Introduction
The visual novel game needy streamer overload is a denpa themed videogame, meaning it has close themes to feeling out of touch and dissociate from reality, linking it heavy into the psychological horror aspect in gaming. The player itself falls into the role as a streamers partner helping her gain social media attraction, while controlling her health and stability for the entire month. It was launched on January 2022 by Xemono and WSS playground.
Brief history of the company and pixel animation
Game development began in June 2020 by both companies Xemono and WSS playground with the game title needy streamer overdose instead (they had to alter the name to make it appropriate for the western audience). The game itself was prototyped in Figma then brought over to unity software to have a scheduled release in spring 2021. It was then later delayed having quality of life upgrades to the game and improve animation itself to flesh it out, the games dialogue itself had over 140,000 words in script. The people who were responsible in the game route itself was Nyalra (にゃるら) who was writing all the literature aspects in the girl's mental stability, and the illustrator was Ohisashiburi (お久しぶり) who was responsible for the character designs and concept art all within the game. Within that Ohisashiburi was heavily influenced by the vapor wave aesthetic and old pixelated drawings which were then incorporated into the game heavily. The game was taken as overwhelmingly positive within steam, selling 500,000 copies within the first release week. Many reviewers commented on the detailed life of picking apart the modern streamer lifestyle within a toxic and delusional relationship.
Ohisashiburi (お久しぶり) and Eencya
OHISASHIBURI
The concept artist specifically for needy streamer overload, Ohisashiburi, doesn't actually have much work besides a few concept art pieces. Other than that, there is no other information on the artist himself or his interaction with the company and development within the art of the game.
EENCYA
Eencya was an artist originated from Japan who works for many games, typically for detailed pixel art video games. These vary from games such as visual novels (like needy streamer overload) and 2D action beat 'em up games such as SiNiStar with both having psychological themes. They were hired for the game specifically for all the animation, visuals within the game and backgrounds (basically all of the art within needy streamer overload.) Using the art references from Ohisashburi and WSS playground to gather all information towards the art aspect to the game. This varied from movements to and from locations, streams itself and selfie pictures of the character in a pixel style. This was all led with the developers, so they knew exactly what to draw for the script.
Pixel art origin
Pixel art actually originated from sewing and embroidery before pixel art in videogames or media became apparent in the 1980s when videogames started to be produced. Some of the earliest uses of pixel art within media was actually within New York city as animation billboard displays as early as the 1930s. However, as we know pixel art today, it became known and worldwide within the 1970s when arcade machines were being developed. These were seen in things such as space invaders in 1978 and Pacman in 1980. With home gaming consoles being produced within the 1980s, with companies such as Nintendo and Sega, pixel art and animation was able to be used anywhere. Companies did this due to the lack of hardware and technology necessary to produce 3D games. Of course, as tech got better, many studios moved to 3D animated games, but many others such as indie developers, still use pixel art as an art form / stylistic choice rather than lack of hardware.
Why this study is important to my work
With this game being a heavy inspiration for my visual aesthetic, character, story and development, I played through the game studying the stylistic choices used to impact my own animation for this product. This is things such as backgrounds, rendering of pixel art and character designs with setting.
Character visuals and design stylistic choices- All throughout the game there are very heavy themes of the vapourwave and cutesy aesthetic portrayed within the characters and environment. All character 2D models / visuals are in a pixel art with characters and interactions being animated. For me I believe the portrayal of an adorable and pastel atmosphere within a game that is meant to be more sinister and darker is perfect as it's nothing to be expected. With that, I want to take that inspiration from the aesthetic to give it to my main character to provide a sense of hopeless security. This will be highly useful taking Needy streamer overload as they display that effect perfectly, which is what I needed. As well, they use a high defined pixelated style differentiating it from normal pixel games to give it extra detail within the character models. I want to use that as well to perfectly replicate the characters emotions, movements and scenery.
Background design and setting- Since the game is set all within one place with only a few modifications to signalize that the time has changed, the background and visual aspects don't really change at all. This is severely effective due to many sinister and psychologically inflicting events which all carry on throughout the month. I want to use this background and setting throughout my animation as well as the horror implication can be executed well within one area which you can't leave. Within Needy streamer overloads background, it uses pastel and pink colour schemes to give a false sense security. This is done by posters a PC setup with little cute decorations following the aesthetic which I talked about previously. I am also using that for my own background to help my own aesthetic as well. This then can overall bring the themes of my animation to light to give it an offsetting theme, providing the severely dark tones within a cute environment.
Relationship between the POV character and Ame Chan- In the game itself, you play in the role as her boyfriend trying to help her to be the biggest streamer. Their relationship with each other is quite unique due to being able to control her whole stability and mental darkness with your own hands. This is what can be seen within the darker endings leading her to inflict harm to herself due to you not looking after her properly. The concept of a person depending on you with their health is perfect for psychological games which is exactly what I needed to interpret in my animation. This will be severely used as my main idea is a conflict between a girl and their partner within a domestic relationship, portraying the mental issues within it. This obviously will be done with the crippling mental state of the girl needing comfort from her partner which then leads to confrontation.
Conclusion!!
Needy streamer overload helped me with my generalised overview of all of my initial ideas for character confrontations, designs for backgrounds and characters, and the technical style of animation I want to use. Due to the aesthetic and the horror implications throughout the main character and their relationship it has helped me come to the conclusion on exactly what I want to do. :)
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