DevLog Spotlight: Leilani’s Island

By: Derek Yu

On: July 28th, 2016

I started work on it around a year ago on a whim because I was reading a lot of game design articles and couldn’t resist the idea of a small platform game. It’s really expanded a lot beyond that though! I’d like to start showing it to and discussing it with more people as I continue. The aim of the devlog is to show new exciting things that go in, but also discuss some of my design processes and that kind of thing.

Leilani’s Island lavishes attention to its details – watching Leilani roll into an enemy close-up reveals all kinds of design considerations at play, from particle effects to physics. You can just tell that it feels really good to control. This attention to detail is a quality that’s also reflected in the devlog – creator Ishi has been updated the log at least once a week since February, 2015, revealing the game’s influences and evolving design. According to Ishi, Leilani’s Island draws some inspiration from the personality and physics of Wario Land and Donkey Kong Country, but in the animated gifs he’s posted Leilani promises to be even more intricate than the games from either of those series. The artwork, animation, and music (by Leila “Woofle” Wilson) should be at least as good as Nintendo and Rare’s work on those titles.

Treasure Treasure

By: Derek Yu

On: August 10th, 2008

The world needs more awesome co-op games like Ishisoft’s Treasure Treasure, a cute split-screen puzzle platformer that’s made for two players on one keyboard. Guide Trixie and Troy through the castle and find the 20 treasure chests hidden throughout. It’s actually possible to beat the game alone, by switching from character to character, but where’s the fun in that? This game is about love and teamwork!

This game is so frickin’ adorable – it slays me.

TIGdb: Entry for Treasure Treasure