Greek Mythology in Indie Game Mythmatch
Moo Yu, the creative director at Team Artichoke, stumbled into Greek mythology while working on narrative-based community-building sim Mythmatch, using Unity. The game’s key mechanic involves crafting objects and creatures by merging them in threes, similar to match-three puzzlers like Candy Crush.
Inspiration from Greek Mythology
Moo’s study of food chains led him to explore mythical creatures, which in turn brought him to Greek mythology. He explains, "But once I started looking into Greek mythology, it was so interesting because there’s just so much there. I feel like it’s a style of storytelling that’s very human. The gods are very powerful, but they’re very petty, sad, basic, and predictable, and there was just something really appealing about that."
Intersectionality in Representation
Mythmatch isn’t just preoccupied by the Greek gods but also of the mortals, which represent contemporary dynamics of privilege and power. The team is taking care to ensure the gameplay and narrative doesn’t make it out like you’re a white privileged woman solving the problems of a marginalised community. Moo tells me Penelope’s representation is inspired by the stories he hears from his Black female friends.
Character Designs and Animation
Despite the cosy and cutesy aesthetic, there’s some pretty serious themes that Mythmatch explores in its narrative. The game’s character designs are intended to be enjoyed by all ages, and the team is wary of not including content that might cause complications with age rating boards. The game uses Spine, a 2D animation software, which has come along significantly in the last five or six years.
Development and Unity
Making changes has been relatively smooth while developing Mythmatch in Unity, which is compatible with Spine. Moo explains, "Spine has also come along so much in the last five or six years. For my last game, Knights and Bikes, I remember getting four characters on screen meant a lot of your CPU was already gone, whereas in Mythmatch you can put as many characters on screen as you want and it’s not an issue at all. It’s just a much more optimised, robust, and flexible system."
Conclusion
Mythmatch is an indie game that explores Greek mythology in a unique and thought-provoking way. With its narrative-driven gameplay and intersectional representation, the game is sure to resonate with players of all ages.
FAQs
Q: What inspired the team to use Greek mythology in Mythmatch?
A: Moo Yu, the creative director, stumbled into Greek mythology while working on the game’s narrative.
Q: How does the game represent intersectionality?
A: The game represents contemporary dynamics of privilege and power, with a focus on the mortals and their experiences.
Q: What animation software does the game use?
A: The game uses Spine, a 2D animation software.
Q: Is the game suitable for all ages?
A: Yes, the game’s character designs are intended to be enjoyed by all ages, but the team is wary of not including content that might cause complications with age rating boards.
