Hello, everyone! 👋 やあみんな！
As you may recall, I’m Chip - Milo’s best friend from Serial World! - and I’m happy to see you back again for another Chip Chat! Today I’ll be introducing you to the two-person team behind Serial World, and I can’t wait, so let’s get right to it!
🤝 A Dedicated Developer Duo: Taka and Sho
The developers of Serial World are upholding a classic structure seen throughout game development history - one programmer, and one artist! Despite the challenges a two-person structure would typically pose for a game of this size, developers Taka and Sho already had a strong background in game design from their previous work at Level-5, and were ready for something new.
Working on projects like Yokai Watch, Snack World, and Ni No Kuni allowed them to hone their skills and prepare for the next exciting adventure on their to-do list - launching their first debut indie game, Serial World!
Kawasaki Sho (left) and Maeda Takashi (right) smiling in front of a Serial World booth display.
Photo by Game*Spark.
I’ve prepared some quick questions for them to answer below, and I hope you all appreciate how difficult it was for me to narrow them down. (After all, I could do this research for hours…)
Anyway, let’s learn a bit more about the team!
💻 Meet the Programmer: Takashi (AKA “Taka”)
What responsibilities do you handle on Serial World?
I’m responsible for the overall game direction, as well as the programming, writing, level design, and sound design!
I also handle our Japanese social media accounts, while our publisher helps us with the English accounts, and both me and Sho collaborate on coming up with skill cards for each Anima in the game. (There’s a lot to do!)
What games were some of your favorites growing up?
I tended to like games that I could play for a long time or games that could be played multiplayer. Since I didn’t have much money as a child, I used to go around game shops looking for games that would give me the most fun for the longest time at the best price.
In terms of titles, "Romancing SaGa" is one of my favorite single-player games, while "Mario Party," "Mario Kart," and "James Bond 007: Nightfire" are some multiplayer favorites.
Looking back now, despite saying I had no money, I still didn’t hesitate to buy things like multitaps and extra controllers so that everyone could play together! (Maybe that’s exactly why I had no money...)
Which Anima from Serial World is your favorite?
Porcupound! (That's Porcupint's evolution!) He is just so simple and cool. I feel like all boys would like him, but do other people think so, too?
Any advice for aspiring game developers?
First and foremost, I think it’s best to just try making a game, in whatever form that may take! However, jumping straight into programming can be challenging, so it’s perfectly fine to start with something that matches your current skill level a little better. For example, you could try:
a handmade board game using paper and dice
an original stage using Super Mario Maker
or an original RPG using RPG Maker
Surprisingly, these experiences can be quite useful even after you begin full-scale game development, so I highly recommend them!
🎨 Meet the Artist: Sho
What responsibilities do you handle on Serial World?
As the designer, I handle everything from character design to animation in one go - I don't just come up with the character concepts, I actually model them in 3D, create the framework, and do everything for the animations myself! Basically, when Taka says he wants something like “a cool-looking mid-ranking mini-boss”, it’s my job to design that character within the world setting, and bring it to life!
It might sound a bit exaggerated to say I'm in charge of "everything you can see in the game", but that's really how it is, LOL.
What games were some of your favorites growing up?
Pokémon! (Saying this makes me feel a little worried, but it’s true LOL)
I also loved Digimon World, Monster Rancher 2, Monster★Race, and Torneko's Great Adventure 3 (especially the Popolo / Paolo chapter!)
Which Anima from Serial World is your favorite?
Porcupint! He’s based on doodles I drew back in middle school. Honestly, the design hasn’t changed much at all.
Any advice for aspiring game developers?
I'm only halfway there, but I've made it this far believing “with motivation and perseverance, you can do anything!” I think that’s what really matters.
💖 A Message to Their Community
“Thank you so much for supporting Serial World! We may be a small team, but we’re pouring our hearts into creating an experience filled with mysterious adventures, humorous moments, and strategic battles. Whether you’re new to deckbuilding or a total pro, we hope you enjoy what we’ve made.
Our dream is for Serial World to become the kind of game that unites a community and brings together fans of deckbuilders, RPGs, and roguelikes, but above all, we hope you have fun playing with us.
Thank you so much!"
- Taka and Sho
Coming Up Next: Designing Milo & Friends
In my next Chip Chat, we’ll be sharing some of Sho’s concept art and design ideas behind the other human characters from Serial World, including me and my best friend, Milo! We hope you’re looking forward to it!
Until then, look out for UFOs, and stay curious! Please wishlist Serial World here on Steam, and follow the team on social media for more updates!