Ranchers of Kyvos

Download the alpha build: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZQMHivsEuFn9UH3d9iwXw5uDPvVZWURl

An alpha version of the game called Ranchers of Kyvos, an isometric ranching life-sim game with strong RPG elements in a chibi art style.

A friend mentioned a project needing a developer. Kenny, the initiator, began to learn a new programming language but grew passionate about the project. My fellow freelancers and I joined to help him see it to fruition.

We planned an open beta for Steam's early access but shifted to an alpha build. This version included essential features for showcasing Kickstarter videos to engage future supporters.

Unity - DoTween - Blender

Initially, we focused on two core elements: Julian (the player) and Kyvos (cube-like creatures to tame, breed, and care for). Player movement was straightforward due to the isometric view.

Catching Kyvos presented challenges. We designed a simple yet engaging minigame for this purpose, adjusting its difficulty based on Kyvo rarity.

Developing the building system proved demanding. Crafting various elements, like fences, required precise calculation to contain tamed Kyvos.

The feature-rich game boasted a complex UI, already designed upon my joining. I enhanced it with transitions and animations using DoTween. To ensure consistency across different screen sizes, I paid close attention to responsive design principles.

When the pandemic hit, progress slowed. Despite this, we remained committed to the project, pushing through to an early alpha version for a Kickstarter campaign to secure funding and continue development on our original roadmap.

Despite the Kickstarter campaign's failure, the positive feedback from backers motivated us to not abandon the project entirely. We plan to revisit it someday with a more achievable scope.

This project taught me the value of timely alpha or beta versions for early feedback. It also underscored the importance of marketing; with a promising conversion rate, the Kickstarter campaign lacked success due to inadequate prioritization and marketing efforts.