Characters: Distinct characters with different interests/personalities specific to stanford tropes
Plot: Overarching storyline regarding a murder in lake lag
Overall aesthetic: humorous, satirical
Synopsis
There’s been a murder at Lake Lag. Steland Lanford went missing after a Tinge date and was found in the lake not breathing. The police strongly suspect foul play. As Steland’s roommate, it becomes your mission to find the perpetrator by retracing Steland’s steps on Tinge. Follow clues at the crime scene to identify and swipe on prime suspects and meet them through this dating simulator game to determine who murdered Steland.
Tone
We want our game to be satirical and humorous but with dark undertones given the premise of a murder. We imagine the interactions with the various suspects found through the Tinge dating app to be more lighthearted and funny, leaning into the tropes and stereotypes of Stanford students, but the aspect of uncovering clues of the mystery to be more suspenseful. The key feelings we aim to evoke are:
- Curiosity
- Ominous
- Laughter
Setting
The game will be set in various key locations across the Stanford campus. Some locations will be related to interactions/dates with the suspects, while others will be related more closely to the murder itself and the clues that lead to it.
Gameplay
Players must search for clues at the crime scene and then use the dating simulator aspect of the game to interact with potential suspects and try to identify the killer. The player must make decisions based on the information they gather during these interactions to progress through the game and ultimately solve the murder. The gameplay may include exploration, decision-making, dialogue options, and potentially mini-games or puzzles to uncover additional clues. Overall, the gameplay appears to revolve around a combination of investigation and social interaction, with the goal of solving a murder mystery.
Key Challenges
In terms of the narrative, we’re not really sure how to seamlessly tie in the ‘murder mystery’ aspect and remain true to our original ‘dating as a Stanford student’ simulation. We don’t have a full picture of how we’re going to tie in the clues and dating. Our initial thoughts are that the dating sim aspects are utilized as a mechanism for uncovering the story plot of the mystery.
As for the tech, we’ve looked into a game engine called RenPy, which is an open-source tool that allows us to create interactive storytelling experiences. It’s specifically designed for dating simulations and visual novels. While it seems straightforward, none of us have used it before so it might take some adjusting.
Who is this for?
This game is for Stanford students that might be looking for a fun and intriguing game to play with their friends that plays into familiar stereotypes and satirical narratives that would not be available in other forms. It is for people familiar with the topology of Stanford’s campus and might be able to make connections between clues in this mystery and specific Stanford character traits to uncover the storyline. Stanford has had its share of mysteries and dating games (see Marriage Pact) but combining the two creates an interesting mix for people looking for interactive, personalized stories that are unlike anything they’ve encountered before.
Individual posts:
Alex: https://mechanicsofmagic.com/2023/05/09/individual-portion-for-team-checkpoint/
Jiwon: https://mechanicsofmagic.com/2023/05/08/p2-checkpoint-1-individual-jiwon/
Shreya: https://mechanicsofmagic.com/2023/05/08/p2-checkpoint-1-individual-component-shreya/
Raagavi: https://mechanicsofmagic.com/2023/05/05/individual-concept-doc-2/
