Casey Yano
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Slay the Spire 2 fan's card pitches are so good, devs might steal them: "What the heck"
A fan's creative card pitches for Slay the Spire 2 have garnered significant attention, with Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano expressing enthusiasm and suggesting they might be incorporated. The fan proposed cards like 'Buddy Slam,' which deals damage equal to another player's block, and 'Gonna Finish That?', which transfers status cards. The developers are reportedly slowing down smaller updates to focus on larger content additions, such as a new character.
"They would feel a kind of sadness, right?": Slay the Spire 2 dev on using slightly rubbish placeholder art over AI
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano explained that the intentionally rough placeholder art in Slay the Spire 2's early access is meant to clearly communicate the game's incomplete status. He also expressed a preference for this approach over using generative AI art, stating that it would feel disheartening to artists who have developed their own styles.
Slay the Spire 2 lead says the garbage placeholder art is "important" and gen AI would ruin it: "People would judge the game as if it's a 1.0, fully developed video game"
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano stated that Slay the Spire 2 is intentionally using deliberately 'shit' placeholder art instead of generative AI assets. This approach aims to clearly communicate that the game is in early access and not a fully developed product, preventing players from judging it as such. Yano also expressed concerns that AI art lacks the artistic process and decision-making inherent in human creation.
Slay The Spire 2 Is Choosing “Shit” Art Over Generative AI
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano explains the decision to use intentionally crude, MS Paint-style placeholder art in Slay the Spire 2 instead of generative AI. This approach sets player expectations for the early access title, maintains authorial intent in the art process, and injects personality into the game. While the studio uses AI for code review and as a thesaurus, they firmly reject generative AI for art due to its lack of expression and potential to harm reputation.
Slay the Spire 2's creator reveals the inspiration for its most controversial foe: "I was playing too much Deadlock."
Mega Crit Co-Founder Casey Yano revealed inspirations behind Slay the Spire 2's characters, including the controversial Doormaker boss, which was influenced by playing Valve's Deadlock. Yano also explained that the fairy Ancient Nonupeipe's name is an easter egg referencing a placeholder icon, and that the Ceremonial Beast boss was inspired by Princess Mononoke's Forest Spirit and shares similarities with Valheim's Eikthyr.
Slay the Spire 2's lead birthed reviled boss Doormaker after "playing too much Deadlock," while Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke inspired another creature
Mega Crit developer Casey Yano revealed that the reviled Slay the Spire 2 boss, Doormaker, was inspired by playing Valve's hero shooter Deadlock. Another creature in the roguelike was originally based on the Forest Spirit from Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke. The newsletter also confirmed that Steam Workshop support for Slay the Spire 2 is now considered mature enough for general use.
A huge Slay the Spire 2 update makes life harder but fairer, and adds Steam mod support
Slay the Spire 2 has received a major update, introducing the Aeonglass boss, a Bestiary, and significant balance changes. The update also addresses 'correlated RNG' issues, ensuring fairer randomness, and adds full Steam Workshop support for mods. The Doormaker boss has been replaced by Aeonglass, and new enemy mechanics like Infested Prism have been added.
Slay the Spire 2 devs wanted to keep updating the original instead of making a sequel, but then their publisher shut…
Mega Crit developers initially preferred to continue updating Slay the Spire rather than create a sequel. However, the shutdown of their publisher, Humble Games, which handled console and mobile ports, created uncertainty for the original game's future. This led Mega Crit to pursue Slay the Spire 2, a project that was ultimately decided by a coin flip.
Slay the Spire 2 dev says an early idea was to actually reduce the card pool, but players hated it: 'We need new…
Casey Yano, co-creator of Slay the Spire and co-founder of Mega Crit Games, discussed the design of Slay the Spire 2 in a new interview. He revealed that an early idea was to reduce the card pool, but playtesters disliked it. Yano also drew inspiration from the Dark Souls series for character build progression and mentioned Balatro as an example of natural game mechanic scaling.
Slay the Spire 2 almost had fewer new cards because of the co-creator's love for Dark Souls, but testers "were…
Slay the Spire 2 co-creator Casey Yano initially wanted the sequel to feature fewer new cards for returning characters, inspired by the Dark Souls series' approach to build replication. However, playtesters expressed a strong desire for more new content, leading Mega Crit Games to adjust the design. This decision has contributed to the early success of Slay the Spire 2.
