In addition to the production mechanism, I’m still thinking about how to add some narrative content. I like playing games as a carrier of literature. The author can express their own thoughts through the content of the game. For example, the research on death stranding (2019). In my previous paper, I made some analysis on its narrative style. The player tells you his story through conversation or email. This created a very lonely world. So when players are willing to watch these contents, they will feel some emotions.
For this end, I contacted my friend Chen, who is a major in Chinese literature and is very interested in writing. I wrote my thoughts on the game narration in the file I gave him. The content of the file contains my thoughts on the content. I didn’t want to have too much influence on his thinking, so I didn’t immediately reveal the mechanism of the checkpoint to him. I hope he can give me more ideas and suggestions without being restricted (if he is constructive).
The following is the contents of the document I compiled for him.
This document is the idea and reference of the initial creation of game narrative content, and gives three game styles as reference from the feasibility.
In terms of big ideas, I hope that our game can focus on narration, which can be a story that sees the big from the small. Just like Cyberpunk’s style reflects the big environment from the microscopic characters. From my personal point of view, I prefer it to be an artistic work that gives players feelings and thoughts. Sex is of course necessary. We can design the appropriate level according to the plot (don’t worry too much about it).
In terms of development cost, we don’t need cost for the time being, because almost everything is done by me. If there is a problem in the procedure that I can’t solve, then I will look for suitable friends for help.
The content of the game can be mixed with many personal ideas or eggs, and you can put elements related to your work in it. This is a good linkage, and it is also conducive to the possibility of various creations in the future. Because this is an almost cost-free creation, we can express it according to our own ideas, so we don’t need too much pressure. I don’t want to make too many restrictions on the plot. It can be any theme, such as Cyberpunk style that you like very much, or even your previous works that you want to adapt into games. I will design the game level according to the plot.
I think the duration of the game can be between 1.5 and 8 hours, which is controlled according to the difficulty. It will be clearer after reading the following game cases.
Style 1: Crossboard Pass
Game: Valiant Hearts：The Great War is a playable image novel. An exciting adventure game with unique atmosphere and artistic style. The elements of exploration, action and puzzle solving are mixed.
Introduction video:https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Xx411J7DL? from=search&seid=4708801313413572069
Advantages of this style:
- Focus on narrative
- Hand-painted style is changeable.
- The game is no less than the conventional operation-oriented game, and contains a large number of decryption elements.
- The development difficulty is moderate, the workload is mainly concentrated in fine arts, and animation can be used instead of programming.
Style 2: RPG (Narrative Direction)
Game: To The Moon, Detective Fog.
“To The Moon” is a pixel-style RPG mobile game transplanted from PC platform. It doesn’t have gorgeous pictures, amazing actions and rich game systems, but it abandons the traditional fighting upgrade and explains a beautiful love story for players. (This game uses a very simple game engine rpg maker, which greatly reduces the development difficulty, abandons the turn-based fighting of traditional rpg games and focuses on narration, which can be said to be a perfect RPG masterpiece)
Introduction video:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV18J41197yv?from=search&seid=8162825993156514420
The Cyberpunk version of Fog Detective’s Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, with its fantastic urban scenery and a sense of presence in the marketplace, is above the level of narrative and puzzle design in the same type of independent games.
Introduction video:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1A84y1c7ca/?spm_id_from=333.788.recommend_more_video.-1
Advantages of this style:
1. You can also focus on narration.
2. Pixel style has strong plasticity.
3. It is highly playable, can be interspersed with various game elements, and can be made into a semi-open world.
Style 3:
Game: Stanley’s fable, novice’s guide
Evaluation documents:
https://www.gamersky.com/review/201510/674017.shtml
Stanley’s language introduction video:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Va4y1i7eX/?spm_id_from=333.788.recommend_more_video.7
Novice Guide Game Video:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV18s411v7gW/
Focusing on the expression of self-thoughts, meta game can always make people feel unexpected novelty.
Organized by yanci
8.10
I have compiled some contents for chen that I think are worthy of reference. I hope he can create a script for the game. According to the script, I can adapt it into a complete game. Chen and I have a very congenial interest in literary works. We are all fascinated by science fiction works. I expect him to create interesting works. Look forward to his reply.