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!

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!

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!)

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...)

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?

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!

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.

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!)

Porcupint! He’s based on doodles I drew back in middle school. Honestly, the design hasn’t changed much at all.

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.

“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

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!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2979500/Serial_World/

• Developer Twitter[x.com] / Publisher Twitter[x.com]

• Bluesky[bsky.app]

• TikTok[www.tiktok.com]

• Instagram[www.instagram.com]

If you don’t know me, then first and foremost: Hi! I’m Chip, the resident expert of Bricktown mysteries. ...Okay, yes, some people call me a know-it-all (and a show-off, and a trivia nerd…) but it’s not my fault I know so much! The world is just too interesting!

It’s fun keepin’ tabs on all kinds of important info to share, like the different types of otherworldly orbs, how to track UFOs, what rumors are floating around… Huh? You’d rather learn about Serial World?

Well… okay! From now on, I’ll be your teacher of all things Serial World! In fact, consider this our very first developer devlog - or as I’d like to call it, a Chip Chat - where we’ll dive into the details of Serial World’s development, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, concept art, lore, and more!

Oh, you have a question already? 

…How do I cope with the fact that I, myself, am in the game, and therefore merely a cartoonish creation of the developers’ minds with no real consciousness of my own? 

…Ha! That’s a good one! Ahem…anyway…

This upcoming indie game is a genre-blending adventure that merges elements from roguelikes, deckbuilders, and JRPGs to craft a colorful, wacky, and whimsical experience for players (like you!) to enjoy.

You’ll play as Milo, a young boy (and my best friend!) from Bricktown who stumbles upon a mysterious door, a strange new world, and fantastical creatures called Anima, each with their own unique personalities, abilities, and evolutions. (You’ll learn more about them later!)

Here’s a breakdown of how each genre in Serial World shines:

Navigate winding, procedurally-generated dungeons alongside your chosen trio of Anima as you collect power-ups, defeat enemies (heh, easy!), and unlock new skills for future dungeon runs. With no two dungeons alike, you never know who - or what - you’ll discover on your adventures!

(And yes, I leave the dungeon-crawling to Milo, but it’s NOT because I’m scared! I’m just… uh… busy.)

Each Anima on your team has a personalized set of skills with their own strengths and weaknesses. Mix-and-match your combat approach to find your trademark tactics! Are you an all-out attacker, a patient defender, or a stat-buff strategist? Your Anima shine with teamwork, so customize your team to suit your own style!

(Personally, the complex combo-stacking strategies are my favorite kind.)

Between dungeon runs, you can explore our cozy home of Bricktown, where you’ll chat with local townsfolk, investigate rumors with your friends (like me!), and unlock new dungeons to challenge. Each dungeon unlocks another piece of Serial World’s narrative, but what’s really waiting for us at the end…?

(Look, there I am!)

Now that you know a bit about the game, next month I’ll talk about the people behind the game - the two-person developer team building Serial World for you! Be sure to tune in - I’ve got plenty more to share in my next Chip Chat!

Until then, thank you so much for your excitement and support! Please wishlist Serial World here on Steam, and follow the team on social media for more updates!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2979500/Serial_World/

• Developer Twitter[x.com] / Publisher Twitter[x.com]

• Bluesky[bsky.app]

• TikTok[www.tiktok.com]

• Instagram[www.instagram.com]