You may have heard the saying “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” Indeed, I have always been an opponent of cannibalism and believe that a large number of chefs would ruin the soup. However, this notion doesn’t apply in the realm of Minecraft Pocket Edition. A sizable group composed of various talented individuals can create the most enchanting and fantastical projects that leave everyone astonished.
In any case, the team formed at Cyclone Designs disregarded such advice and brought together several top-notch artists and builders. They have become one of the most remarkable teams crafting abundant content for the world of Minecraft PE, including contributions to the Minecraft Marketplace.
Curious about their achievements? Great! The story about too many cooks is a myth. I’ll hire a dozen chefs to whip me up a plate of spaghetti.
One of them, Will Loader, had been playing Minecraft PE for years until a special event prompted him to step into the “professional” world of Minecraft. He participated in PlanetMinecraft with his project, which caught the attention of the developers at Blockworks. He was welcomed into the company, where he met two future colleagues from Cyclone Designs – Marso Nakayama and Vanessa Pearson.
As Will himself states, they reached a point where each of them fervently needed self-expression and the opportunity to create their own projects.
Their newly established team focused on creating interactive environments within the Minecraft PE universe. The collaborating artists possessed diverse skills across multiple fields: game design, level design, 3D modeling, concept art, illustration, and pixel art. This allowed them to develop creations of all kinds, which they thoroughly enjoyed.
One of the team’s first works is titled Cloud Jumper, which can be found online.
Cloud Jumper features thrilling aerial battles where you will fight various mobs using only arrows and a bow while gliding on wings.
So how did the Cyclone team manage to blend such varied styles without fearing a bad soup? Certainly, Minecraft PE isn’t exactly a restaurant, but it’s a valid question.
The answer is quite straightforward. A strong leader plays a crucial role in this team by clearly assigning tasks to each creator.
“Once we settle on a theme for the project, the authors immediately start brainstorming concepts for the story and characters, while digital technologists work on sketches with visual references and concept art.
This solid foundation allows the project to progress smoothly. Every team member knows their responsibilities and what needs to be done.
Some artists in the collective are well-versed in architecture, organic forms, or other conceptual elements. Dividing the group into various themes helps define each style while allowing individual touches to shine through in the project.
When creating their works, the Cyclone Designs team dedicates significant time to working with the game engine of Minecraft PE. Once again, it’s astonishing how much skill and talent resides within their team. This is primarily why this collective has achieved success.
Interestingly, the members of the team come from different countries. Naturally, this diversity yields fruitful results: each artist perceives construction through their unique lens, leading to a wealth of expansive ideas. “This is incredibly beneficial for teamwork: if someone gets stuck on their part, another can easily assist with advice, and together they can resolve any issues arising in the project,” asserts Ushio Tokura.
As you can see, having numerous cooks does not diminish the capabilities of the team; it adds flavor! Although any shawarma can be ruined by adding just a bit too much hot sauce (it might be very spicy, but not everyone enjoys that).
The biggest drawback of a diverse team is the issue of time zones. Some artists must collaborate closely, meaning they sometimes have to work late hours to meet deadlines.
Despite being a relatively young team, Cyclone Designs has firmly established itself in the world of Minecraft PE and already achieved notable successes. “Our company was founded in October 2017, and we’ve managed to secure a partnership agreement with Minecraft Marketplace.”
Marso also shared his success: “Ushio and I were invited to a Chinese exhibition in Hangzhou, where we will showcase our creations to the world. It will be a fantastic opportunity to meet legendary companies like Mojang, Microsoft, and NetEase.
We sincerely hope this won’t be the last encounter with the Cyclone Designs development team. Will mentioned that even more grand projects await us soon in Minecraft PE.
Ushio remains tight-lipped about future projects. “Our upcoming endeavors will encompass everything that adequately reflects the culture of all Cyclone Designs participants. We hope to reach an even broader audience soon, thanks to our education, atmosphere, and experience. Our goal is to inspire the vast community of Minecraft PE to pursue their goals and achieve their dreams.”
