Devlog: Crafting an Accessible Shmup with Wild Magic
READ MORE🥘 Welcome back to the Wild Magic development log!
As we continue to refine the game in prototyping, we’re excited to share how we’re shaping the vision of an approachable, whimsical shmup (shoot ‘em up) that breaks away from genre norms. This update focuses on design pillars, character exploration, and the creative decisions behind Wild Magic. Let’s start cooking!
Design Pillars: Accessibility Meets Fantasy
When we set out to create Wild Magic, our primary goals were clear: we wanted to make shmups accessible through both gameplay and theming. Last time, we touched upon some gameplay design considerations and challenges that came with developing Wild Magic. This time, let’s go over the visual design of Wild Magic and the direction we’ve decided for the game moving forward!
Many of the well-known shmups on the market are sci-fi themed. It makes sense–hoards of alien spaceships blasting bullets at you, while you dodge them at high speeds and dish out your own barrage–and while thrilling for hardcore fans, it can alienate newcomers to the genre who might be less inclined towards the sci-fi themes.
Breaking the Mold with Fantasy Themes
We thought that if we made the playable characters of Wild Magic to be cute and colourful (to contrast the sharp, cool aesthetics of the science fiction-themed shmups), it would attract players new to the genre who might’ve shied away otherwise. We decided early on that Wild Magic would embrace the whimsy of fantasy!
And thus, did we begin to explore what Wild Magic could look like…
Character styles exploration
By designing the playable characters first, the rest of the game world and aesthetics would follow suit. The player characters should be diverse, representing a variety of backgrounds, and visually identifiable and differentiated at a glance. In a high-paced action setting, players should be able to identify where their character is, relative to everything else happening on the screen.
Idea #1: Animal Kingdom
- Example character: Cat Magician 🐱🔮
- Provides a light-hearted entry point for players
- A warm-toned palette sets the player characters apart from the enemies (cool tones)
- Simple animal designs can facilitate marketing and building a brand, while also aiding with legibility on the screen
- Large player projectiles might help with legibility while gaming
Idea #2: Girls with Taste
- A cast of diverse characters with varying colour palettes
- Designs inspired by the 5 tastes of the tongue–sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami
- We liked this concept, so we decided to explore it further!
🌏Culinary Inspirations from Around the World
We did some research into colour- and shape-association with each of the 5 tastes–inspired by Michel Gagne’s work on Pixar’s Ratatouille. By combining color psychology, culinary research, and cultural storytelling, these characters feel vibrant and unique, adding a collectible appeal to Wild Magic.
Resources:
Using Single Colors and Color Pairs to Communicate Basic Tastes
UNESCO Food Culture: 30 Amazing Culinary Traditions Around the World
Cross-cultural differences in crossmodal correspondences between basic tastes and visual features
We came up with the following 5 shape-, colour-, and flavour-combinations:
- Star – Red – Spicy
- Circle – Pink – Sweet
- Triangle – Green – Sour
- Diamond – Blue – Salty
- Square – Yellow – Savoury
Culinary habits and flavors from around the world informed every character’s design, adding depth and a rich sense of identity to each playable hero. From these design pillars, we came up with some potential player characters:
Sweet
- Visuals: Pink and purple hues evoke sweetness, with soft, heart-like shapes woven into her design.
- Inspiration: The kouign-amann, a French pastry, inspired her multilayered, puffed hairstyle.
- Personality: Bright, cheerful, and the team’s morale booster.
Spicy
- Visuals: Reds, browns, and oranges capture the heat of spice, with sharp design elements reminiscent of a scorpion tail.
- Inspiration: The naga chili and traditional Bharatanatyam dance costume inspired her bold aesthetic.
- Personality: Fierce and unpredictable, always ready to ignite action.
Sour
- Visuals: Lively and deep greens give her a calming presence. The sharpness of her clothing is reminiscent of the taste of lime, or the feeling of eating sour candy. Her glasses and vials at her hip denote her as a woman of science!
- Inspiration: Inspired by Middle-Eastern alchemists
- Personality: Booksmart and analytical, her keen gaze hides a shy, lovable nerd beneath.
Salty
- Visuals: Blues and whites reflect the ocean and evoke the saltiness of traditional Japanese cuisine. The pattern on her hakama is reminiscent of grains of salt.
- Inspiration: The design is influenced by kyudo, Japanese archery, and the saba (grilled salted mackerel).
- Personality: Precise and methodical, a natural leader.
Savoury
- Visuals: Rich oranges evoke the umami flavour of a home-cooked meal, shared with family.
- Inspiration: The design is influence by the traditional Ehtiopian gonder dress.
- Personality: Warm and caring, she’s always ready to welcome you with open arms.
Gameplay Innovations: Co-Op Magic
At its heart, Wild Magic is designed to bring players together through its co-op-first approach. Shmups traditionally focus on solo play, but Wild Magic flips the script by emphasizing teamwork and collaborative mechanics.
Co-Op Mechanics We’re Excited About
- Player Interaction: Mechanics like position swapping and shared buffs encourage players to strategize and adapt on the fly.
- Unique Powers: Characters’ abilities complement each other, rewarding teamwork with visually stunning synergy attacks.
- Accessible Gameplay: Even players new to shmups can progress far into the game by relying on cooperation and timing.
By leaning into co-op gameplay, Wild Magic redefines the shmup experience, making it fun, approachable, and endlessly replayable!
Sharpening the Vision: Unified Gameplay
As we refined Wild Magic, we realized focusing on a single audience—friends who enjoy gaming together—allowed us to create a cohesive experience. Designing for both single-player and multiplayer would dilute our vision, so we’re fully committing to co-op.
This means every level, mechanic, and system is optimized for teamwork. Whether it’s combining abilities for powerful chain attacks or navigating levels designed for synchronized play, Wild Magic aims to deliver a one-of-a-kind co-op shmup adventure.
What’s Next? Help Shape Wild Magic!
As we continue refining Wild Magic, your feedback is invaluable. Try the latest prototype on [Itch.io link], and let us know your thoughts on:
- The co-op mechanics
- Character designs and abilities
- Overall gameplay feel
Your insights help us craft the ultimate co-op shmup. So grab a friend, jump into Wild Magic, and let us know what you think. Together, we’re creating something magical!
Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being part of this journey.