Design Process

Game Idea & Central Theme

Reference images for my environment:

Below are many scenic images of Papua new Guinea, these will be used as reference material for my environment.

Culture:

Papua New Guinea hosts more than a thousand different cultural groups, which means their methods of expressing their culture differ in terms of dance, music, weaponry, costumes and architecture.  My fictional race will represent the wide diversity of cultures in Papua New Guinea, divided by the number of different tribes.

Game Genre/Idea:

1.       The player will control one of three characters of a fictional tribe based of the past and current tribes of Papua New Guinea. A strange epidemic has distorted the islands inhabitants’ sanity, turning these people to cannibalism. The player’s objective is to survive the cannibalistic tribes and bring the island back to its previous serenity. As the player progresses through the game and its story, the culprits behind the epidemic are revealed to be a large western organization. The player and its companions naturally resist their attempt at flushing out the tribes and eventually defeating the organization.

2.        The player will control one of three characters of a fictional tribe based of the past and current tribes of Papua New Guinea. A strange epidemic has distorted the islands inhabitants’ sanity, turning these people to cannibalism. The player’s objective is to survive the cannibalistic tribes and bring the island back to its previous serenity. As the player progresses through the game and its story, the culprits behind the epidemic are revealed to be in fact a God once worshiped by the island, forgotten by lack and change of faith. The player must then restore faith in this forgotten God.

After comparing these two ideas, I have decided to go with the Second paragraph.

Theme:

Having faith in what you believe in and remaining loyal are the central themes to this story. The three main characters featured in this game come from the Old Tribe. These people are firm believers of the elder god, the true creator of the island which they inhabit.

Synopsis:

The inhabitants of the island have become cannibalistic, due to lack of faith and disbelief in the true god of the island. The player and its companions must restore faith and save the island. 

Setting:

The central theme for this game will be based on the cultures and lifestyle of Papua New Guinea. This game will predominately feature a tribal, nomadic theme, reflecting upon the people of PNG, distorted with supernatural elements and fantasy. 

The island will be covered in harsh geography such as dense jungles, extremely tall, steep mountains, canyons, deep valleys and broad rivers. With the current religious situation relating back to the storyline, many of the local villages and camps will abandoned.

Context:

Restless tropical island populated by recently turned cannibalistic tribes.  Lack of faith, as well as misguided faith has offended the islands God Urdula, and has dealt punishment through turning the islands inhabitants insane. 

Backstory:

Urdula, a minor God, took on the task of creating a race to worship his Greatness, all in good faith to please his superiors.  For centuries the island Urdula created had been at peace, hosting a wide range of tribes, all devoted to his religion. As the years went by, local tribes drifted off into their own seperate beliefs, creating new Gods in order to replace Urdula, individualizing their tribes. This was encouraged by rivalry, and the disticnt lack of communication across the people who inhabit the island due to its harsh terrain. Urdula, shocked by how quickly his religion was discarded, decided to destroy the island and its people, turning many of the tribes into vicious cannables.  

Pemise:

You play as one of three characters, Voodoo Muaja, Brute Daijam or Hunter Shejara, each posesing a very specific skill set. The neighbouring tribes of your island have been corrupted, turned into cannabals by the local God Urdula. You and your companions seek to restore peace to the island by bringing back faith in the local God.

Storytelling:

When:
This game will be set during the 14th and 15th centuries in a fictional world very similar to earth in terms of geography, land to water mass ratio.

Where:
Set on a tropical remote island inhabited by barbarous tribes, vicious animals and a landscape which hinders communication amongst the different people.

Who:
Three characters, Voodoo Muaja, Brute Daijam and Hunter Shejara who all come from the same tribe of this remote island.

Why:
This fictional island is heavily based upon Papua New Guinea, just north of Australia. This game will be featured in a fictional island similar to Papua new Guinea, as my game is going to take place in a nomadic, tribal environment.

Reference images for my characters:

Character Descriptions:

Three heavily contrasting characters, imitating three major stereotypes from our current era:

Character 1. (Male)

Voodoo Muaja, a ‘voodoo’ geek, drawing inspiration from modern societies stereotypical tech-geeks.  This character will be well educated with their local medicines and medicinal practices, as well as other hexes and charms. 

Character 2. (Male)

Brute Daijam will be a complete contrast to Muaja. This character will lack intelligence, however this set back will be compensated for his extreme expertise in combat. Daijam represents todays ‘jocks’, in a vague sense.

Character 3. (Female)

Hunter Shejara will provide another contrast to the previous characters. Shejara will be a charming, resourceful, agile character with a sarcastic sense of humour and outlook on their world.

All three characters however will share a common personal trait, being loyalty and faithfulness. These two qualities link back to my central theme of having faith and being loyal to the right people. As these three characters are the only ones who express this quality, it is their goal to bring everyone around them to the same position.