From Tiny Robots to a Grand Co-Op Anime Adventure
Orbitals is an ambitious project several years in the making from developer Shapefarm and publisher Kepler Interactive. Described by its creators as an anime you can play, this co-op anime adventure takes players on a high-stakes journey through space.
The narrative follows childhood best friends Maki and Omura. Their mission begins 15 years after a massive storm isolated their settlement from the rest of the world, forcing them to venture into the stars to save their people.
The Evolution of Orbitals
The game's identity has shifted significantly since its initial conception. When game director Jakob Lundgren first joined forces with creative director Marcos Ramos on Orbitals, the development team was tiny, consisting of just six people.
As the project grew, so did the scale of the vision. Key changes in the development process include:
- Visual Style: A transition from a top-down perspective to a fully realized anime aesthetic.
- Character Design: The transformation of small, utility-focused robots into playable characters.
- Team Expansion: Growth from a small core group to a massive workforce of approximately 50 people.
"It was top-down, and it had these little robots running around doing menial tasks around the ship," Ramos explains. "Then, at some point, I said, 'This is cool, but what if anime?' And that little robot became Maki."
Scaling the Vision
The shift to an anime-inspired world proved to be a turning point for the studio. According to the development team, everyone connected with the new direction immediately, confirming they were heading in the right direction for this co-op anime adventure.
As the team has expanded to around 50 members, the scope of the game has evolved far beyond its original, more mechanical beginnings. The focus remains on the bond between Maki and Omura as they navigate the unknown reaches of space.