Slay the Spire 2 won't get an endless mode like Balatro because it limits "infinite strategies," but creator says "maybe a modder will think of a way to make it work"
Mega Crit co-creator Casey Yano stated that Slay the Spire 2 will likely not receive an "endless mode" similar to Balatro, as it limits "infinite strategies" and the deckbuilding becomes less exciting over longer runs. However, Yano suggested that a modder might create such a mode in the future.
Slay the Spire 2 avoids becoming "Sloppy Spire 2" by keeping the roguelike's roadmap light on dates
Lead developer Casey Yano of Mega Crit discussed the intentionally date-light roadmap for Slay the Spire 2, aiming to avoid rushed development. Upcoming features include Steam Workshop support, a Bestiary, new game modes, an additional character, alternate acts, and eventual ports to other platforms.
Slay the Spire 2 roadmap suggests we won't get matchmaking but does promise "whimsy" – here's what's new
Mega Crit has outlined the roadmap for Slay the Spire 2's early access period, focusing on bug fixes, system improvements, and content updates. The developers emphasize a healthy pace and creative freedom over strict deadlines, ruling out features like matchmaking but promising continued "whimsy." The game has seen significant player engagement, with millions of runs completed since its launch.
The new Slay the Spire 2 roadmap has no dates: "Exacting deadlines produce sloppy, uninspired work"
Mega Crit has released a roadmap for Slay the Spire 2, detailing upcoming features like alternate acts, a new character, and experimental game modes, but without specific release dates. Studio co-founder Casey Yano emphasized the team's commitment to a healthy development pace, stating that exacting deadlines lead to uninspired work. The roadmap prioritizes features such as Steam Workshop support and a Bestiary, followed by new content and ongoing improvements, with 'True Victory' and other endgame features planned for further in the future.
Slay the Spire 2 is cooking a "competitive" mode, but I'm most excited about its new short-time format
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano discussed potential new modes for Slay the Spire 2, including a competitive mode and a shorter-time format for players with less time. He also teased a new social multiplayer interaction mode, emphasizing that these are still in consideration and may not make it into the final game. Yano also expressed caution about adding too many features or Ascension levels to maintain the game's core simplicity and avoid an overly long completion time.
Slay the Spire 2 adds end-of-run badges 'to let you know what was unique about each adventure' in latest beta…
Slay the Spire 2 is introducing end-of-run badges in its latest beta patch, designed to highlight unique accomplishments during gameplay. Developer Mega Crit also detailed numerous balance changes, bug fixes, and UI adjustments, including reworked cards and enemy behaviors. The update aims to enhance run distinctiveness and scoring, with some changes sparking player feedback similar to previous beta releases.
Mega Crit co-founder says he wasn't bothered by the Steam backlash to Slay the Spire 2's beta balance patch: 'It's difficult for players to feel like they're heard'
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano stated he was unbothered by the backlash to Slay the Spire 2's beta balance patch, understanding that players, particularly those in China facing internet restrictions, may use Steam reviews as their primary feedback channel. While the intense negative reviews rattled newer developers, Yano acknowledged the imperfection of Steam reviews as a communication medium.
Slay the Spire 2's team is already cooking on 3 ideas for new game modes, each offering 'ways to interact with…
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano revealed that Slay the Spire 2 is being developed with three new game mode ideas in mind for its early access period. These potential modes aim to offer new ways for players to interact with the roguelike card game, including a possible sped-up challenge mode.
Mega Crit are working on three new Slay the Spire 2 modes, just don't place any bets on them all making it in
Mega Crit is developing three new modes for Slay the Spire 2, including competitive, time-constrained, and social multiplayer options. Co-founder Casey Yano emphasized that these modes are not guaranteed to be in the final release, as the team prioritizes maintaining the core experience and avoiding unnecessary features.
Slay the Spire 2 dev teases 3 new modes: something "very competitive," one for players who don't "have the time" for "the Slay the Spire experience," and a new multiplayer setting
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano has teased three new game modes for Slay the Spire 2, including a competitive mode, a mode for players with less time, and a new multiplayer setting. The studio is exploring these additions to expand the roguelike deckbuilder experience beyond its current offerings.