Checkpoint 1: Concept Doc

Queen of the Court

Theme: High school, prom queen

Target audience: Young adults 16+ that enjoy narrative-driven experiences and drama

Number of players: 3-4, all w/ the same roles

Setting: High school and related areas

Tech component: Website where players keep track of their points and progress.

Materials/resources:

Other characters that influence narrative:

Principal – Get caught for certain behaviors, hinders progression
Jock – More likely to become prom queen when dating them
Tech genius – Gain tech support in advancing to prom queen (ie: advertising)
Bookworm –
Class president –
Rival – Poses as obstacle to becoming prom queen, hinders progression
Best friend – Garner support from the BFF that helps player advance to prom queen

Gameplay:

Each player chooses a character
Players progress through game, earning points for completed tasks and objectives
Players can collect other character cards and special items to earn extra points
Tone references:
- Games: Episode,
- Books: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Paper Towns by John Green
- Music: Guts by Olivia Rodrigo, Bad Blood by Taylor Swift, Liability by Lorde, Fight Song by Rachel Platten, Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
- Movies/TV: Princess Protection Program, Gossip Girl, Mean Girls, Teen Spirit, DUFF
Key challenges for design:
- Maintaining player orientation in a social landscape – keeping players oriented in the complex social dynamics of high school & maintaining how they relate to each other. We can use UI elements like social maps and relationship indicators to help players navigate high school.
- Structuring game around high school events and dynamics – game will integrate school events into a coherent narrative arc; we don’t want the events to feel disjointed
Key challenges for tech:
- Player integrity – ensuring that players truthfully input their points and don’t modify other players’ points
- Animations and elements – implementing technical elements that enhance game experience through interacting w/ leaderboard that don’t distract from larger experience of analog components