For this week’s devlog, we’re catching up with Carl, the Art Director for 100 Lives. Carl’s been with the project from the early days, helping shape the visual identity of Kingstown from the look of individual characters to the overall feel of the world.
In this update, Carl shares a glimpse into how the team is building scenes that feel unique and immersive, the challenges of animating expressive characters, and how even the smallest visual details can tell a story.
What did you work on last week, and what’s next?
Last week, I worked on a mix of screens, including the main menu, the "end of a life" scene, and some early ideas for the character builder background and UI. I also added a few new NPCs - each one bringing something different to Kingstown and helping the world feel more alive and diverse.
What’s a new feature, mechanic, or piece of content you're excited about?
One of the things I’m most excited about is how the events will look in the final version of the game. We’ve got a lot of ideas to make each one feel unique and immersive. With varied characters, animation tools, camera direction, and carefully chosen music and ambience, the aim is for no two scenes to feel the same. I think exploring that side of the game will be something players really enjoy.
What’s been the most interesting design or technical challenge recently?
Right now, a tricky part is improving the character animations, especially for posing and speech - to make them feel smoother and more natural. It’s a challenge, but one that’ll be worth it.
Is there anything players might miss if they don’t look closely?
I’d pay close attention to the details of each character, both visually and in how their personalities come through narratively. These little touches should give players a sense of who they are and maybe who they might become.
How is your work helping bring the “100 Lives” concept to life?
I’m involved in most of the visual parts of the game, whether it’s creating characters, backgrounds, UI, or helping shape the direction of things like the map, animation concepts, or other design elements.
As 100 Lives continues to grow, the art team is focused on making each moment feel distinct, memorable, and full of personality. We’ll be back soon with more updates from the rest of the team. In the meantime, don’t forget to wishlist the game on Steam, and keep an eye out! Sometimes the smallest visual details reveal the biggest surprises.
See you next time!