Ink & Yuki

Project

Ink & Yuki is a cooperative collectathon game published on June 15, 2022, made for a two-week Game Jam called Meow Jam. The game features a unique art style, that being monochrome, in a 3D space. This choice was inspired by classic cartoons and the desire to stand out in a crowded jam. Despite its minimalist look, the art style added depth to the world and character designs, making it feel alive and distinctive.

Technical

Ink & Yuki was entirely made with Unity, Visual Studio, Krita, and Blender. Unity handled all the game mechanics and physics, while Krita was essentially only used to create the hand-drawn textures on about two models. Blender allowed me to prototype 3D models that fit the art style quickly. I leaned heavily on Unity's built-in features to save time, such as the physics and prefab systems, ensuring that the game ran smoothly despite the time constraints. Developing a 3D game in two weeks was a significant challenge, but these tools made it manageable.

What Happened

We were in talks with a publisher at one point, but they needed a much quicker turnout than my very small team at the time could handle, so we had to decline. This decision was difficult, as it could have brought Ink & Yuki to a larger audience. However, it was my baby, and I believed rushing the project would compromise the quality of the work. Since then, the game has remained the same, though I've revisited it independently, perhaps expanding on the existing mechanics or introducing a narrative.

Final Thoughts

Ink & Yuki is a project I look back on very fondly. While I've been interested in continuing it, I struggled to produce anything as special as what I achieved in those two weeks. It might be something I revisit in the future, but as it stands, it's among my favorite projects and has a special place in my heart.

The game is playable here.