P2 Checkpoint 1 Team 21 Group Submission

 

 

 

Intro to Our Game:

In the depths of a mystical forest, where ancient trees whisper secrets and shadows dance with magic, a solitary crow hatches from its egg, destined for a remarkable journey. As the first light of dawn filters through the canopy, the crow’s plaintive cries echo through the woods, attracting the attention of a mysterious figure cloaked in shadows—the witch.

Drawn by the plaintive call, the witch emerges from the depths of the forest, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and compassion. With gentle hands, she cradles the newborn crow in her arms, sensing a bond that transcends mere chance. And so begins an unlikely alliance that will shape the destiny of both bird and mage.

As the years pass, the crow grows strong and agile under the witch’s tutelage, mastering the art of flight and honing its keen senses to navigate the perilous landscape of the forest. Together, they embark on daring adventures, exploring hidden realms and uncovering long-forgotten secrets that lie buried beneath the earth.

But as the crow matures, it begins to sense a darkness lurking at the edges of the witch’s magic—a shadow that threatens to consume them both. Haunted by visions of betrayal and heartache, the crow must confront the truth of its origins and the nature of its bond with the witch.

In the game, players will embark on an unforgettable journey through a world of wonder and peril, where friendship and betrayal walk hand in hand, and the bonds of loyalty are tested against the ravages of time. As they guide the crow through soaring skies and shadowed forests, they will unravel the mysteries of their shared past and forge a destiny that defies the darkness closing in around them.

Atmosphere/Tone:

• Adventurous, Fantasy, Intriguing, Mysterious

 

Setting & Characters:

• Forest – the overall backdrop of the whole story. The forest is dense, dark, and mysterious. It is also fantastical, creating a sense of awe.
• Witch’s cottage – where the witch lives, and where the crow has grown up. It is heavily cluttered with ingredients, potions, and many scattered texts of magical origins.
• Crow’s nest – the nest of the majority of the crows in the forest. Heavily territorial and guarded by the crows.
• Black cat – mysterious, secretive, and forewarning. “The witch is not who she seems.”
• Witch – the main human character. Is she evil or good? Some shade of grey? She is very protective of her past and has her intentions guarded.
• Crow – the playable character. He is mischievous, dedicated, and curious. He also has a concrete personality, one might even describe it as human-like

 

 

Plot:

Opening scene: (tutorial)

• hatching egg from the POV of crow
• somehow show fear and/or hunger, vulnerability (chirp for food)
• fall from nest, learn to move, energy bar declines, plop onto ground exhausted
• see the witch, she comes with food in the nick of time
• fade “pass out”, skip to future

Middling scene: 

• witch talks to you and asks for assistance with potion. bring her items from the room. INTRIGUE: why is there poison? transformation potion?

Ending scene:

• Witch is old, crow is the only one to help her, ends up helping her against enemies/loneliness and is with her at the end

 

Type of Narrative, Type of Fun:

Embedded – information is gathered from the items that you inspect in the cottage. There is a mystery surrounding the birth of the crow – somehow the witch was involved and you must figure out what her secrets are.

Emergent – as you play the game, each player may or may not discover all the clues given to solve the mystery. Furthermore, the interpretation of the clues can be variable depending on the player’s interpretation. Is the witch morally good? Evil? You decide.

Discovery – You get to explore the forest and the cottage, learning about the environments and the people that inhabit them.

Narrative – The pleasure of following and completing a story. The story follows the life of the crow and his relationship to the witch.

Challenge – Completion of the tasks and quests that the witch requests of the crow will pose a challenge for the player. You might also run into some adversaries trying to prevent you from completing your quest!

 

Gameplay: How we bring this to life:

• The movement for the main character as well as the design of the world will be modelled after the environments created in a 2d platformer
  • The focus will be on exploration which will be facilitated by the movement mechanics of a 2d platformer, but our goal is not to create a challenging platforming game
• The environment will be created as a series of interconnecting rooms and outdoor areas, similar to the environments created in games like Stardew Valley or Hollow Knight
• The main mechanics other than movement will help tie in with this exploration
  • Inspecting: our main character can inspect various objects and places
    • This includes talking with other characters
  • Holding and using items: our main character can collect items as they play the game that can be used to either further explore other areas, or provide the player with choices during key moments in the story

 

Individual Posts:

Hamidou:

P2 Team 21 Individual Checkpoint Hamidou Guechtouli

 

Tenzin:

Checkpoint 1 – Individual deliverables

Manas:

 

P2 Checkpoint 1 Individual Deliverable

 

Jasmine:

Checkpoint 1: Individual Contribution

 

Emily:

Checkpoint 1: Individual Contribution, Emily Macias – The Mechanics of Magic