Synopsis: You begin as a young woman visiting your childhood salon to get your hair braided. The last time you came here was before Auntie Jo passed away. Through your aunties, you find out that the doll she made for you (as a present) is still somewhere here in the salon. Will you take the time to explore why it’s so special to you and uncover the memories?

Media Inspirations:

• Toca Boca Hair Salon 4 (Perspective, item placement and game setting)
• Hair Nah (Artstyle)
• Omori (Overarching Narrative that haunts the protagonist)

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Why this idea?

Since I was a young girl, I’ve been going to either salons, aunties or having my mum braid my hair while I sit there with not much to do for hours. As this experience is a cultural ritual that I don’t see highlighted a lot in games, I wanted to have a conversation with those who may not be familiar with it, as well as those who have also grown up doing their hair in salons and have the activity be celebrated. Hair braiding is also an activity that is incredibly gruelling and strenuous for the braider themself, so they tend to talk to others or watch something while doing it. Something I’ve always been curious about is some of the stories I hear from the braiders – they can be exciting, or gossipy or sad, sometimes even prying into your life if they are particularly nosy. What if the braider said something really important to you, something that you were repressing? That is where the doll comes in.

Main Features

• Narrative Exploration Game; point and click mostly, although you can be idle sometimes.
• Listen to the conversations to find more about.
• Quick time events occur – react accordingly or risk losing a heart.
• Win state is either finishing your hair on time or discovering more about the doll.
• The game over state is when you end up leaving in the middle of the appointment.
• Time runs like Stardew Valley, 10 minutes is about 7-10 seconds.

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Moodboard

The images I chose were based on a general black hair salon experience. Images of different styles to pick from, combs, hair extensions and products scattered around the room, a chatty vibe, walls are a little scuffed, but the place has clearly been loved. This is the look I wanted to give the game. If I were to make it an actual game, it would expand room-wise to have more people in the background, so you can see the activity happening.

The graphical look of the game is very inspired by ‘Hair Nah’ by Momo Pixel, so I would make it in that style of pixel art, possibly, if I were to expand on the room.

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Prototype Progress

Initial blocking out of the character

I knew I wanted to take the art direction of the game as pixel art since its inception. I think it would add to the charm and make it memorable. I started off by going into Photoshop and drawing out the face of the characters using the symmetry tool. I had no guidelines for what I wanted her to look like, just the moodboard I had made prior. I wanted the character to come off as her own person and interesting to look at.

Figuring out the character and setting

Soon, I started to figure out what the character was and her environment. As I continued drawing, the idea of the environment came to me more. After I had played Toca Boca Salon 4 for a little while, it inspired me to use the perspective of the character looking back from a mirror, as it was the best of both worlds – you can see the character as well as see the activity going on in the background. I then started to render some of the objects and surroundings. The items were scaled down to give a pixelated effect that made the items look more detailed.

Final Video

This shows how a simple gameplay loop works. The character is about to enter a win state as the hair is nearly done. However, the true ending is never triggered.

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Essential Experience

The game concepts are based on Trauma, Community and/or Aestheticism. Therefore, the essential experience will learn towards one of these with each idea. This idea leans into Community.

• What experience do I want the player to have?

1. I want the player to feel curious to explore the environment to alleviate boredom
2. I want the player to be immersed in the world, feel like they are in this salon experience
3. I want the player to want to find out why the doll is so important

• What is essential to that experience?

1. The feeling of curiosity, seeing what is more to the game
2. The feeling of boredom will lead to curiosity, and lead the game to become more interesting
3. The bustling life of the salon, the interesting people who go in and out of it

• How can my game capture that essence?

1. Little text bubbles are popping up with interesting conversations
2. Health management mechanic will cause the player to check the surroundings more
3. Background people and characters will be moving around and providing more immersion

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Gameplay Loop

1. The player will begin the game with a fade-in screen – sitting on their chair, shuffling around a bit
2. The braider will ask what style they want – the player can choose from many options and colours (like Hair Nah as well)
3. The game will begin, the health bar and according hair creams/extensions appear
4. The player can sit most of the time to look around and see what to click
5. Hair will be done automatically; you don’t need to click idly.
6. Some quick time events appear; react to them accordingly, or you will lose a heart. Every time you feel pain and lose a heart, the shadow of the doll will appear.
7. Eventually, the conversation around the doll will happen, about 10 minutes into the game
8. The game really starts from here. Choose to repress or discover why the doll means so much to you
9. Game over state is losing all hearts – you walk out mid appointment
10. Game win state is completing your hair appointment (good ending), or discovering what the doll means to you (true ending).

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Audience

I think this game can be accessible to many people, and it is not inherently scary. The target audience is for people who are interested in playing with or learning about this experience, whether they have gone to a black salon or not. While the experience may not be relatable to everyone, I think those who have been to a salon in general may know aspects like gossiping and secrets, so it isn’t completely closed off as an idea.

• There may be some bad language
• Some psychological horror elements, once I figure out what they are
• Aspects of fear

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