Concepting the world of Scratch The Cat
October ended on a spooky note, so let’s start November on a cozy one with a little update from us – and some fresh visuals!
Earlier this month, we joined Culture Night Copenhagen at Prosa, where players got a firsthand taste of Scratch The Cat. And if you caught our #Blocktober post, you’ve already seen a glimpse of Bluegrass Fields.
Curious for more? Our artists have been bringing musical ideas to life – following the same rhythm – and now you can hear their thoughts behind the creations.
Tyra on Outfits and Character Design
As Artist Tyra Malmqvist puts it:
“As an artist I work on a variety of generalist tasks, both for 2D and 3D assets. Recently I’ve gotten to concept outfits and cosmetics that are going to be in the game.”
Many of these outfits draw directly from musical culture – but adapting them to Scratch’s quirky cast is where the creativity comes in.
“Most of the outfits have very concrete briefs with references to musical culture, so the challenge comes from adapting the style and outfit to a character with wildly different proportions than the outfit referenced, while also keeping the level of detail in line with the rest of the game.”
And sometimes, the simplest things are the trickiest:
“Having to adapt worker boots and pants to a character like the hamsters was certainly tough.”
Laura on Concepting Musical Objects
For 2D Artist Laura Blicher, concepting begins with transforming the ordinary into something that belongs in a world built on rhythm:
“For concepting, my role is to rethink mundane objects and make them feel at home in a world that revolves around music! I have chosen a select few pieces to illustrate our approach.”
Her Bluegrass tractor takes inspiration straight from the genre’s instruments:
“The inspiration for this tractor comes from several instruments used in the Bluegrass genre, including a banjo, a dobro and microphone for the grille on its front.”
And when designing a vending machine, the answer came from thinking in melody:
“I considered many options including speakers, pianos, midi pads and sheet music, but all these seemed like they were put on top of the vending machine rather than part of it. It wasn’t until I considered a classic accordion as its base that the design clicked into place.”
Bluegrass Fields – and Beyond
With Bluegrass Fields in development, the team continues to expand Scratch The Cat’s musical world – moving from bustling urban environments to open countryside. Each concept begins with a question: how can everyday shapes and sounds become part of the beat?
From tractors inspired by banjos to hamster-sized workwear, last month’s concept art reminds us that everything and everyone in Scratch The Cat moves to the music.
Join The Groove
Wanna see more behind-the-scenes looks at the game? Follow us on our socials for updates – and stay tuned for next month’s peek behind the scenes of Scratch The Cat.
Thanks for listening – and remember:
✨ Stay groovy. Stay scratchy. ✨
Curious to meet more of our herd? Want to know more about the horsepower behind our pixels? Alright, no more horsin’ around!