When I started this project, I really wanted to make the whole development process much clearer and much more documented, compared to starting with a concrete game idea.
Research & Idea Development
Starting with primary research helped me to explore my interests without having any preconceptions about what game I might end up making. In particular, through my photographs and mood boards, as well as information about artists such as Robert Oxley, Fred Abuga and Hannah Höch, I became interested in paintings, transformations, textures and multiple interpretations of recognisable imagery. Contextual and game research, in turn, helped me figure out how I could implement my ideas and interests in this interactive format. Developing a few concepts helped me understand why the painting restoration concept, in particular, has the most potential for further development.
Experimentation & Prototyping
Creating my own artwork has been very helpful, as it has allowed me to move from conceptualising my idea to experimenting with its restoration and revelation. Developing a physical prototype helped me to simplify the gameplay to focus on what I consider to be the best part of the idea – the feeling of gradual discovery of the artwork. Testing the prototype with another person has been especially useful, as it has helped me understand the interaction process from a user’s perspective, not just mine.
Developing the Final Direction
In this process, the concept has evolved from restoring paintings to a whole experience that includes a museum, a growing exhibition, and the artworks’ underlying mystery. At the same time, I have been developing the game’s visual and audio style to achieve a painterly, 2D-realistic look with a calm atmosphere and subtle mystery.
What I Learned
It has become clear to me how important it is to show how a game idea has developed over time, not just present the result. Research, experimentation, prototyping, and feedback have helped make my decisions clearer throughout the process. The most important thing I learned is the value of testing ideas as early as possible and basing development on the results. Documenting each step has deepened my understanding of the game and my creative process.
Next Step
My next step is to use all the research and development I have done during this process to create a revised Game Design Document.
This segment contains an audio review^