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Knytt Stories design tour

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By David on December 9th, 2008

I just finished my second design tour video, this time about Knytt Stories. Since it doesn’t use hardware acceleration I had to use my video camera to record it at a consistent framerate, so I apologize for the slight lens distortion!

Be sure to click here watch it in HD!

I asked Nifflas how Knytt is meant to be pronounced and he said “Knytt is hard to pronounce unless you speak Swedish. I don’t think you have our ‘y’ sound, and the K is strong and does not disappear, like it does in the word ‘knit’.” I ended up just going with the ‘knit’ pronunciation and not embarrassing myself by attempting the Swedish one :) In response to the whole video, he said “There’s nothing I want you to change! I’m very honoured that you did this, not to mention that you really seem to like it a lot! Thanks again!”

Be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss our upcoming design tours! If you missed the first design tour (World of Goo), check it out here!

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  • This seems like a really cool game, nice vid too, was fun and interesting. I'm gonna try out this game out right now.
  • Edward
    Is there a mac version? If not, will there be one soon? It looks very cool
  • MrsManfredManburger
    Great video! Knytt and Knytt Stories are really beautiful games.
    A Stories level I can recommend is Don't Eat the Mushroom, a wonderfully trippy experience.
  • Very nice, keep 'em design tours coming!
  • When you said "Did i mention its totally free?" I was like *irk* and it took me about 1 minute to start playing. Haha...

    Nice video!
  • Kaabeus
    Very nice! Keep it up, it made me want to try it :)
  • Dremth
    wow, i love these design tours. it really helps me when im making games or even simple programs. not to mention, from the two that youve posted, i've found out about two great games i never knew about before.
    i hope you continue making more of these. :)
  • Mansizedmouse
    that is a good game
    just completed it
    and great vid by the way
    keep up the good work
  • Skofo
    Eh, wasn't as nice as the other one. Too much subjective stuff, here. For example, controlling a wobbly, slippery character (i.e. Within a Deep Forest) can be just as fulfilling as controlling a very tight character. I like Within a Deep Forest more than Knytt Stories, even though I love Knytt Stories.
  • I like your approach. It's a like a game review, but made for game designers.
  • I really like Within A Deep Forest too!

    My point is that tight controls allow for more complex puzzles; in WADF the challenge is shifted a bit away from the environment and towards the character, and the variety is maintained by allowing for a lot of different character variations.
  • Ken
    What about the sound effects and music!? The music is simply amazing and immersive, yet it gets no mention.
  • Breton
    "What about the sound effects and music!? The music is simply amazing and immersive, yet it gets no mention."

    watch again, it does get a mention. He doesn't go in depth about it true, but he does compliment it.
  • Reminds me of IJI :)
  • Knytt is actually one of my favorite games of all categories. Very nice!
  • Thanks for the great design review!

    Kyntt Stories was one of my favorite indie games (indeed, favorite of any type) I discovered last year (I believe as #23 on CALTROPS 100 Indie Games list).

    I loved its great use of subtle yet moody music, great control scheme, and Metroid-like control-based "strong" progression (good term, btw). You've elegantly pointed out even more to love about the game any you've succinctly explained it in a way that designers can benefit from.

    Keep'em coming! I know I'll be recommending all my indie/hobbyist game dev friends to subscribe. =)
  • Red Dragon
    Yeah, I really enjoyed it. Just played trough the machine challenge. The retro atmosphere is just great.

    Indeed, controls are easy to use and remember. So I guess it's suitable for everyone

    Aaanndd.. The level editor is/would be easy to use, but I dont get it yet. Im waiting for the next indie game preview, but take your time.
  • FishyBoy
    I really love these videos, they're very helpful.

    I would love to see Cave Story toured. I really love that game, but I can't place my finger on what makes it so good. It's not nostalgia factor, but something else. To know some of things that made the game work so well would be wonderful.
  • Hypermog
    I have to say, this video was remarkably insightful. It works both as a critique of the game, and a lesson on how to review games as well. Holding back the price point until the end was brilliant. Leading the review with it would have skewed my entire perception of the game toward "oh, it's merely a free game". Once this occured to me I immediately felt the weight of my own fallacy and learned something about my own predispositions. Bravo.
  • I was inspired to again, start using Multimedia Fusion. Right now me and my friends are trying to make Lugaru 2D.
  • lordmetroid
    As a Swede with English speaking relatives, I can attest to the fact that 'Y' is nigh impossible to pronounce.

    You form your mouth as if you would say 'U' but then you try to pronounce an 'E'. For some reason a slightly different sound is created that doesn't sound exactly like an 'E' when you do this.

    If you want to hear the difference you start out with a normal 'E' and then gradually while holding the tone go from a slit mouth shape to an ringed mouth shape.
  • dnl
    Great design tour, don't stop it..
  • Nice design tour..very well done. That is an awesome game.
  • Just downloaded this and playing it now. The atmosphere is really nice, i love the sounds, music and ambience.

    So far I'm finding the graphics a little too simplistic. Sometimes some more texture and detail here and there would be a useful in finding your way around.
  • Kyle
    I've played the game before - big fan. I came across this blog/video on Google. You did a GREAT job helping me realize WHY I love it so much! Excellent design tour!
  • An excellent video.

    Thanks to you I can now explain why I dislike nearly all platform games and can try to convince people to make better ones that I can enjoy :D

    Nice cutting.

    Your voice is great for these things.
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