In this semester, we carried out group homework, I was lucky to score very friendly and excellent teammates, we divided the division of labor and began to work on our own.
I worked on this part of the narrative in my team, and I’ll tell you about all the work I’ve done so far.
Ⅰ
This is the basic story line and overall outline of our game
In our story design, we referred to the Western mythological story, Oedipus, a typical tragic figure of fate in the history of European literature. He was the son of Laius, the king of Thebe, and Jocasta, the queen of Thebe in Greek mythology. Unknowingly, he killed his father and married his mother.
The aim is to make this case more confusing. To achieve a more unexpected story and outcome, a more unusual one must be employed.
- And the plan that our group discussed together and the overall direction of the game
This is a timeline of an entire story line
Ⅱ
We have made time planning and made a rough schedule. I hope we can go smoothly!
And, of course, a time planning exercise that we did.
Ⅲ
In the next step, I wrote about how the player interacts with the objects, interacts with the scene, and makes associations and judgments that the player will make during some critical thinking.
This is a letter from Laura to Rose.
In the story I set up, Laura felt more guilt and self-reproach towards Rose. She didn’t blame Rose and still loved her. However, she couldn’t accept that Rose was trapped in such a wrong direction. Therefore, she believed that only by opening her heart could she bring Rose back on the right track, and only her own death could remind Rose that this was wrong.
As well as what the player’s reasoning is at the end of the game and what the outcome will be.
Ⅳ
We divided ourselves into game programming, because no team member in our group was good at programming, but happily, all of us were willing to learn, so I believe we can do our best.
Therefore, in my part, I chose the software recommended by the teacher, and after discussion with my team members, we would do the general editing in a computer, and I was responsible for writing the code.
Ⅴ
In addition, I also tried my best to make and design animations, for example, I designed animation characters and drew animation storyboards.
Ⅵ
In the game, I and Suri write various texts and dialogues
SCENE Before Looby:
Narration:
: 24, March, 1960
Alex
: Is this the motel?
: Apparently, this place is empty of guests. {wc}
But it didn’t look entirely abandoned.
: The appliances here are still powered by electricity. So, at least one person with a key still lives here.
: I should look around.
SCENE Looby:
Light
Alex
: The light is on. Someone should be nearby.
Looby Table
Alex
: The drawers at the reception counter seem to be locked.
Chair
Alex
: This chair is the only one still being used.{wc}The other chair was already covered in dust.
Tea Cap
Alex
: There was only a cold cup of tea on the table. Obviously, there weren’t a lot of guests.
Stairs
Alex
: The lobby seems to be empty.
: Maybe I should go upstairs to see if any guests know where the managers are.{wc}Only if there are still guests here.
Narration
: {s=20}Do you wish to go upstairs?
SCENE Before Hallway:
Alex
: Ugh, it smells like mould all over the place.
: This hasn’t been cleaned in a long time. Does anyone really want to live here?
: Anyways, I should look around.
SCENE Hallway:
Downstairs
Alex
: It’s not yet time to leave, and there’s no one downstairs. I should stay here.
Room 101
Alex
: Is anyone there? Police.
Narration
: … …
Alex
: Nobody responded.
Room 101 After Got the Key
Alex
:Maybe I can use the key to open this door.
Narration
: Do you wish to open this door?
No
: I should ask that ole lady in room 102 some more questions.{wc}She would have known something about this motel.
Room 102
Alex
: Hello? Anybody in the room? Police.
Narration
: … …
The Resident
: What’s the matter?
Narration
: It sounds like an old woman.
Alex
: Good day, Ma’am. I’m looking for the manager of this motel. {wc}
Do you know how to get in touch with them?
Narration
: … …
The Resident
: I know what you are looking for. {wc}Take this.
Narration
: A key passed through the crevice of the door. {wc}It is engraved with 101.
Alex
: What do you mean, Ma’am?{wc}Could you explain?
Narration
: … …{wc}No one responded.
