german below
Outline of the project
Development Status:
Started as a 5th semester-project, in October 2016, and is now in further development.
Started as a 5th semester-project, in October 2016, and is now in further development.
Awards:
Ernas Unheil has won the "Nachwuchspreis: Konzept" (Young talents award: concept) at the "Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2018" (German computergames award 2018). We've also won the Eyes&Ears New Talents Award 2017.
Ernas Unheil has won the "Nachwuchspreis: Konzept" (Young talents award: concept) at the "Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2018" (German computergames award 2018). We've also won the Eyes&Ears New Talents Award 2017.
Engine:
We're using Unity 3D with the Vuforia Plug-In for the Augmented Reality parts
We're using Unity 3D with the Vuforia Plug-In for the Augmented Reality parts
My Position:
Game System Design, Level Design, Narrative Design, Producing, former Programming
Game System Design, Level Design, Narrative Design, Producing, former Programming
Team:
Jessica Bodamer(2D Artist, Environment Design), Lisa Forsch(2D Artist, Character Design), Olga Trinova(2D Artist, Concept Art), joined April 2017 Aileen Auerbach (Programming), joined March 2018 Dominique Borchert (Writing)Coached by our Professors Susanne Brandhorst and Thomas Bremer at the Game Design course at the HTW Berlin
Jessica Bodamer(2D Artist, Environment Design), Lisa Forsch(2D Artist, Character Design), Olga Trinova(2D Artist, Concept Art), joined April 2017 Aileen Auerbach (Programming), joined March 2018 Dominique Borchert (Writing)Coached by our Professors Susanne Brandhorst and Thomas Bremer at the Game Design course at the HTW Berlin
Narrative possibilities and story paths
The Book and the Story
The story begins with the birthday of the player themself, who is the main protagonist of the story. Since there aren't a lot of other children in the neighbourhood, their parents got them a puppy, Oswald. While playing fetch outside, Oswald runs into the creepy house at the end of the street. It is said that a nasty old witch lives in there, so of course, the player has to go and rescue their puppy. Equipped with a magical book, a magic light and the power of their brain, the player goes on the mission to save Oswald and maybe solve another mystery or two.
The Book itself contains beautiful illustrations that let the player explore the story with their smartphone or tablet. But also the pages witch hold texts are adorned with scribbles, that show hints when you use the augmented reality app with it.
As usual for an adventure book there are many ways to rescue your dog or find an early ending that might not be the happiest. Lots of puzzles and challenges await, solving them will get you closer to solving the mystery around Erna's Curse.
As usual for an adventure book there are many ways to rescue your dog or find an early ending that might not be the happiest. Lots of puzzles and challenges await, solving them will get you closer to solving the mystery around Erna's Curse.
Game System, Level & Narrative Design, Producing and some Programming too
My role inside the team has shifted a lot.
When we started the project with 4 people, I was tasked with a lot of parts. I'm still the leading drive behind the Game System Design as well as the Level Design. So I designed what mechanics we would use and how the player can utelise them. I'm also designing the playable scenes including how it fits into the narrative of the game and all the puzzles that can be solved.
The overall story was developed as a group, nowadays I'm leading the narrative and am the go-to person, if someone needs clarification on what is needed in a scene or page. I used to be also the writer, but I have given that over to my colleague, to focus more on the design itself. I'm very happy with working on the design and building puzzles that challenge our target audience without overburdening them.
When we started the project with 4 people, I was tasked with a lot of parts. I'm still the leading drive behind the Game System Design as well as the Level Design. So I designed what mechanics we would use and how the player can utelise them. I'm also designing the playable scenes including how it fits into the narrative of the game and all the puzzles that can be solved.
The overall story was developed as a group, nowadays I'm leading the narrative and am the go-to person, if someone needs clarification on what is needed in a scene or page. I used to be also the writer, but I have given that over to my colleague, to focus more on the design itself. I'm very happy with working on the design and building puzzles that challenge our target audience without overburdening them.
The first prototype was developed by only myself, since Aileen joined I have given the engineering into her capable hands.I'm also the manager/producer of our team, making sure everything gets done on time, clearing up confusion and listening to my team and their needs. Looking where workflows could be optimized, how engineering can be relieved from tasks that could also be done by others and so on. This is also something I very much enjoy.
Projektdaten
Date: 5tes Semester - wird im 6ten weiter geführt
Duration: 4 Monate - 20CP
Engine: Unity 3D & Vuforia
Team: 4(+1) - Jessica Bodamer, Lisa Forsch, Olga Trinova, Talea Sieckmann & Aileen Auerbach
Constraints: Gestaltet ein AR Buch mit der Engine eurer Wahl. Es muss dabei ein Buch entstehen sowie eine App, die das Buch bespielbar macht.
Auszeichnung: Eyes&Ears New Talents Award 2017
Augmented Reality Buch
Die Geschichte des Buches beginnt mit dem Geburtstag des Spielers. Da die Nachbarschaft sehr kinderarm ist, haben seine Eltern ihm ein kleines Hündchen geschenkt. Dieses läuft dummerweise in das geheimnisvolle Haus, von dem gemunkelt wird, eine Hexe lebe darin. Um sein Hündchen zu retten, begibt sich der Leser sofort auf die Suche und durchforstet das alte Haus, ausgerüstet mit einem magischen Buch, das ebenfalls auf dem Geschenketisch lag.
Im Buch selbst befinden sich große Illustrationen und Textseiten, die mit kleinen Skizzen gefüllt sind, welche die Geschichte unterstreichen und zusätzliche Informationen geben. Mithilfe der App können die Seiten abgescannt werden, wobei sich weitere Inhalte über die Skizzen einblenden lassen. Die großen Illustrationen werden ebenfalls in der App geladen, wodurch diese näher untersucht werden können. Abhängig davon, welche Aktionen der Spieler ausführt oder welche Rätsel er löst, kommt er entweder dem Ziel näher, seinen Hund wiederzufinden, oder findet ein unglückliches Ende.
Game System Design, Puzzles, Programmierung & Geschichte schreiben
Zuerst haben wir in der Gruppe den Plot des Buchs geplant und die Spielmechaniken grob erarbeitet. Die Verfeinerung der Mechaniken und Eingaben erfolgt dann durch mich.
In diesem Projekt habe ich im 5ten Semester die komplette Programmierung übernommen, seit April'17 wurde diese Aufgabe von Aileen Auerbach übernommen.
Diese Abgabe erfolgte aus dem Grund, damit ich mich mehr auf die Rätsel und Puzzle, die ich ebenfalls entwickelt habe, konzentrieren kann. Bei den Rätseln achten wir auf Wiederholung der Eingabemechaniken, damit wir Code wiederverwenden können, aber unterschiedliche Gestaltung damit den Spielern nicht langweilig wird. Es gibt versteckte Hinweise zu finden, verschlossene Türen zu öffnen und Geheimnisse zu finden.
Ich arbeitete ebenfalls am Schreiben des Textes, hierbei erhalte ich Unterstützung von Olga Trinova mit dem Aufbau der einzelnen Seiten, sowie Jessica Bodamer beim Korrekturlesen und Verbessern.
Das Projekt wird von Studentinnen (Aileen Auerbach(seit April’17), Jessica Bodamer, Lisa Forsch, Talea Sieckmann und Olga Trinova) des Studiengangs Game Design der HTW Berlin verwirklicht und von unseren ProfessorInnen Susanne Brandhorst und Thomas Bremer coachend begleitet.
