into some bigger Discord groups too. post about your game, reach out, look for help. Along the way you will gather a small group of interested players and helping hands. You’ll have a base camp ready to build your epic marketing campaign on in later stages of development.
Make the player act, not read
When i started replaying the earliest builds of Eniko: Ghosts of Grace myself, I felt like I was trying to explain too many things too fast. Conveying dense info through long paragraphs of text simply does not work. Instead, I started blending the tutorials with gameplay and I try to allow the player to learn by doing. I also made changes to the pacing of presenting information about characters and lore.
Keep a journal and/or inspiration spreadsheet
You never know when inspiration strikes! After countless times of getting a great idea while falling asleep and forgetting about it the next day, i used the good old trick of placing a notepad on my nightstand.
What helped me even more, was building what I call an “Inspiration spreadsheet”. I often get great ideas while, reading, watching tv shows or playing other games. For example, the design of the Crypts in Eniko: Ghosts of Grace was inspired by a scene from Dark Souls 3. I simply took a picture, added it to the spreadsheet file and used it as a reference.
An older version of the Crypt of Doirosz, influenced by Dark Souls 3
I also have tabs containing contact info of developers, let’s players, journalists and more. When I find a well made game trailer, inspirational Instagram post or well thought-out Kickstart page: in goes in a list. A handy tool for character names or towns? On the list! Just as with marketing, start doing this from day one and let it grow organically. The spreadsheet has now grown in and almost endless source of inspiration and information.
Digital or paper based,just choose the type that you feel suits you best, and use it. Write down all your game design ideas. And keep it with you for when you’re suddenly inspired. For paper-based journals, I recommend using memo or pocket-sized notebook to jot everything down. It’s much easier to carry. Plus, you never know when inspiration will strike. Having an idea journal with you when you’re out whether it’s via your phone or notepad can come in handy.
Can't wait to try the demo? Join the Discord group now and play the closed beta demo today! https://discord.gg/JFvdsMvTPY
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