Hello and welcome to another developer interview featuring Esther, our game engineer for Goblin Stone. Along with Swanky, she translates the design team’s visual ideas into code and implements these game features to create an immersive game experience for Goblin Stone. Let's learn more about the science of game engineering from Esther, as well as her inspirations, inventions, and aspirations that drive the development of Goblin Stone!

Could you please share a little bit about yourself and your journey as a game engineer? How did you get started in this field?

The first time I played a simulation game on my first computer, I was captivated and amazed by how the game worked. Since then, the thought of creating my own simulation world and the thought of being able to share it with my friends became an inspiring dream for me. When I discovered that learning how to code was the key to realizing this dream, I enthusiastically pursued it in my university and ultimately chose the path of a game engineer.

What tools and skills do you think one is required to have to be a successful game engineer?

Although I cannot say that I am a successful game engineer just yet, I firmly believe that accomplished game engineers possess the ability to swiftly adapt to the continuously evolving game development industry. The key is to acquire relevant skills, stay curious about new tools, and be flexible enough to effectively work with them. These qualities are a solid foundation for pursuing a successful career as a game engineer.

What was the most challenging feature you had to work on?

When it comes to the most challenging feature we had to work on, it was definitely our game's 3D UI. Unlike the other games I’ve played before, its unique design made the transformation between the screen space, world space, and UI space extremely intricate and challenging for us. Of course, We dedicated significant time to researching, experimenting and developing algorithms to overcome its complexity and It’s very satisfying to see how the efforts and progress we made throughout its development reflect on the game well.

Which feature in Goblin Stone have you implemented that you are particularly proud of?

The lair construction system is one of the projects that stands out the most for me, which also happened to be my first assignment upon joining the team. This system involves building, upgrading and organizing the goblin lair or the homebase.

In my previous projects, I mostly worked on 2D UI related work so working on the Goblin Stone's Lair system gave me a chance to fulfill my dream of crafting a 3D world.

Can you share some examples of physics simulations implemented in Goblin Stone?

In Goblin Stone, we implemented several designs and various simulations in the game to enhance the gaming experience and immersion of the player to the game. We made sure that all actions and interactions of the objects and characters in the game appear life-like. For instance, You’ll find the goblins in the game running seamlessly even on uneven grounds, turning their heads when interacting with different objects and other characters during adventure. I believe incorporating these simulations significantly enhance the lifelike qualities of the characters in the game, transforming them from mere 3D models into dynamic and engaging companions on your journey.

Is there a particular feature or game concept that you wish you and the team had a chance to develop in Goblin Stone?

I think adding a weather and terrain system is a fun addition in the future where the weather and terrain can affect the goblins and enemies’ performance during battle. For example, some combatants will become powerful when it’s raining, some goblins will become tired when it’s in a place like a desert, their speed decreases when it’s snowing, and so on.

What recent gaming trends or technologies are you excited about, and how do you think they will impact future game development?

Lately, I've been intrigued by the application of AI within game engines. I believe these functionalities hold great potential for small development teams, providing a substantial boost to work efficiency and significantly reducing the time required for creating assets in smaller-scale games. Moreover, this AI-driven approach could prove invaluable for engineers such as myself with a visionary concept in mind but lacking the artistic skills necessary to implement it.

Who are your role models or influencers in the game development industry, and why do they inspire you?

One person who significantly influenced my journey into game development was a university professor. Despite having an interest in game development since middle school, my limited internet access during that time left me unaware of the industry. My professor back then shared her experiences in the industry, taught us the process of developing a game and coincidentally she had been involved in developing the first PC game I ever played. Hearing their own personal journey made me feel more inspired to further pursue my passion in game development. 

Another key influence in my journey is Vince. Goblin Stone marked my entry into PC game development—an amazing experience as I had never played anything quite like it before. Vince's introduction to the game’s concept immediately captivated me. Throughout the development process of Goblin Stone, I not only mastered unfamiliar tools but also gained insights into examining games from a designer's perspective. The diverse views and innovative thoughts from our brilliant team infused a new level of enjoyment into my game development endeavors.

How important do you think gaming communities and fan feedback are in the development process?

Everyone has their own personal preference and tastes when it comes to games and I believe it's challenging for any game to satisfy everyone on all fronts. Gathering feedback from the community, particularly those who are genuinely interested in the game is very important for us, especially during the middle and later stages of development. I am very interested in hearing everyone’s comments about the game we all worked hard on. Afterall, fans and gamers-alike all have interesting ideas and point of views that can inspire us developers to create the game into something that everyone will really enjoy!

And that wraps up our dev highlight for this dev interview. Thank you Esther for this insightful interview! We hope her experiences and expertise have given you a valuable perspective on game development. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to bring you interviews with our team.

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