Game Tips: Child of Light: Ubisoft’s JRPG-Inspired Fairy Tale

At GDC Europe today, Far Cry 3 creative director Patrick Plourde provided an early look at Child of Light, a new project he’s leading at Ubisoft Montreal.

In a panel titled Small Projects in AAA Studios: Making of Child of Light, Plourde revealed that Child of Light is a JRPG-style digital title inspired by classic Square titles including Final Fantasy VI. The game is the story of a young girl who “physically and mentally grows up” through her journey, but more specific details are being reserved for the game’s upcoming official announcement.

Teaser for Ubisoft's Child of Light, a JRPG using Rayman's engine, inspired by Final Fantasy VI and many more. https://t.co/4EQoZhI6Pr

— Andrew Goldfarb (@garfep) August 19, 2013

Child of Light will use Ubi-Art Framework -- the same engine that powers Rayman Legends -- to bring drawings to life and “make a game that is a playable painting.” Plourde explained that a game like Final Fantasy VI used pixelated versions of the artwork that was originally conceived, but Child of Light will allow the actual artwork created by the team to be used in the game.

Plourde showed off several pieces of concept art, explaining that the actual art created by the small team behind the project can be laid over environments in order for players to interact. He explained that the tagline he originally conceived for the project was "a playable poem," and that spirit lives on in the finished product.

Plourde explained that Child of Light is inspired by artists including Hayao Miyazaki and Yoshitaka Amano, with its primary inspiration coming from fairy tale illustrator John Bauer. Plourde immersed himself in art from the golden age of illustration to help establish the tone of the project, which is due in Winter 2013.

Plourde kept specifics to a minimum, but hinted at co-op gameplay and both PC and console releases. He also teased that a formal announcement for Child of Light should come in early September as part of Ubisoft’s Digital Day event, so check back to IGN for more information in a few weeks.

Until then, more of the artwork shown off by Plourde during his panel can be seen below. (Note that these images are based on photographs taken of the screen during Plourde’s presentation and have been cropped.)