Alex
: Ma’am?{wc}Well…
: Guess I’ll just have to figure it out myself.
Room 102 After Got the Key
Alex
: Sorry to bother you, but I have some questions I’d like to ask.
Narration
: … …
: It doesn’t look like anyone in there is going to reply again.
Hallway Oedipus Painting
Alex
: I didn’t expect such a shabby hotel to have such classic and gorgeous oil painting.
: What’s this painting about?
Narration
: Next to this painting is a small label that reads:
: Oedipus.
Alex
: Oedipus? Is that a tragic hero in Greek mythology?
SCENE Before Rose’s Room:
Alex
: The smell of mould in here is even worse than in the corridor outside.{wc}It has been a long time since anyone’s opened this door.
: What did that lady mean? Why did she say she knew what I was looking for?
: … …
: Well, I’d better focus on the clues in this room for now.
SCENE Rose’s Room:
Alex
：Ugh, it smells like mould all over the place.
：Anyways, I should look around.
Left drawer
Alex
：It seems that there is something in this drawer?
：It looks like a part torn out of a notebook. Could it be someone’s diary?
：I should take a closer look at what it says.
Narration
：*Note 02* Added to Evidence Bag
Trashcan
Alex
：The bin’s clean… but there’s something in it. Looks like a note.
：I should see what it says.
Narration
：*Note 03 * Added to Evidence Bag
Lamp
Alex
：This lamp is not plugged into a power source.
Right drawer
：These drawers don’t seem to be locked.
：And here’s a piece of paper.
：Huh… a certificate of ownership? For this motel?
：The former owner named Theodore Horton.
：The present Owner is Rose Clark… What?!
：No way. That’s the same name as my mother-in-law.
：Why did Rose buy this place? In 1949? I’ve never heard her mention it before.
：… …{wc}What if it’s just a coincidence… the same name?
：But Rose stayed at this hotel when she was a kid. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence…
：Anyway, I’ll take the deed for now.
Narration
：*Deed to The Motel * Added to Evidence Bag
Sofa
Alex
：Strange… not much dust on this couch. Has someone been sitting here?
Oedipus RoseRoom
：Seriously? Another oil painting? That’s just weird. {wc}What’s this oil painting about?
Narration
：Next to this painting is a small label that reads:
：Oedipus.
Alex
：That name again…Why was the motel owner so obsessed with that Greek character?
：Wait…Looks like there’s something behind the painting…
：There’s a key here. And “Lob” is engraved on this.
：I guess it should mean “Lobby”?
：I remembered there was a locked drawer at the front desk in the lobby. {wc}Maybe this is the key to it.
：I should head back to the lobby once I’ve gone through everything in this room.
Narration
：*Lobby Key* Added to Evidence Bag
Curtains
Alex
：The dust on the curtains was untouched. No handprints, no signs of movement.
：No one had opened them in a long time.
Bed
：It’s just an ordinary hotel bed. The sheets are dusty, like no one’s been here in ages.
Rose Drawing COPY
：It’s just an ordinary hotel bed. The sheets are dusty, like no one’s been here in ages.
：Wait a minute… Something’s wedged in the bed.{wc} What’s this?
：Looks like a drawing of a child. Also… Is that mould or blood on this paper?
：How could there be children’s drawing in this deserted motel?{wc} The painting looks a little dated, too.
：Just in case… I’ll keep this.
Narration
：*Child’s Drawing* Added to Evidence Bag
Go back to Lobby
Alex
：That should be everything of interest in this room.
：Why is Rose’s name on the title deed of this motel? And those notes…
：Laura and Rose must have been here back then. {wc}But what exactly happened? Could Laura’s disappearance be connected to this place?
：Also, Theodore Horton…Why does that name sound so familiar? Where on earth have I heard it?
：There are too many unanswered questions in these clues. {wc}The truth has to be more complicated than it seems.
：But now that I have the key to the lobby, I should head back and see if there are any clues I might’ve missed.
