Star Stable June Blog: Magical Rainbow Horses & Disco Revamp

Magical Rainbow Horses

By Alishia Nossborn (3D Artist)

Hello StarFam, we meet again!

This time, I am back to tell you about the production of the Magical Rainbow horses for 2024! These magical horses were inspired by creatures that could have come from the Cloud Kingdom. What’s up there in the sky then? 

This year, we didn’t want to go for a typical rainbow horse with rainbows, but we wanted to explore what else could be done for the festival. In the first concepts, we tried anything that came to our minds. Matilda came up with some beautiful concepts; mine were…. well, they were some rough ideas 😂 but it’s always nice to butt our heads together to see what we can come up with and see if it will inspire some new creations.

We decided to go for something more celestial and heavenly—a sort of homage to the Cloud Kingdom if you will. We then combined some of our ideas to create these concepts. 

After some feedback, we decided these two cloud designs worked really well together, and gave them each a cute matching little panda ray follower. These designs allowed us to give the players the option between a soft and calm horse and a darker and edgier horse. Our amazing narrative designer, Nadia, also came up with some truly capturing backstory for them that explains why Serenus can’t fly. If you haven’t already done so, you should definitely read their backstory!

Here’s a little peek at what the horses looked like during the creation process. Figuring out how to paint the cloudy body was a challenge. I didn’t want it to feel too busy, and some experimentation was required to get it to feel as soft as a cloud and represent the concept and vision. In the beginning, it can look a little wonky, but trust the process!

Then, the normal coats were picked to represent their magical coats, if you’ve noticed the markings on Serenus actually kind of create a swirly pattern around some places ;)
I wanted to give Serenus's normal coat the same sense of calm and elegance as the magical coat, so it came to be a very light Palomino with buds and a braided tail.

The same goes for Bronte. The normal coat is supposed to represent the look of a warrior, a bit rough on the edges. Sporting a dark dun coat with markings made to follow the lighting strikes down the fetlocks and the horns on the bridge of the nose, and some shoulder stripes trickling down the withers and up the neck to follow its magical mane.

Hope you enjoyed learning a bit about the process of coming up with the designs for Serena and Bronte as well as their creation, see you around in Jorvik!😎🌈

Disco Revamp - Design

By May Iren V. Lorentsen (3D Artist)

Hello, hello! This is May speaking, in between the beats and learning new dance moves to dance to all of your AWESOME songs. Yay for YOU, good beats, and for all things sparkly and fun!

I will be representing some of the 3D artists today and telling you a little bit about the new discotech we worked on! 

This time around, we decided on doing a smaller revamp, but our ambitions were anything but. We knew we wanted to make the space itself bigger to accommodate more people—to create that wonderful social space where people could just talk and hang (and dance, of course!). To achieve this, we also decided it was time the balcony was made bigger, so that you could all enjoy that sweet, sweet Pinta sea breeze after working up a sweat. 

Snacks are important, too! So, we made sure to add some potato chips (or crisps, if you will), chocolate, and refreshing beverages you can enjoy while seated in the new furniture and enjoying the view. 

Chocolate with a top hat logo—a little nod towards a special character—can you guess whom? And then something salty and crispy to go with the beverages, of course.

An updated DJ Kai would be making her debut as well and getting her game on in the evening, so we thought that it would deserve its own little atmosphere and vibe as well. So, some of the visual design choices were made to match her style. And she has a little merchandise-like shop out the front. 

A nice little workstation for a nice DJ is in order, don’t you think? Staying hydrated, too!

And what is a disco without a disco ball? But nay for singular; and yay for plural! Not one, not two, but THREE disco balls were needed! Yes, needed. And they SPARKLE! Like almost every good thing does. So, we made sure to add that. 

Another ka-pow we knew would look cool against the darker new disco was glowing LED lights, of course, and neon wings for our heroes. You all have been so patient waiting for our update and playing the game. 

Those with keen eyes might have noticed some overall updates in the Fort Pinta area as well. The fountain area has gotten some love, and some of the storefronts as well, we have brand new cannons, arrr, and outside the stable we no longer have the stone flooring but instead a nice natural ground with some detail. Other changes have been added as well. Perhaps you can spot the other subtle differences if you look around? 

It has been my honor talking to you all today. Until next time; be well and be happy <3
A big thank you to our lovely StarFam from us over at SSE. 

I will now return to the dance floor, hope to see you there! 

May Iren over and out.

Disco Revamp - Music

By Axel Bellinder (Sound Director)

Well, hello there, wonderful Star Stable community!

My name is Axel Bellinder, and I have the honor of serving as the sound and music director here at Star Stable. Together, our team creates the sound effects and music and strives to help the world of Star Stable come to life. If you've spent any time exploring the game, there's a good chance you've heard some of the music I've composed over the years, from the serene landscapes of Silverglade to the frosty expanses of Dino Valley and the mystical depths of Hollow Woods.

Today, I'm happy to share some behind-the-scenes insights with you. We've finally released a project that's been close to our hearts for a long time: the disco revamp! This is something we've been dreaming about and planning for years, and now it's finally happening. The revamp is more than just an update; it's a start to celebrate creativity and community.

One of the most exciting aspects of the disco revamp is the introduction of you! DJ Kai will be playing music created by you, our amazing players! This concept is really special to me. I am continually amazed by the talent and creativity of our players. Every time I listen to the music you create, I'm reminded of my early days in music and sound. Back then, I would get completely absorbed in game soundtracks and dream about the possibility of my music being played somewhere, anywhere.

It's a beautiful full-circle moment to now be able to feature the incredible work of our players in the game. The Fort Pinta disco feels like the perfect place to showcase the musical talents of our community. So, if you're a budding composer or just love creating music, please send us your original songs! You might just hear your track featured at the Fort Pinta disco. You can send your music to us at music@starstable.com. We're eagerly awaiting your submissions and can't wait to hear what you come up with!

In addition to the musical updates, our talented senior game designer, Yonna, has created a delightful new dance game feature. This adds a fun and interactive element to the disco and hints at the potential for future expansions.

I wanted the music in the disco to sound like it was actually played in the room. I spent a lot of time in the old disco, working to match the reverb to sound like the size and vibe of the room. As the production progressed, I had the pleasure of seeing the fantastic new artwork and updated environment. The transformation is truly impressive. The team has done an outstanding job of creating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere, complete with neon lights, animated backdrops, and the updated DJ Kai taking centre stage. The first time I saw the in-game footage of the dance floor packed with players on opening night, I couldn't help but cheer with excitement.

Working on this project has been incredible fun, and I feel so privileged to do what I love every day. Music has always been my greatest passion, and being able to share it with such a wonderful community is a dream come true. I'm always thrilled to hear your feedback, and it warms my heart to know that the music in Star Stable enhances your gaming experience.

Thank you all for being such an integral part of this journey. Your creativity, enthusiasm, and support inspire us to keep pushing and create more magical experiences. We look forward to hearing your amazing music and seeing you on the dance floor at the Fort Pinta disco!

Stay creative, keep the music flowing, and we'll see you in the game!

Axel Bellinder