Creative References and Themes: Spicing Up Game Levels
Posted on September 14, 2022
In game development, it's important to find inspiration and creative ways to make your game stand out.
In this post, I'll discuss some references and themes I incorporated into various levels of two games, Flying Cut and Conquest Master, to add a unique twist and pay homage to popular franchises.
Flying Cut
For this game, I drew inspiration directly from the Star Wars universe, using lightsabers instead of a traditional cutting tool to slice objects.
The entire level is set against a space theme with a purple background, stars, and glow effects, alluding to the iconic film series.
Conquest Master
Clash Royale
The first inspiration comes from the popular mobile game Clash Royale.
I wanted to recreate the famous arena from Clash Royale within Conquest Master, as I find it particularly well-suited for the gameplay.
Animal Crossing
The second reference is the charming and beloved game, Animal Crossing.
I've always appreciated the game's small, round planet aesthetic, and I incorporated this look into Conquest Master's terrain.
To achieve this effect, I used the "Curved World plugin" from Amazing Assets studio.
This powerful plugin is easy to use, even for those new to the development process (really easy to use, not like those guys who say OBI plugins are easy to use).
However, as I'm working on other people's projects that I'm discovering on day one, in a really limited amount of time, I encountered some challenges due to the custom shaders used in these games since the plugin is shader-based rendered on the camera.
By drawing inspiration from popular franchises and using powerful tools like the Curved World plugin, you can easily create unique gaming experiences that players will love, in a fast and optimized way.
Stay tuned for more insights and stories from my journey in game development!