In the first week, we conducted a brainstorming session using the “Verb + Noun + Adjective” formula; starting with emotions, we let our ideas branch out to conceive interesting combinations that could form the basis of a game.
Brainstorming · Fear
Next, participants brainstormed verbs, nouns, and adjectives based on a specific emotion. These ideas were posted on the wall, and the group then selected one of each—a verb, a noun, and an adjective—to combine for a brainstorming session.
Game Ideas
Verb + Noun + Adjective
Use the combination methods above to quickly brainstorm and build the game. These are the three ideas that come to my mind quickly.
Pictures of my notes:
I drew some inspiration from this game—The Stanley Parable.↓
The Stanley Parable is a first-person narrative game set in an empty office. The player receives instructions from a narrator and can choose to either follow or disobey them, which changes the story and leads to different outcomes.
I chose this game as a reference for Swear + Boss + Empty because both games focus on workplace authority, absurd instructions, an empty office, and the choice between obedience and resistance. I especially want to reference how The Stanley Parable turns disobedience into a gameplay mechanic.
In my game, the player receives increasingly absurd tasks from an unseen boss while coworkers gradually disappear. The player can obey, refuse, or swear at the boss, while searching for clues, finding the boss, and eventually escaping the company.
I drew some inspiration from this game—Dave the Diver.↓
The game Dave the Diver provided me with gameplay inspiration: players explore the town in the morning to gather ingredients, then return in the evening to use those ingredients to cook for a mysterious stone statue.
My inspiration↓
for this game came from Spirited Away and the SCP Foundation. However, my concept shifted significantly during the later stages of development. For instance, while I initially intended to focus on containing ghosts, I eventually decided to create a more heartwarming game where malevolent spirits help fulfill wishes.
Game Ideas · Presentation
Classmate Feedback
Based on feedback from classmates and teachers, I gathered the following key points:
- They are very interested in my second project (FEED + GOD + HUNGRY).
- They believe the game could be developed into a title with a strong narrative focus.
- At the same time, they are curious about how the game would be implemented, given the seemingly massive workload involved.
These are also things I need to think about later.
Personal Development with Ross
Things I’d like to do this semester—
AI & Translation Tools
Google Translate and Youdao Translate were used to support translation.