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Project: Game Jam
Development Time: One Week
Software: Unity, Krita
Role: Narrative Designer, Game Designer, Artist
Synopsis: Once Upon A ___ is a narrative-focused puzzle platformer where the words of the story serve as the surface you walk on. Play as a young Prince trying to rescue your sister from a terrifying dragon while coming to recognize that the stories you're telling yourself may not be true.
Story As Gameplay
So the warrior listened to the monster’s talk of malice.
“I will consume you alive,” his enemy said. I will not let this anger
leave me, so forsake your peace.”
So the warrior listened to the monster’s talk of peace.
“I will leave you alive,” his enemy said. I will not let this anger
consume me, so forsake your malice.”
In this project, I crafted sentences that both told a story and served as gameplay.
To do this, I focused on words with multiple meanings, crafting sentences that could work in the context of different combinations. This design reflected the protagonist's headspace as his perception of the world changed.
Story
Inconsistencies within the story hint at a larger story that the player must uncover.
Rather than the hero being generic prince trying to save a princess, he is young boy whose sister is battling cancer. This game serves as a peek into the child’s imagination as he struggles to cope with the situation.