Interview: Archeia Talks Storytelling, Art and "Porcupine Princess"

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As part of my interview series, I'm speaking to prominent developers/contributors in our RPG Maker Web community to gain insight on their inner workings.

Today we speak to Archeia, whose Porcupine Princess is slated for a soon release as the Official RMVXAce English Sample Game!

First of all, tell us a bit about yourself, if you like.
 
Hi there, I'm Archeia also know as Nessiah or Nessiah_Equinox back in the 2k3 days. I'm a 23 years old working student with a studio named Division Heaven. My work involves as one of RPG Maker Web's Product Creation team. I started game development since I was 13 years old with my main inspiration being Final Fantasy VII and STING. I like to try out experimenting with different gameplay styles and ideas.

So what's your history in making art?
 
I started drawing when I was 7 years old. I have an elder brother who introduced me to drawing and game development at that time by introducing FFVII. He also served as one of my inspirations when he made these cute little comic books. I wasn't that serious back then until I read this book at a local bookstore called, "The Little Prince." I wanted to be a Storyteller because of it and FFVII so I started drawing. 
 
But at that time I wanted to be a manga artist, but when I started to get into RPG Maker when I was 13. After a few years of isolation and learning the program, as well as lurking the Gaming World Forums. I used to Roleplay and draw tons of fanart at this stage. But my drawing is really terrible. When I reached 17 years old and a bit unsure of the direction of my life, I had the realization that NOBODY would ever want draw for me or make my stuff, so I decided to go full steam ahead and focus on Digital Art. 
 
I met a few great people in GamingW and we formed a group called Cloudreach. I had some great artists with me there like Ocean, MirageV (Skie Fortress), JIHAUS and Dajhail. But I think the person who really influenced my drawing was Medieve because he woud have all these Art Tournaments and Art Wars in the GamingW forums. We also had Capt. Strife and Mr. Delicious being incredibly inspiring.

But when RPG Maker XP came out, I decided to give it a try and met TDS. He teached me a lot about what programmers needed about art and what I needed to know. My art endeavors usually involved making them for games, so I had Sacred Moon (2k3), Eternal Sonata (2k3), Advent Cirno (XP), Seraphim Project (VX), Night of Marian (VX) and the final being Anagram (VX). The last one was the first time I actually relied on another artist to do another art job for me which involved GTD, Marimo and at some point Penta. None of them really went off though.
 
Somewhere in between I was hanging around in Tigsource and learning some stuff from Thernz, Pietpiet and other great pixel artists there. Fun times. 
 
The biggest momentum in my Art History is meeting Doomfest and working for Dischan's Cradle Song. He whipped me so hard while I was in college and I even decided to quit college to learn under his wing and work for Dischan. But since I was gone for a good few months because of school, I was axed off. 
 
Then RPG Maker VXAce came out. The story here is quite short, I drew PORN and got better. And well, the rest is history.

You drew porn?
 
Yes, yes I did. Straight, Gay and Yuri. I only drew around seven. There's a special reason to it, haha. I just wanted to see if I can do it. Plus learning experience!
 

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True, haha. Now you've been involved in the RPG Maker Network since near the beginning, with sites like RMW, RMN etc. What things about the RPG Maker community were most useful during your development experience?

Back in my days when I first started, back when I was a lurker I mean, there's this guy named ATARI who kept screaming in 60 pt. BIG RED LETTERS saying, "READ THE F*CKING HELP FILE." That's because the community translated the helpfile and added a huge ton of examples that any beginner need to know. Any poor sod who didn't read it would get screamed by Atari. It was so scary being humiliated like that in Public.
 
But it helped me develop a DIY (Do It Yourself) mindset and learn everything on my own. We didn't really have much tutorials back then. So I would open projects like A Blurred Line, Romancing Walker and Kindred Saga. With Kindred Saga being my, oh my god RM can do ANYTHING!?!?!
 
I think the community is great back then at the point, were the projects were very interesting. The projects that I meant actually had custom graphics or when they try new things the maker didn't have. So it was inspiring to know you can do it too and HOW. Then we would have these Code-Off Contests and Game Development contests. I remember Esh listened to me and Emirpoen (sort of like my partner in the DivHeaven studio) for the competition. It was great fun.
 
I also joined A LOT of team projects. Like I can't count them and 95% of them failed. One of them had Pine from VX.net even. But I think that was a great experience in a sense that you just learn a lot of things. 
 
I think that VXAce is the pinnacle of my game development experience though. The community changed a lot because of the new scripting format and the database. You can do what you can back in 2k3. I also think the community is just REALLY friendly and they're great people. It doesn't have this scary "elitist" feeling like back in RM2k/3 or XP/VX days from I felt.

OMG, A Blurred Line and Romancing Walker. Those are 2 of my favourite games made in RPG Maker. So much nostalgia.
 
