For all 3 of my ideas, as well as the mood board and soundtrack, I focused on themes of adventure, discovery, mystery, and suspense. The central theme is Stanford and its history. I most like the idea of creating made-up Stanford history to do with notable figures and artifacts around campus to create an engaging narrative that players get to discover for themselves through the gameplay.
Mood Board:
Soundtrack:
Three Possible Directions:
- The Mystery of the Stanford Tree
- Premise: The Stanford Tree has mysteriously disappeared right before big game. Players are tasked with finding and returning the mascot in time for the big event.
- Types of fun:
Competition – Players compete against each other to be the first to find the Tree.
Fellowship – Players can also form teams to solve the mystery faster. - Puzzle Ideas:
Map Challenge: Provide a map of Stanford with cryptic markers indicating potential locations of the Tree.
Anagram Riddles: Give players anagrams related to Stanford’s landmarks, traditions, or historical figures that need to be solved to receive/unlock the next clue.
Tree Trivia: Create trivia questions about Stanford’s past and present Trees. Correct answers lead to the next clue. Could also make things up…?
- The Disappearing Inventions
- Premise: Prototypes have started disappearing from the school of engineering. Players have to find out who’s behind these thefts and recover the missing prototypes.
- Types of fun:
Discovery – Unfolding the story behind the thefts and the prototypes.
Challenge – Solving complex puzzles to get closer to the thief and the missing prototypes. - Puzzle Ideas:
Science Trivia: Trivia questions about Stanford’s inventions and innovators will lead players to the next clue.
Lab Evidence: Players have to analyze various pieces of evidence left in the labs to find the next clue.
Virtual Lab Tours: Navigating through virtual lab tours to spot differences or anomalies can reveal the next clue. (potential digital component)
- The Secret Stanford Society
- Premise: Rumors of a secret society have swirled around Stanford for years. Now, cryptic symbols have started appearing all around campus. Players must decipher these symbols and uncover the truth about this secret society.
- Types of fun:
Exploration – Players investigate different areas of the university, discovering new locations and their (made-up) history that is linked to the society.
Mystery – The thrill of uncovering the secrets behind the society and its notable members (persis, MTL, etc). - Puzzle Ideas:
Symbol Decoding: Players must decode mysterious symbols to discover clues about the society.
Hidden Object Challenge: Players must find certain objects hidden around the virtual campus, each linked to the secret society, to reveal the next clue. QR codes?