Plantasia: The Beginning Started as a real-time management resource game with casual flavor Plantasia: The Beginning Started as a complex real-time management game with casual (garden) skin Vision of magic and human-like flowers Plantasia: The Beginning Wanted to experiment with story ROMANCE! Plantasia: Developer Team Lead Game Designer Programmer Comic Artist Visual Designer Two Artists (Background, Characters) Sound Design Level Designers (2), Production Artists (2) Plantasia: Gameplay Dev. 10 month development period Plantasia: Gameplay Dev. 10 month development period Innovative gameplay takes time Plantasia: Gameplay Dev. 10 month development period Innovative gameplay takes time Communicating complex states of flowers Plantasia: Gameplay Dev. Agency vs. Simplicity (tool choice) Plantasia: Gameplay Dev. 10 month development period Innovative gameplay takes time Communicating complex states of flowers Balancing agency with simplicity (tool choice) Developing the central economy first Plantasia: Visual Dev. Lots of flower states = lots of art Plantasia: Visual Dev. The grid-ness problem (clarity vs. theme) Plantasia: Visual Dev. Lots of flower states = lots of art The grid-ness problem (clarity vs. theme) Fulfilling the magic polish, polish, polish Plantasia: Development Iterating the story how much is too much? Plantasia: Development Iterating the story how much is too much? Reaching the ~10MB Finish Line Plantasia: What Went Right Striking the complexity balance through testing Plantasia: What Went Right Striking the complexity balance through testing Time to grow innovative design Garden Challenge Mode Plantasia: What Went Right Striking the complexity balance through testing Time to grow innovative design Core vision flowers, magic, romance Plantasia: What Went Wrong Innovation requires clear communication Plantasia: What Went Wrong Innovation requires clear communication Staying harsh during production Be critical at all stages Declare what bothers you Plantasia