Back in November, we predicted that Infinity Nikki may be one among 2024’s greatest video games. That prediction finally got here true, because the free-to-play, open-world journey recreation from Papergames and Infold Games has since shattered information, boasting thousands and thousands of gamers and reaching milestone after milestone.
However, Infinity Nikki’s growth had a rocky begin, particularly in the course of the pandemic days. Though the sequence’ creators had made loads of profitable video games within the cellular market, this is able to be the primary Nikki recreation on PCs and consoles. Even a crew as skilled as Papergames had a frightening process forward of it.
We spoke with core members of Infinity Nikki’s undertaking crew — Ade, Yan Gui, Niao Niao, Hua Sheng, and Diu Diu — to be taught concerning the recreation’s preliminary conceptualization stage, the challenges that they confronted, and their future plans for fashionista Nikki and her cat-alien companion Momo.
Digital Trends: Can you stroll us by way of the method on how Infinity Nikki was first conceptualized? Was there a selected second when the crew thought: “Now is the perfect time to bring the Nikki series to PC and consoles?”
Ade: The idea for Infinity Nikki emerged in the course of the pandemic — a time of uncertainty. We envisioned Infinity Nikki as a journey of ‘reconciliation’ — each with oneself and with the world.
Gui: We wished to retain the sequence’ beloved dress-up system, whereas additionally incorporating open-world exploration and platforming mechanics. We considered how gamers may management Nikki as she traversed huge landscapes and trekked throughout mountains and rivers, all whereas curating the right outfit.
DT: How troublesome was it to go from mobile-only video games to creating one for PCs and consoles? How did the crew regulate to those modifications?
Niao: Shifting from cellular recreation growth to PC and console platforms was a fancy transition, requiring the crew to adapt to the distinctive traits of every platform. We additionally needed to contemplate key variations between PCs/consoles and mobiles. Mobile platforms have restricted {hardware} sources, requiring extremely optimized growth to make sure clean efficiency. In distinction, PC and console platforms provide extra highly effective {hardware}, but in addition demand larger graphics high quality and extra complicated system designs. This meant the crew needed to relearn and adapt to new growth instruments and engines to fulfill the wants of those platforms.
Sheng: Player habits additionally need to be thought-about. Mobile gamers are likely to desire fast, informal gaming experiences that may be loved anyplace, whereas PC and console gamers search deeper, extra immersive content material. We needed to regulate gameplay and design to cater to those totally different participant preferences whereas preserving the core ideas that made the sequence enjoyable.
Papergames
DT: Since Infinity Nikki has cross-platform performance, was it arduous to stability the cross-platform expertise?
Sheng: Definitely. During preliminary growth, we performed intensive analysis and experiments in graphics rendering and efficiency optimization to make sure clean gameplay throughout totally different platforms. We additionally needed to look into the precise options of every system in the course of the design course of, conducting quite a few inside and participant checks to make sure the sport carried out as anticipated on all platforms.
Diu: We do acknowledge that there are nonetheless some challenges with cellular adaptation. Our present focus is on bettering controls and efficiency for cellular units, and we’re additionally wanting into enhancing recreation stability, contact management responsiveness, and consumer interface (UI) optimization. We’ve obtained a variety of optimistic suggestions from our gamers, which motivates us to maintain transferring ahead.
DT: During growth, have been you usually anxious that gamers would examine Infinity Nikki to Genshin Impact or different free-to-play open-world video games? Were you relying on this comparability to be made–i.e. Perhaps as a method of giving gamers a way of familiarity?
Ade: Given Infinity Nikki‘s genre and high-quality production, we anticipated that it might be compared to free-to-play open-world games like Genshin Impact. However, our goal has always been to emphasize its unique features, rather than relying solely on a sense of familiarity. Nikki’s gameplay revolves round relaxed exploration, puzzle-solving, and interactions with skills granted by outfits, fairly than intense fight. We additionally wished to emphasise ideas of heat, therapeutic, and self-expression by way of the sport’s artwork model and emotional tone, versus basic development.
Papergames
DT: Speaking of fight, are there plans to beef up the fight system or add troublesome encounters, or would these concepts go towards the core ideas of the sport?
Ade: Going again to the concept of reconciliation in the course of the pandemic years, we intentionally prevented putting an emphasis on fight. We wished to concentrate on elegant styling and environmental particulars. It’s our manner of encouraging gamers to search out peace and wonder by way of exploration.
Diu: Our future updates will concentrate on enriching the traits of monsters fairly than growing the complexity of fight. We consider that sustaining the relaxed ambiance and core expertise of the sport is essential. Any concept which may go towards this must be rigorously thought-about. We need to be certain that gamers really feel completely satisfied and content material as they discover the world, fairly than tense or confused.
DT: Many free-to-play video games search for methods to maintain gamers engaged day by day, together with the idea of “fear of missing out” (FOMO). In comparability, Infinity Nikki is extra cozy and laid again. How do you stability this idea with wanting gamers to really feel engaged usually?
Niao: We intentionally prevented utilizing mechanisms like ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO), issues that strain gamers into logging in. We need gamers to return as a result of they genuinely benefit from the recreation. Being in a position to ‘play at your own pace’ is a core precept. We have player-friendly mechanics, and we wish followers to really feel that they received’t miss out on something essential, whether or not they’re taking part in for brief intervals day-after-day or solely diving into deep periods sometimes.
