Developer Couple Secretly Working on 2D Point-and-Click Game Themed Around 17th-Century American Witches
A new indie game project in collaboration between a full-stack husband and a designer wife, built using the GameMaker engine while outlining a limited approach to AI usage.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A 15-20 minute point-and-click game project set in 1600s American witchcraft theme
- The wife is responsible for 100% hand-drawn artwork with zero AI usage
- The developer uses a chatbot as a tool to answer small coding questions instead of generating complete scripts
- The main goal is to share behind-the-scenes work, creative processes, and exchange knowledge with fellow developers
A full-stack web software developer with about 5 to 6 years of industry experience has started a 2D game development project alongside his artist wife. In the past, the duo collaborated on small games for game jams back in high school. This time, they are returning to pursue their dream once again with upgraded skills and craftsmanship.
As for the game's concept, the project is a fully hand-drawn point-and-click adventure, drawing inspiration from 17th-century American witchcraft folklore as its main theme. Due to limited time and manpower, the game is designed to be compact, with a playtime of just 15 to 20 minutes, featuring multiple endings for players to uncover clues and unravel the mystery of a character named Anne.
Stock photo for illustration purposes, not from the actual event
Regarding content publishing, the developer intends to share every step of the process, from brainstorming, sketches, and the wife's artwork to in-game videos and screenshots. They also plan to hold votes to involve followers in decision-making processes, alongside writing stories about coding with the GameMaker engine and the challenges encountered along the way.
Solo game development or small teams often face challenges in time management and task division. Choosing a duo workflow where the wife handles all the art and the husband codes using GameMaker mirrors the model of many indie studios. Furthermore, using a chatbot solely for specific coding questions—like creating a black rectangle or a timer—instead of having AI write whole systems showcases an approach of utilizing AI tools as quick research assistants rather than replacements, helping preserve the creators' unique identity and vision.
The issue of using artificial intelligence (AI) is something the creators take seriously and have addressed transparently. All artwork in the game will completely exclude AI involvement; every single sprite and graphic asset is 100% hand-drawn by the wife. On the coding side, the developer chooses to use a chatbot strictly for short, specific questions, such as how to draw a black rectangle on screen, move objects, or implement a timer, acting essentially as a faster and more concise documentation lookup tool.
Source: Dev.to
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