Yes ahaha, they are GREEAATT games. Oh and we also had this awesome site: http://rmt.divinelegy.com/, here we had this contest to submit as many tutorials and samples you can and everyone gets money. Then it's opento the public so people would learn. Carius was a great man.
 
There was a site called gamingw.net, am I right?
 
Yeah, it changed admins and now it's called Saltw.net and it died. Or more like, the admins like STEEL tried to kill RPG Maker from it when it as known for RPG Maker and stuff. Then it changed admins again and, it just went downhill.
 
Ah right. That used to be quite a popular site, if I recall.
 
Yeah, it was really popular. It had tons of crazy tutorials. Can you imagine making an array with rm2k3 event code? It was crazy. RMN was made to "rival" Gaming World if I recall correctly. That was when WIP was admin.
 

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Yes, well you've contributed/developed/helped make quite a few games: Chain of Retribution, doppelganger, Princess Princess.

Okay about that. Chain of Retribution, I was more like a beta tester who shut it down and insulted everyone in it almost by saying some game elements are bad. Like the pub was my suggestion but Ocean thought of the final concept, etc. I made the game page though. XD

It's probably one of the best quality chain games that I can think of right now, RPG Maker or no.
 
Haha yes, it's the most serious one I believe. The way that chaingame worked is different. Basically, everyone would continue a chapter right? But we worked destructively. The next person plays the whole game. If something doesn't work, they can change that chapter and proceed on their own. Once their time is up, they pass it again. And it just worked like that until it was done. Since the chaingame is only Cloudreach exclusive and you can talk to everyone personally, it isn't really a problem as opposed to a public Chaingame.

That's a very interesting process. Who are some of the people that helped you most in the RPG Maker community?

Contrary to popular belief, I have a selected few that actually helps me in my games, the rest are outsourced.

My favourite RM people are my friends in #PP and #Cloudreach. They are a fountain of inspiration and fun. If it weren't for them, life would be depressing and hard. I also loved working with Penta because she's been extremely patient with me. And Celianna, I thought she was a b!@#$ but she is a great person to talk to.
 
Celianna

Yes, haha. I think her straightforwardness gives her that image and I think she knows how people see her.

What are #PP and #Cloudreach... IRCs?
 
#PP used to be IRC but now it's like a meeting between friends thing. Its name is actually #PrincessPrincess. It's a dev channel for the game Porcupine Princess. #Cloudreach is an IRC which is a relic of the past that still exist today. As in back in GW days, around August 2007.
 
It's not as active as it used to be but it's a great place to chill out now and then.
 

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Last question: 5 favourites.

Favourite food? 
My favorite foods are Shabu Shabu and Kare Kare. Shabu Shabu's alternate name is Hotpot. Kare Kare is Filipino style curry. It's FANTASTIC. Filipino loves their rice and sauce. That's for sure.
Favourite actor/actress? 
Johnny Depp for Actor since he takes on these great weird roles. Emma Watson for Actress since I think she's great.
Favourite ice-cream flavour? 
Buko Salad.
Favourite musical artist/style? 
S!@#, let me think... uhhh... I love Symphonic Progressive Rock like Gladius Noctis or unique Violin Compositions like Lindsey Stirling, Yuki Kajiura or, Taylor Davis. But my favorite band right now is Sword of the Far East since they're a combination of both.
Favourite day of the week? 
Friday. Because Friday is that last day of work and you can relax on the weekends. For the most part hahaha!

Thank you very much for the interview Archeia, it's been a blast.
 
Haha thank you for the interview! ;w

[This is the first part of a multi-part series that will be released every few days, whenever I get the chance. Porcupine Princess is being released soon as the Official RMVXAce English Sample Game.]

 

Wow dat Nessy interview xD

 

Ahem, "research" had to be done for drawing purposes?


I was wondering what kind of people draw that stuff and share it on the internet.

 

^Let's not make creepy and suggestive comments here. Artists study anatomy, and when you know your anatomy, you can draw human bodies.


@Archeia: you're ancient! You've definitely come a long way, be proud of what you've done so far. Also, shabu shabu is the beeeeest!

 

Okay Shabu shabu really looks great.

This interview was awesome. Kind of helps me gain a better grasp and appreciation for Nessy's accomplishments.

 

I loved this interview! And don't worry I practice drawing the same way sometimes! Honestly, drawing nude is a fantastic way of learning! Which I still am learning anyway.

You are truly an amazing person, and I'm sure you'll go far out there! Funny enough I follow nearly all yer friends as inspiration! XD

 

mmmmm Kare Kare *____* I had some two days ago. Soooo good.

 

Very cool interview!

 

Do you have any goals for the distant future or want to be part of a game-development company? 

 

So many people believe that because you can draw art you do all custom art for your own games? I guess that is expected.

 

It was really interesting reading about your past Archeia and how far you've come. Good luck with all of your future goals!

 

Nice interview, it did explain a couple things...

PORN?! not going to ask, I know enough already.