It’s often said that all fiction draws inspiration from reality, and this couldn’t be more true for a particular boss in the turn-based dark fantasy RPG Billy the Hero. Thai indie developer JOJOJOJOSoft crafted a monstrous, three-headed guardian with hands emerging from its mouths, using photographs of his sleeping wife as the basis.
In a detailed IndieDev Reddit post, JOJOJOJOSoft explained his creative process for designing the creature. After discreetly capturing reference images while his wife was asleep, he utilized pictures of her face and hands to construct the monster’s body. The monster’s color scheme was initially converted to grayscale, then layered with colors to refine lighting and shadows. The developer applied textures using images of food and raw meat before adding visceral elements like veins, tendons, and other fleshy details. Finally, a generous dose of red completed the creature’s bloody appearance, followed by final color adjustments.
JOJOJOJOSoft revealed that there’s a deeper connection behind the monster’s resemblance to his wife. The game Billy the Hero includes a marriage system, and players must obtain a wedding ring to propose, which is guarded by this boss creature. He humorously noted that the monster took the longest to create, attributing its design to his and his wife’s relationship, which he described as “incubating for over 20 years.”
While many comments lauded his creativity, some raised concerns about the developer’s marriage and potential fallout. JOJOJOJOSoft responded that his wife is a “very gentle soul” who doesn’t hold grudges. He even attached a photo of his wife stepping on him, humorously proving that their love can overcome any challenge.
Although Billy the Hero employs generative AI to upscale images and assist with initial localization drafts, JOJOJOJOSoft assures that human developers review and refine the game. Beyond his wife, he draws inspiration from various real-life objects for his work. For instance, he used hastily eaten chicken pieces, French fries, and a tart to create a grotesque, half-body monster with spider-like eyes.
Billy the Hero is currently in development for Windows (Steam).