At ExoGenesis Studios, we put our hearts and souls into every visual detail, making sure that each one adds to the enchantment of the world we’re building.
Frame-by-Frame Animation
We focus a lot on frame-by-frame animation, only using procedural effects like particles and distortion when absolutely necessary. Most of our VFX are meticulously hand-drawn on "ones" — an animation technique where every single frame is created from scratch without reusing duplicates.
Stages of Creating 2D Smoke VFX for Altar Save Points:
While this approach is more time-consuming and demanding, the payoff is undeniable: ultra-smooth, fluid animations that players frequently describe as "incredibly smooth" in online discussions.
The Art of Loops and Tiles*
Creating 2D VFX for a game comes with unique challenges. Many of our effects need to loop seamlessly, but an even greater challenge lies in designing tileable environmental animations — like electric beams, water surfaces, or rain.
These not only need to loop perfectly but must also transition smoothly at the edges of the tiles. It’s a complex and time-intensive process, but the result is worth it: immersive, visually striking effects that truly bring the game to life.
(*note: tile is a repeating image element that can be placed next to itself without visible seams. In gamedev, tiles are often used to create backgrounds, textures, or animations.)
There are two things you can watch forever: smoke and the waterfall in INAYAH
Attack Animations & Lore of the Enemies
Although this Devlog focuses on VFX, we thought you might enjoy a deeper look into the game’s lore. Below, you'll find a short entry about some of INAYAH’s enemies, along with examples of their attacks in battle:
The ancient gods are long dead, but their iron servants still walk the world. It is said they played a role in their masters' downfall—and now, they seek to wipe out humanity as well. The scorching heat of the Scorched Lands forced people underground, but it does nothing to deter the iron servants. They prowl the sands and ruins, hunting for prey. The relentless heat has only melted their armored shells, making them appear even more monstrous.
Humans fear the iron servants, and fear breeds superstition. The Sand Marauders, desert raiders who stalk travelers, believe that the Many-Faced, One-of-Many can protect them from their iron brethren… if they offer him sacrifices. Whispers speak of a massive altar, built somewhere near his domain.
The iron servants exist only to hunt, driven by an insatiable thirst for blood. Yet, some have begun to act… strangely. They wear the clothes of the fallen. One deranged wanderer swore he had seen an entire village of iron servants, ruled by a Chieftain wielding a gleaming hammer.
We’re excited to keep sharing more about the development of INAYAH. Stay tuned for future articles where we’ll dive into how we create music, trailers, cutscenes, and much more. Follow us and add the game to your wishlist to make sure you don’t miss any exciting updates!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3199390/INAYAH__Life_after_Gods/