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Indie Game Spotlight: Potionomics

There’s been some pretty great indie games brewing this year. This week’s Indie Game Spotlight, Potionomics, is one of ‘em. This RPG shop simulator lets you play as Sylvia, a young witch who must pay off an inherited debt by making and selling potions. Potionomics challenges players to survive the rigors of business ownership by mastering the art of crafting, reaching goals to upgrade their shop, and navigating relationships with customers, partners, and competitors…all while exploring a shifting, responsive market economy built around magic and monsters. Monsters? In this economy? You bet.

We spoke with a few of the people behind the game—Aryo Jati Darmawan (lead developer) and Jarann Pan (marketing, production, and sometimes art!)—to give all of you a little inside scoop on what may very well be your new favorite game come its release day.

What inspired the story and characters in Potionomics?

Jati: The primary inspiration for everything and anything in Potionomics comes from my experiences playing RPGs growing up. As much as I love them, fantasy RPGs (especially in the west) tend to feature the same types of heroes and premises over and over, which is an absolute shame because there are so many other interesting characters in these worlds. The barkeep of a thieves guild, the janitor who has to clean up the mess after a world-shattering ending scenario, the veterinarian for all the fantastical creatures…Wondering about their stories inspired me to make a game from a vendor’s point of view.

How did you choose the style for the game?

Jati: It was really just a by-product of the people around me. I went to Ringling College of Art and Design, which plopped me into an environment full of amazing animators. When I started bringing devs onto the team, most of them were friends I knew from Ringling, so I just played to their strengths!

I wish I could say that I had a game plan all along, but it was mostly serendipity.

Jarann: We’re extremely lucky to have so many talented people making Potionomics. Shout out to Hope Lee, our brilliant concept artist, who designed most of the art for the game! Unfortunately, she doesn’t have a social media presence, but her work is on display all over our Tumblr and website.

Are there any unique stories on how you created a certain character?

Jati: The dev team is in full agreement concerning what Owl’s avian self looks like, but we have a lot of competing ideas over what his human version would look like. Some of us are sure he’d be a devilish rogue in his 30s, others see him as a Merlin-like figure, age 80+. I don’t think there will be a consensus anytime soon.

Jarann: I designed the initial concept art and character idea for Luna, the game’s moth-girl marketing maven. Our goal when designing most of our characters is to try to make them feel like real and relatable people—so I gave her a lot of traits I related to. However, I got carried away, and at some point, I awkwardly realized that I’d accidentally made a self-insert character! Since then the character has moved away from my own personality, but my friends still tease me about it.

Are there any moments in the game inspired by a true story or an event in your life?

Jarann: I think Sylvia’s struggles are somewhat inspired by our own experiences coming out of college. She finally has her degree that she’s worked so hard to get and thinks everything will be a cakewalk after this. However, reality proves to be quite different!

What potion would be the best potion in real life?

Jati: A potion that makes me invulnerable to whatever tear-gas curse onions cast on you when you cut them.

Jarann: A Talk to Animals potion! I spend so much time trying to figure out what my dog is saying to me.

New 48h film made with Venkatram Viswanathan!