How Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids’ Character Designs Evolved

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In a fascinating clash of ideas, Chip ‘n Clawz squares off against The Brainioids as they both work tirelessly to create unique and innovative intellectual properties. The masterminds behind Chip ‘n Clawz have shared insights with Game Rant about the intricate process that shaped this upcoming title’s distinctive design.

The game titled “Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids “, produced by Arc Games and designed by Snapshot Games, chronicles the adventures of a young inventor and his robotic feline companion as they strive to thwart an alien incursion. Players can either solo or join forces with a friend to command the duo, while amassing legions of machines to counter the Brainioid threat. Game Rant recently held discussions with key figures from the game’s development team, including Julian Gollop (game director), Nikola Petrov (game designer), and Rossen Tzvetanov (art director), who discussed how the game’s concept evolved over time.

How Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids’ Characters Came To Be

The Design Process For Chip ‘n Clawz

In the creative conversation about the visual style for the game Chip ‘n Clawz, inspired by science fiction comics, Tzvetanov shared insights into the character creation process. He emphasized the guidance given during this process and explained why certain designs were preferred over others.

In this game, the minions play a significant part. We prioritized making each minion easily distinguishable for players, considering their visibility on the battlefield as crucial. For instance, if you spot a large cannon, it signifies a ranged bot that will attack you. The artillery, a massive rocket with legs, causes extensive damage to buildings. The design of the minions and the structures they spawn from are guided by these straightforward principles.

In this game, strategies from real-time strategy (RTS) are transferred into a three-dimensional world, much like in Minecraft Legends. Since clarity is crucial in this space, both for characters controlled by the player and the Brainioids, most designs will feature minions. These minions are integral to the gameplay, serving as the main focus of the title’s action.

Gollop, the creator of the X-COM franchise, also contributed insights on the topic, focusing on particular aspects of the creative process. He explained that around three or four concept art iterations often occur during the design phase before moving onto 3D modeling. Once all the minion types and their buildings were constructed in 3D, additional revisions were made to make certain structures more distinct.

Character Design for Chip, Clawz, and the Brainioids

In a style reminiscent of games like Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, or Banjo-Kazooie, Chip ‘n Clawz prominently features its leading duo. It’s not surprising then that they underwent some redesigning during development. Petrov discussed the character evolution, highlighting how animation breathed life into Clawz and how the team distinguished the various Brainioid bosses. He delved most deeply into Chip, the game’s central character, detailing the changes made to him during design.

Regarding Chip’s design, we originally envisioned him to have a very contemporary and stylish appearance, with a sporty vest, messy hair, and flashy sneakers. However, we felt that this style didn’t quite fit his character. After some brainstorming sessions, we drew inspiration from our game’s setting. In the early parts of the game, you can see remnants of an ancient civilization, as well as collectible comic books. This led us to wonder if a descendant of these ancient people could now be a modern-day boy with an interest in robotics. And that was the moment of inspiration!

Gollop further elaborated on the iterative process, providing greater insight into the sources of inspiration for the Brainioids. Notably, he pointed out that Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks!” served as both aesthetic and tonal inspiration. Moreover, he shared that the concept of a brain in a jar was somewhat inspired by a book he had read with his children titled “My Arch-Enemy Is a Brain In a Jar” authored by David Solomon.

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2025-08-23 13:09