DT: It’s very difficult to handle live-service video games. What are your key pillars on the subject of creating new content material for future updates?
Sheng: We’ve embraced what we name the ‘Impression-Creation-Production’ design cycle, which goals to counterpoint ‘happy moments’ that outline the core expertise. Our Feature Teams’ agile workflow additionally permits us to effectively incorporate participant suggestions. Seasonal modifications, climate shifts, and different ecological options throughout the open world provide gamers loads of causes to return again. Through common updates, we attempt to shock our gamers every time they log in.
Culture is greater than symbols; it’s concerning the shared emotional experiences of a neighborhood.
DT: Speaking of updates, Infinity Nikki model 1.2 had the New Bloom Festival/Fireworks Season, a celebration of Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival. As a Chinese studio, how essential is it to showcase Chinese tradition ultimately, form, or kind within the recreation? What are some sides in video games that make you are feeling that the tradition is represented with authenticity?
Gui: Integrating Chinese tradition into our recreation is a pure expression, not a deliberate selection. It is deeply embedded in our crew’s DNA — an inseparable a part of every member’s upbringing. The Spring Festival, for instance, is greater than only a vacation; it carries valuable recollections for all of us. We naturally need to mirror that feeling within the recreation’s model of this particular time of yr as a result of it is part of who we’re. We need to share that feeling with gamers around the globe, so that they can also expertise it.
Niao: For the New Bloom Festival, we drew on inspiration from our personal life experiences, showcasing acquainted components like conventional Chinese clothes, firecrackers, devices, and lanterns — each not solely a visible element but in addition a significant image of cherished recollections and deep significance the vacation holds for us. With these additions, we hope gamers not solely expertise the richness of Chinese tradition, but in addition really feel the heat and emotion of the vacation itself. After all, tradition is greater than symbols; it’s concerning the shared emotional experiences of a neighborhood.
DT: Can you inform us extra about how the crew first envisioned the gacha system in comparison with what we see now? Are there any plans to have extra player-friendly enhancements?
Gui: We adopted a ‘piece-by-piece’ gacha system that encourages gamers to combine and matchfashion types, permitting for distinctive character designs as an alternative of being confined to pre-set outfits. Our gacha system features a assured 4-star merchandise each 10 pulls and a assured 5-star merchandise each 20 pulls. This system incorporates the suggestions we obtained from our earlier title, Shining Nikki, guaranteeing a extra clear and reassuring expertise. Lastly, we plan on increasing gameplay targeted on trend themes. We goal to let gamers expertise the allure of styling past merely adjusting chance charges.
Papergames
DT: Can you inform us extra concerning the artists who design the attire and outfits within the recreation? Are they digital artists or are a few of them additionally unbiased/self-employed trend designers?
Gui: Our costume design crew consists of passionate and artistic artists, together with professionals with deep experience within the trend business in addition to self-taught, cross-disciplinary skills who entered trend pushed by their love for the Nikki franchise. For this motive, when choosing crew members, we prioritize ardour and development potential — lots of our crew members really joined the undertaking proper after commencement and have grown alongside Infinity Nikki.
Niao: I ought to add that in-game costume design goes past technical execution; it’s an emotional expression. Each outfit displays the crew’s meticulous consideration to element — from the feel of the material and the logic behind the cuts to the cultural Easter eggs that tie into the sport’s wealthy mythology and historical past. We encourage gamers to put on these outfits and uncover the hidden design nuances.
DT: It’s straightforward to suppose {that a} recreation with a feminine character and dress-up mechanics could be marketed extra in the direction of feminine audiences. However, Infinity Nikki additionally attracts male avid gamers. What are the elements that assist emphasize this concept: “Infinity Nikki is for everyone.”
Ade: Although Infinity Nikki incorporates a dress-up mechanic, its core expertise extends far past that to enchantment to gamers of all genders and pursuits in a wide range of methods. Our platforming mechanics are impressed by Nintendo-style video games, delivering a enjoyable and immersive exploration expertise, and interesting to those that get pleasure from action-adventure gameplay. Even gamers new to dress-up video games can discover satisfaction by way of fixing puzzles, gathering sources, and unlocking outfits with distinctive skills.
Niao: To contact on outfits once more: outfits themselves aren’t nearly seems — they’re a core a part of gameplay, too. We opted for an ability-driven system that feels extra like an RPG gear system than a conventional trend recreation, which helps broaden its enchantment to a various viewers of gamers.
Diu: Recently, cozy video games (i.e. informal video games) have surged in recognition throughout all genders. We wished Infinity Nikki to supply a stress-free setting, making it perfect for gamers seeking to unwind, which they received’t be capable to do when attempting out high-intensity fight or aggressive video games. With these ideas, we really feel that Infinity Nikki efficiently breaks down gender boundaries, providing an expertise fitted to anybody who enjoys creativity and journey.
DT: What makes cat-like Momo an endearing companion?
Niao: [Laughs] First of all, we usually keep away from referring to Momo as a cat as he belongs to a novel race. We wished to showcase the bond between Momo and Nikki, whether or not he’s aiding within the exploration of Whispering Woods or standing by her facet throughout challenges. We additionally need folks to see Momo’s playful persona by way of his quips and reactions, together with his smug expression each time Nikki praises him. He additionally represents the emotional coronary heart of the sport and we hope that his bond with Nikki resonates with gamers, too.
Infinity Nikki is on the market on Android, iOS, PC, and PlayStation 5. It is coming to Steam quickly.