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What is it like to fall head over heels in a universe that’s not our own? For the creators of Love and Deepspace, the answer was straightforward: craft a cosmos where emotions and happiness are as expansive and authentic as the celestial bodies above. As the game approaches its first birthday, it has already enchanted nearly 50 million players worldwide. This feat is largely due to its compelling narrative, futuristic backdrop, and unforgettable characters.
In this game, you step into the shoes of a character in a distant future after humanity receives an enigmatic signal from Deepspace. This event coincides with the emergence of fierce creatures known as the Wanderers. As an Evolver blessed with extraordinary powers, you embark on an exhilarating adventure. This journey is filled with thrilling battles against these monsters and interactions with fellow Evolvers, forming close bonds along the way. The blend of love and futurism isn’t just a theme in Love and Deepspace; it serves as the heart of every development decision.
“As we journeyed through the creative process, it became clear how seamlessly themes of love align with the future,” the game producer shared. “Even as we explore the unknown, our need for love persists. While our destination may be the stars, love provides essential nourishment for this voyage. The concept of the ‘future’ is inherently forward-looking, making it ideal for crafting a progressive romance game. This guiding principle shaped every decision in our design process, helping us determine what content would be truly innovative.”
The development team has consistently been driven by a central philosophy — merging ‘love’ with ‘future.’ This vision has influenced every choice, from 3D technology and art style to the narrative flow, character evolution, gameplay, and interface design. Although the narrative is the emotional epicenter, the impressive 3D graphics immediately capture players’ attention, posing the greatest challenge during creation.
“Our main technical hurdle was achieving film-quality cinematics and console-level character performance on mobile devices. To tackle this, we adopted an ‘all-in’ approach, covering everything from technology investments to working hours and manpower.” The team worked tirelessly to perfect every detail. To replicate the texture of natural skin, they used a network of over 50 cameras for high-precision muscle data simulation. For clothing, an automated system was developed to simulate loose, flowing fabrics, an area where conventional engines typically struggle.
They also relied on advanced performance capture systems capable of recording actors’ expressions and movements at 300 fps. An in-engine editing system was created, enabling lighting, props, animation, and special effects teams to collaborate seamlessly. Despite mobile hardware constraints, these technological strides enabled Love and Deepspace to deliver console-grade visuals, showcasing the team’s expertise.
“Running all these intricate technical elements on mobile devices added another layer of complexity. To solve this, we channeled all available technical resources into extensive optimization, utilizing multi-core performance and GPU capabilities. This move allowed support for up to 800 physical bones for smooth operations, even enabling dynamic effects down to individual hair strands. A constant push-and-pull among artists and engineers, based on balancing artistic vision and hardware limitations, highlighted a deep-rooted love-hate relationship as they worked in harmony.”
The extensive collaboration across diverse teams aimed to immerse players in a captivating world, narrating a riveting story with engaging characters. This fusion of technical innovation and rich storytelling ensures each interaction is meaningful, drawing players deeper into the universe of Love and Deepspace.
“The plot is the backdrop for forming romantic connections and interacting in meaningful ways. In a narrative-driven game, the storyline extends beyond the main plot, influencing the whole gameplay experience. By employing varied narrative techniques, we aim to depict characters with profound depth, offering an immersive romantic experience. We embraced a ‘puzzle-like’ storytelling approach, specifically designed with our gameplay concepts in mind.”
This array of choices aligns with the team’s initial goal to create a romance game with a global resonance. They believed that by pushing the game to superior standards of experience and quality, it would transcend cultural barriers, connecting players from around the world.
“Our final belief — or perhaps a leap of faith — was that when a game reaches a high-quality threshold and delivers an exceptional experience, it can surpass cultural barriers, appealing universally. We embarked on this journey to create the ultimate romantic experience, confident it would draw players globally and fulfill their yearning for heartfelt connections. We hold a firm belief that love is boundless and crosses all cultural lines.”
The development journey wasn’t smooth sailing. Numerous obstacles and critical points arose, involving complex challenges in technology, design, and player feedback.
“Reflecting on the past, two pivotal moments stand out: the release of our first trailer in October 2020 and the extensive playtest in April 2023. The initial trailer launch results were underwhelming, emphasizing the difficulty of crafting a mobile game with a ‘realistic yet stylish’ look. Despite being a mobile game, achieving maximum realism was vital for a spectacular experience. We overhauled our mobile development strategy, focusing on delivering console-quality character performance. The public playtest highlighted issues with model fidelity and overall game quality. The candid feedback allowed us to quickly identify problems, and we’re sincerely grateful for those insights. Subsequently, we revamped the game, preparing for another test within six months. This commitment necessitated significant time and resources, representing a major gamble for the company. Nonetheless, we trusted in the game’s potential, willing to risk everything for a hopeful future.”
As Love and Deepspace nears 50 million downloads, setting new records for daily active users, it has established itself as a standout in romance games, thanks to its pioneering technology and engaging storyline. For the team, however, the true triumph lies not just in the numbers or its popularity, but in the joy it brings to the players.
“The moments that fill our players with love, hope, and happiness are our true source of pride. Reaching this stage wasn’t easy, but each challenge compelled us to grow and adapt. Many players have shared how Love and Deepspace has uplifted their spirits, helping them feel deserving of love and curious about the world’s beauty. Creating a game that positively impacts lives has been the greatest reward, and we’re excited to have achieved it.”