Narration
：{s=20}Do you wish to return to the lobby?
Back to Lobby key
Alex
：Nothing in this room seems useful. My only lead now is that key.
Narration
：{s=20}Do you wish to return to the lobby?
SCENE Back to Lobby:
Alex
：The drawer is right behind the front desk. Since no one’s around, I should take a look while I can.
Lobby table
：It’s open. {wc}This is all too convenient. Isn’t is?{wc} It’s like someone wants me to find these things… like I’m being led.
：I had a feeling from the very beginning that Laura’s disappearance wouldn’t be so simple. {wc}But now, things seem to be far more complicated than I expected.
：Anyway, since the investigation has come this far, I’ve got to keep going until I can expalin everything to Jade.
：Let me see what’s in here.
：Yet another key? This place is full of them.{wc} So many secrets… all carefully locked away.
：This key has a name tag…{wc} Basement. Of course. Where else would the real secrets be?
：I remember seeing a small door tucked in the left corner outside the entrance.{wc}If there’s a way into the basement, that’s probably it.
：Time to see what the basement is hiding.
SCENE Before Basement:
Alex
：This’s it.
：I should try and see if this key fits.
Basement Door
：… …
：Well, what else can I say?{wc} Let’s go.
SCENE Basement:
Alex
：This basement doesn’t smell musty. It feels like someone has been cleaning it regularly.
：The place is unusually elegant for a basement. There’s even a record player.
：The oil paintings in the previous room must have also been arranged by whoever owns this basement.
：If someone wanted to commit a murder in a place this secluded, hiding it would be all too easy.
：Good thing I brought some equipment from the station. They might just prove useful now.
：Also, hidden bloodstains can be detected with a UV flashlight.
：Also, hidden bloodstains can also be detected using the UV flashlight.
A-Record Player
Alex
：There’s no company logo on this record, and the production is quite rough. It must be homemade.
：The record player still works… I’d better listen and see what’s on it.
Narration
：{s=20}Do you wish to play the record?
Alex
：I’ve been through this record already.
Yes
Narration
：After a brief stretch of indistinct music.
：A hoarse male voice came through the record player.
？？？
：What better hunting ground than a motel?
：The people who stay here are poor, forgotten, homeless. {wc}No one notices when they go missing.
：In my basement, they’ll finally have purposes. {wc}They’ll be saved.
Narration
：The rest of the recording was unclear.
Alex
：… …
：Of course… that’s why the name Theodore Horton gave me that uneasy feeling.
：He was once a suspect in at least three murder and disappearance cases back in the 1910s. {wc}But he was never arrested due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
：Since no similar incidents happened after 1920, the police saw no reason to keep investigating him.
：Could this place have been his old crime scene? According to the previous land deed, he owned this place until 1949.
：But why would a killer as arrogant as him suddenly stop?
：… …
Narration
：”Record Player” Added to Evidence Bag.
A-Camera
Alex
：A camera pointed at the operating table… I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
：This is the same model as the one back at our forensic laboratory. Even got a microphone wired in for record.
：Someone knew what they were doing, and they made sure nothing was missed.
：The power’s still on. If there’s any film loaded, I can run it through the player along with the audio device.
Narration
：There is one reel of film inside.{wc}The date on it reads 21st, July, 1904.
：{s=20}Do you wish to play the film?
Alex
：If I have other films, I can use these device to watch.
：I have found two films and I should be able to play them using these devices.
Narration
：Which film do you want to play first?
Yes
：The picture on the film is dim. Only one person can be seen, tied to the operating table. {wc}As if something is cutting into their body. {wc}As the scene progresses, the scream grows more and more piercing.
：With a final scream, the film came to an end.
Alex
：… …
：Whoever’s behind this footage has a habit of documenting the whole process.
：There’s bound to be more film reels around. If I can find them, I can bring them over and check for more clues.
Narration
：”Film 21, 07, 1904″ Added to Evidence Bag.
