Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's lead designer reveals the clever reuse of existing assets in crafting Dondoko Island's extensive furniture collection. Discover how this approach significantly expanded the minigame's scope.
Dondoko Island: A Minigame of Epic Proportions
Reusing Assets: A Creative Approach to Expansion
In a July 30th interview with Automaton, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's lead designer, Michiko Hatoyama, explained the unexpected growth of Dondoko Island, a minigame that far exceeded its initial design. Hatoyama stated, "Initially, Dondoko Island was much smaller, but it expanded organically during development." This expansion involved a significant increase in the number of available furniture recipes.
RGG Studio cleverly leveraged existing assets, repurposing and modifying them to rapidly create a vast array of furniture. Hatoyama noted that individual pieces were crafted "in minutes," a stark contrast to the days or even months typically required for new asset creation. The extensive asset library from the Yakuza series proved invaluable, allowing for the rapid integration of numerous furniture items into Dondoko Island.
The expansion of both the island itself and the furniture catalog stemmed from a desire to provide players with fresh and engaging gameplay. The sheer scale of the island and the extensive crafting options offer players unparalleled freedom and satisfaction in transforming a humble garbage dump into a luxurious five-star resort.
Released on January 25, 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth received widespread acclaim. As the ninth mainline entry in the Yakuza series (excluding spin-offs), the game boasts a substantial asset library, ensuring ample resources for future projects. Dondoko Island stands as a testament to RGG Studio's efficient asset management, transforming a simple minigame into a massive and deeply rewarding experience that players can spend countless hours enjoying.
