Fall and Rise Development Blog

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Interactive Narrative

Jamie Cleland

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Overview

I am designing an interactive point and clip game that heavily focuses on narrative. I will be using a number techniques and softwares in order to complete this task. My main aim to concentrate on the on developing the story of the game and make that as engaging as possible for the audience. I will be using a large selection of softwares in order to complete this objective, including Photoshop, Audition, After Effects, Logic Pro X and the Unreal engine.

My initial idea is to create a 2D sidescroller, that has a point and click control style to it. I personally prefer this kind of art style and it suits my skills in drawing well. I did consider doing 3D or even 2.5D but I decided against it as a lot of my assets are being created and I feel more comfortable with using 2D. Further on down the line I want to try and create a media object that is 3D.

Goals/Schedule

Goal Location Equipment/Software

Details Completion/Date

Create a sound bank

Uni - Home - Recording Studio

Mac/Computer - Logic Pro X - Audition - Blue Yeti Pro (mic) - Pop filter -

I feel that with any media project audio and sound is very key aspect that is sometimes overlooked. I want to create and record a number sound assets for my game to bring in an extra

21st Jan - Yes I have managed to either record or acquire sound assets that I have edited within Audition. I am fairly happy with the amount of sound assets I got but I didn't manage to go

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sense that the creates a better feeling of realism for the audience.

out and record my own ambient sounds.

Create a sound Track

Uni - Home Logic Pro X - Audition

I have a large library filled with song I have already created to this date. I have chosen a song I made a year or so ago that fits the theme and pace of the game.

10th Dec - Yes I am happy with the options I have with songs I have previously created.

Create a cutscene for the start of the game.

Uni - Home - Recording Studio

Mac/Computer - Logic Pro X - Audition - Blue Yeti Pro (mic) - Pop filter - After Effects - Photoshop

To help enhance the narrative of my game I felt as if it was vital to create an opening cutscene. This was a very lengthy process that required a lot of different softwares, equipment, time and voice actors.

24th Jan- Yes I recorded my final piece of audio within the recording studio I booked out and incorporated it with the animation I made within Photoshop and After Effects.

Create concept art

Uni - Home Mac/computer - Photoshop - Pencil and paper

At the starting process I conducted a lot of research about how viking looked and acted. This was important

13th Dec - Yes I have done a number of sketches to help me process ideas for art for my game.

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to ensure I captured the feeling correctly. I decided to go to the old fashioned way by drawing sketches of environments, characters and items.

Creating Graphics

Uni - Home Mac/Computer - Photoshop

I have been struggle to create artwork that I am happy with. My 2D cartoon skills are not as polished as I would like.

20th-Jan No I can't seem to quite produce the quality of art I was hoping to achieve. At this point I am considering to find assets online and put them together for my game.

Importing Asset Into A Game Engine.

Uni - Home - Mac/Computer - Unreal Engine

I have started creating basic blueprints in order to get the basics of my game started.

Dec 22nd - No I have started the Process of putting my game together but haven't quite managed to complete it.

Script For Opening Cutscene

Fade in:

EXT. Viking Village Of Toft (opening cutscene)

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In the centre of Toft a small but well established village chaos ensues as Hakon addresses the audience.

Hakon: A once Viking chief Hakon looks tired and grizzled from battle, looks straight into the camera to address the audience.

Hakon

My name is Hakon, a once thriving war chief. I was recently stripped of my title due to what I can only describe as an ‘act of the gods’.

A newcomer, who many people call The Prophet, recently entered my lands with nothing but ill intent for me and poisoned my people’s minds against me.

He corrupted them into believing that I was a bearer of evil that would plague Toft, our village, and our people.

I'm not sure how he managed this feat - and I don't much care - all I know is that some dark magic is at work here.

Because of this, I was exiled from my own land.

But why am I still alive? Surely if the gods thought I was a plague I would be dead. But I am not. I am still breathing.

Maybe this is a test to see if I am worthy of Valhalla.

My name is Hakon Wodan and this my journey to reclaim what is rightfully mine.

Fade out:

Narrative Synopsis

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In this game Fall and Rise you play as Hakon Woden a old chieftain of a thriving village in North Europe mid way through the 9th century.

This changes rapidly however, because of a recent arrival of mysterious man, who people call the “The Prophet”.

Using some form of dark magic he managed to poisoned the people's minds into believing that Hakon was a bearer of evil, who had nothing but ill intent on the village of Toft and its people.

The Prophet used the peoples strong belief in the gods in order to persuade them into believing his lies.

Hakon was exiled from his own lands in order to please the gods and assure peace to the village of Toft.

Filled with anger and dread Hakon goes on a journey of self discovery and ends up finding out more than he bargained for.

He will not do this alone however he will encounter friends and foes on his adventures and maybe even have a little influence from the gods themselves.

Game World

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The world is set in Northern Europe in the middle of the 9th century, but with a fantasy twist. The story of the game gives me great opportunities to get really creative with the areas the player can explore.

The world is fast paced a full of danger, this will be reflected by the art style and music created for the game. The playable level will be within a eerie forest which you must trek through in order to progress with the story.

Game CharactersHakon (playable character) -

Hakon is an exiled chieftain that is filled to the brim with anger and remorse, before he was thrown out of his own lands hes was known as a tough but fair ruler that had the village of Toft’s best intentions at heart.

He has a family consisting of his wife and two sons. He spends a lot of time with his family, when he can that is.

The Prophet (antagonist) -

Not much is known about this hooded character but is very shady and mysterious. He masks his appearance and identity to everyone with a long cloak and hood. His devotion to the gods goes unmatched, as he has devoted his whole life to them.

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