：The picture on the film is dim. Only one person can be seen, tied to the operating table. {wc}As if something is cutting into their body. {wc}As the scene progresses, the scream grows more and more piercing.
：With a final scream, the film came to an end.
Film 1925 Talked Bout Rose
Narration
：In the film, there’s a tall man cleaning something in the basement sink.
：He looked tense and angry, muttering something under his breath.
？？？
：How did that girl open the basement door?
：She must have stolen my keys when I wasn’t in the lobby.
：How could I expect an alcoholic father to raise his children properly?
：Besides, they’ve been behind on rent for ages.
：I should’ve evicted them long ago.
：And if she saw something in the basement… I can’t stay here. It’s not safe anymore.
：The police are already suspicious. Maybe it’s best to stop now before things spiral further.
：It’s a pity that I’m not interested in killing women.
：Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it out of this basement alive.
：Well…
：I saw something in her eyes, something that told me she was a despairing person.
：But there was something else I saw… She’s just like me. A murderer at heart.
：This will become very interesting…
Narration
：The remaining films were damaged.
：Evidence “Film 07, 05, 1925 ” updated.
Film 1926 Laura Last Words
Narration
：In the film, there was a woman appeared severely emaciated, to the point of being unrecognizable.
：Her voice, raspy and fragile, barely left a trace on the recording.
？？？
：My name is Laura Clark.
Laura Clark
：I have been trapped in this basement for a long time.
：I don’t know if this was just an accident or if someone did it on purpose… but I’m out of time.
：I know I’m dying, so if anyone can find this place…{wc}Please tell my husband and child that I love them.
：I know… I failed them again, I failed Rose again.
：… …
：I can’t hold on any longer.
：I’d rather let myself choose the way to end.
：I’m sorry.
Narration
：A long sequence of silent, blank footage followed. Then, after what felt like forever, the film finally ended.
Laura Clark
：A long sequence of silent, blank footage followed. Then, after what felt like forever, the film finally ended.
Alex
：… …
Bed Blood
Alex
：Is this where the victim was killed?
：… …
：The blood has accumulated over time, it’s impossible to date it precisely.
：There are some friction marks along the edge of this operating table, likely caused by ropes that had been tied to it.
Wall Blood
Alex
：Something’s off about this bloodstain. Based on the shape and size, this looks like an adult female’s palm print.
：If a victim had been trying to escape, there would likely be more evidence of a struggle, instead of just one handprint.
Door
Alex
：This killer is arrogant and meticulous, they don’t make mistakes, and they won’t let anyone escape or get out of their control.
：So why are there so many fingerprints on this door?
：It just like someone was trapped inside, and trying to get out…
Small Cart
Alex
：There are signs of frequent use on the scalpel resting on the trolley, and dried blood, too.
：It’s almost certainly a murder weapon.
Trash Can Basement
Alex
：There’s some dirt on the outside of the trash can, but it’s clean inside. {wc}Nothing worth investigating.
B-Record Player
Alex
：There’s no company logo on this record, and the production is quite rough. It must be homemade.
：The record player still works… I’d better listen and see what’s on it.
Narration
：{s=20}Do you wish to play the record?
Alex
：I’ve been through this record already.
Narration
：After a brief stretch of indistinct music.
：A hoarse male voice came through the record player.
？？？
：What better hunting ground than a motel?
：The people who stay here are poor, forgotten, homeless. {wc}No one notices when they go missing.
：In my basement, they’ll finally have purposes. {wc}They’ll be saved.
Narration
：The rest of the recording was unclear
：… …
：Of course… that’s why the name Theodore Horton gave me that uneasy feeling.
：He was once a suspect in at least three murder and disappearance cases back in the 1910s. {wc}But he was never arrested due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
：Since no similar incidents happened after 1920, the police saw no reason to keep investigating him.
：Could this place have been his old crime scene? According to the previous land deed, he owned this place until 1949.
