I can hardly believe it, but development is moving forward pretty well right now. Right now we are hard at work on the item system, and quite a few promising ideas have come together already.
Making Items Matter
So it was time for another round of mockups to explore a new idea. What if the inventory with all the items could feel a little more alive? What if the way you build your item deck could trigger unique reactions between different items and make every combination feel a bit more personal? What if changing your Mazk also changed your item deck?
Tiny Items, Big Fun
One of the most fun parts of this project has always been the items. I settled on a size of around 20 by 20 pixels so I could crank out lots of tiny pixel art pieces without slowing down. Animating these simple little designs with just two to four frames has been pure joy so far. Now the real question is how far I can take that with almost 200 different items.
Originally, we planned to give every item its own unique backstory. The idea was to fill the world with small references to classic movies, retro games, and bits of old school culture from the era when Atari was everywhere and floppy disks were part of everyday life. These little details were meant to reward curious players and give each item a bit more personality.
Different MAZK Different Slot Board
Each slot in the inventory can have its own state, such as active, inactive, corrupted, or normal. Some slots hide viruses, while others contain secret items that change depending on which mask you are using.
The way item slots, skills, and their interactions work together will reveal itself as the gameplay takes shape. This is where the systems start to come alive, and where balancing, experimentation, and player creativity become part of the development process.
We are still figuring out exactly how this item system will work in the end, but one thing is certain: there is still a lot more to build. Alongside the items, we are adding a whole range of weapon systems that will visibly interact with enemies during gameplay.
It is exciting to think about all the different item combinations and mechanics that can emerge from this system. For now, exactly which items can be combined and how they will interact in the game will remain a mystery.
Hopefully the next update will not be too far away and I will be able to share a much deeper look at the current state of MAZK.
Stay tuned, and thank you so much for supporting this project
Illustrator, Animator & Conceptartist. Teaching characterdesign @HSLU Luzern. Livepainting and Pixelart. And sometimes some good Borscht.
