Producer Interview: The Design Philosophy Behind Gazing Moon's Rebirth

Following the successful offline playtest in Guangzhou, the production team behind Gazing Moon (望月) sat down for an in-depth interview with Chinese gaming media. The interview revealed fascinating insights into the game’s 17-month overhaul, the core philosophy driving the “Moon Spirit” system, and how the team is building a uniquely “Chinese” urban open world.

Here are the key takeaways from the interview.

1. The Overhaul: Driven by “Connection”

The development team admitted that the massive changes made to the game since its initial reveal weren’t originally planned as a full “reboot.” Instead, after the first closed beta test, they gathered player feedback and distilled it into three core pillars: China, Moon Spirits, and Urban Life.

As they adjusted the game to focus on these pillars, they realized they had effectively remade the game from the ground up.

The core goal of this overhaul was to create a sense of “Connection” (连接感). The team wants players to feel a sense of familiarity when exploring Tianyue City. They chose Guangzhou as the primary inspiration because of its “inclusive” nature and “harmony in diversity” (和而不同).

However, the goal isn’t just to copy Guangzhou, but to capture the universal “fireworks” (烟火气)—the everyday, lived-in feel of a modern Chinese city. This is why you see familiar elements like three-prong electrical plugs integrated into Moon Spirit designs (like the “Jia Dian Wang” / 加电汪), creating a bridge between the fantastical and the mundane.

2. Moon Spirits: More Than Just “Catching Pets”

One of the most common misconceptions about Gazing Moon is that it’s just another “creature collector” or “Pokemon-like.” The production team strongly pushed back against this.

They view Moon Spirits not merely as pets to collect, but as the “Environment” (环境) of the game itself. The system is built on three layers:

1. Combat Synergy: Moon Spirits fight alongside characters, not just for them.
2. Exploration Partners (3C): Currently, 5 traversal abilities have been revealed (jumping, gliding, climbing, and two vehicle-related skills). The team revealed there are over a dozen more in development, including abilities related to sound, light, electricity, heat, and even “possession.”
3. The “Moon Eye” (月瞳) Engine: This is the core driver of gameplay. It allows players to read the minds of Moon Spirits and discover their “traits” (词条). In future updates, players will be able to actively edit and combine these traits to customize how Moon Spirits interact with the city’s simulation and management systems.

The team also teased a “Supply Chain” (供应链) management mini-game, where Moon Spirit employees might be seen riding electric scooters around the city to deliver goods.

3. Character Design: Rooted in Urban Professions

Gazing Moon’s character design is heavily tied to urban professions. The team wants every character to feel like a real citizen who just happens to have special abilities.

A prime example is the newly revealed character, Lingbeijing (凌北镜). As a professional tennis player, her combat mechanics were built entirely around the sport. The team meticulously studied real tennis players’ kinetic chains and movements. Her core gameplay loop involves a challenging but rewarding “serve and return” mechanic that requires precise timing.

The team also teased an upcoming character named Kongqing (空青). He is a photographer, but specifically, a posthumous portrait photographer (遗照摄影师). His backstory is tied to real-world social issues, making his character much more profound than a typical gacha trope.

4. The Future: A Sustainable Ecosystem

When asked about the intense competition in the open-world RPG market, the producer offered a grounded perspective. They aren’t trying to beat the industry giants at their own game. Instead, they are focused on answering one question: “What kind of game do we, as players, actually want to play?”

Their ultimate goal for Gazing Moon is simple: to find an audience that truly loves the game and to build a sustainable development cycle that allows the team to continuously expand Tianyue City and its Moon Spirit ecosystem.