：But why would a killer as arrogant as him suddenly stop?
：… …
Narration
：”Record Player” Added to Evidence Bag.
B-Record Player
Alex
：This clock has stopped working for a long time.
B-Microscope
Alex
：I really don’t want to know what this microscope was used for.
：Anyways, it’s clearly been used a lot by someone. There are scratches and dried blood on it.
B-Sink
Alex
：The sink is covered in bloodstains and deep scratches, like someone was washing off something large… and very sharp
:A number of chemical agents had been placed here. {wc}I couldn’t identify them all, but from the labels and smell, it was clear they were highly corrosive.
B-Box Rope Two Film
Alex
：This box is really light, probably not meant for storing chemicals.
：So why is this box even here? And it looks pretty new, too.
：Maybe I should open it and check out.
Narration
：{s=10}Do you wish to open this box?
Yes
Alex
：There’s a knotted rope in here.
：This knot looks like a noose, and there’s still some blood on it.
：It seems too short to be used for hanging someone. Besides, there are no beams in this room.
：Then what is this used for?
：Also…
：There are two films in here, with different dates.
：I can use that camera over there to play the films and match the dates with the audio device to watch the full footage.
Narration
：”Knotted Rope ” Added to Evidence Bag.
：”Film 07, 05, 1925 ” Added to Evidence Bag.
：”Film 31, 08, 1926 ” Added to Evidence Bag.
B-Book3 Drawing
Alex
：These aren’t books, they’re just two blank notebooks with untouched pages.
：Wait a moment…
：Looks like a drawing of a child. Also… Is that mould or blood on this paper?
：How could there be children’s drawing in this deserted basement?{wc} The painting looks a little dated, too.
：Just in case… I’ll keep this.
Narration
：”Child’s drawing” Added to Evidence Bag.
B-Book2 Note
Alex
：These books are about law and psychology. Looks like the suspect did a lot of homework.
：And… here is another note.
Narration
：”Note 13″ Added to Evidence Bag.
B-Body Blood Floor
Alex
：The floor looks a bit strange under the UV flashlight.
：Judging by the color, it doesn’t seem to be just bloodstains.
：It looks like something has rotted and corroded the floor.
：This kind of discoloration doesn’t happen overnight. Whatever caused it had to be motionless for a very long time.
：What could this be? {wc}Chemicals… or a decomposing body?
Jar
Alex
：Looks like these jars get touched a lot. Fingerprints everywhere.
：And these appear to be human tissues. When I report this to the station, they’ll likely become key evidence for prosecution.
Logo Dedction
Narration
：{s=20}Do you wish to start the deduction?
Final
Alex
：I’ve combed through every corner of the basement.
：Clues have surfaced where there was only confusion before.
：The mystery of Laura’s disappearance is starting to unravel.
：I think I’ve gathered enough to make my final deduction. Once the pieces fall into place, I’ll tell Jed everything.
Narration
：{s=30}The deduction stage is about to begin.
：{s=30}Once you enter, there’s no turning back, and no more reviewing the evidence.
：{s=20}Do you wish to start the deduction?
Final No
Alex
：I’d better review the contents of my evidence bag again. There could be a clue I’ve overlooked.
Final
Alex
：Hello? Jade, it’s me.
：I’ve made some progress on Laura’s case.
：But…{wc} There are still a few things I can’t explain…
Ⅶ
I also did some in-game UI design, such as: dialog box and small element design. And the animation production part of the interface UI.
This is the logo I designed for our game. It refers to the design of the Sherlock Holmes series and uses the silhouette of the protagonist Alex for the main design. Among them, the white trees and branches extend to the area of the brain. The branches are the dead trees beside the house in the main interface of our game. The branches pieced together form a shape similar to a heart, representing the rich and distorted emotions contained within, and also to attract players to play the game.
This is that UI animation, aiming to create a feeling that the TV is constantly flickering and twitching, giving it a more old-fashioned and retro feel.