Love and Deepspace Inspire My Journey as a Game Developer

Love and Deepspace, the irresistibly charming and romantic gacha game, also serves as an unexpected introduction to video game development.

Often referred to as LADS, this game is a delightful mix of various gameplay experiences wrapped in a stylish package. Beyond the thrilling combat and engaging storylines, it features photo and home decoration modes where you can pose with your characters and design your ideal living space. These aspects have revealed my hidden talents in 3D rigging and environmental design, which have become my favorite parts of the game. It’s not just the attractive characters or the flirty audio messages that captivate me; it’s the joy of posing and capturing moments. However, as a gacha game focused on monetization, many appealing items are locked behind an in-game currency barrier. A stylish outfit often requires gems that can be purchased with real money or through other currencies that necessitate spending gems. The same goes for the poses in photo mode. If I want a romantic pose where my characters are gazing into each other’s eyes, I have to shell out for it.

But I’m not keen on spending money, and over time, I’ve figured out how to work around the system. As I’ve become more familiar with the game’s extensive photo mode, I’ve discovered that I can use basic poses to create the scenes I once thought were out of reach. LADS’ photo mode allows for dynamic posing, where characters perform a loop of gestures—like summoning a weapon or yawning—and you can freeze them at any point. When I catch Xavier, the dreamy silver-haired character, dozing off with his eyes closed, and position him next to my main character in a blink, it creates the illusion that they’re leaning in for a kiss.

I’ve snapped all sorts of pictures like this, combining different poses, zooming in to eliminate awkward limbs, or clipping characters together to create images I would otherwise have to pay for. The home decoration mode offers similar creative freedom. With a suite of tools that feel like drafting software, you can transform, flip, and lock items to walls or other objects to craft intricate decorations. Some items, like the bathtub, can only be used by one character at a time. However, by cleverly stacking two tubs, I can make it appear as if my digital characters are enjoying a cozy bath together.

Finding ways to bypass the system feels rewarding and somewhat reminiscent of game development. Developers often share stories about the challenges they face, like the frustrations of implementing simple features. My experimentation in LADS’ photo mode to achieve the results I want may not be exactly like what a professional rigger does in Unreal Engine, but it certainly feels similar. And even if it’s not, what advanced players accomplish in home decoration mode—like crafting makeshift gun racks from wall shelves—definitely is. So, if I ever decide to step away from video game journalism, LADS will have equipped me with the skills to pursue my true passion, which seems to be 3D rigging.