Imagination!

Chapter 2: Conceptualisation

Spawning your imagination

1. Using some of the techniques discussed in this chapter, begin developing a concept for

an original game idea. Discuss the central theme of your idea, and the methods you used

to bring your idea into existence.

An idea I've had for a while of a horror puzzle centred around a weak backpacker who's become separated from his friends when they were attacked by kidnappers. They injected the travellers with a drug to knock them out, but it has hallucinogenic side effects. Now the lost backpacker must decipher what is real and what isn't whilst navigating bushland to save his friends. Each puzzle will have a common phobia as the theme and play on the players fears. To do this I'll need to explore the psychological reasons behind the ir/rational fear and use this information along with the hallucinogenic drug effects to recreate it through abstract puzzles.

2. Create a back story, environment, and three character descriptions associated with your

original game idea. How are these elements integrated and linked through a central

theme?

BackStory: The player plays as Jeremy, a teenager from England who's currently mid way through his course. His body couldn't handle much assertion when he was little, but even after mostly healing it was hard to break out his cocoon of protection so he stayed inside most of the time. He became very smart however fearful of the outside world. He even considered being homeschooled if his parents didn't tell him otherwise. He had few close friends and even though they shared the same interested they were still young and adventurous. During their first semester of university there was much talk of travel and it was decided that during their next end of semester break they'd backpack, much to Jeremy's dismay.

Environment: The dank, dark bushland of outback Australia. The player will need to navigate through forests, rocky areas, wild animals, abandoned houses and whatever garbage that may have been dumped to get to the next stage.

Character Description:

Note: My original idea was for the player to not take the role of a particular character, but to be themselves to allow for better emerge into the game. 

Jeremy: Jeremy is one of those people who fears almost everything. But that's because he knows what it can do to a person. His friends are long used to his 'irrational' scares and tend to make nothing of them. He spends most of his time inside and away from the dangers of the outside world, only leaving for class and the occasional time the friends nag him to hang out with them. There have been many times when he thought he was sick but never was.

Alanna: One of Jeremy's few close class mates, she knows too well of Jeremy's fears. She will try to support him but she's easily influenced by James to have some fun teasing Jeremy then later try and make it up to him. 

James: Jeremy's other close class mate, they really only became friends because of Alanna. James likes to have fun with Jeremy's fears, teasing him and playing pranks. In his mind he's never taken a prank too far. He doesn't like to seem afraid or not in control and will cover it up with jokes. 

3. Document your concept with reference material and original sketches. How did you

capture your reference images? Create thumbnails and silhouettes. Compile these images

into an art “bible” to help guide your vision.

I've taken some inspiration from various 'Lost in a forest/wilderness' horror survival games. For the main characters I just went with some basic travelling attire crossed with what young adults are wearing today. They are still first draft though and will be subject to change. The spiders came from searching Arachnophobia and looking at the art made. 

Concept of Forest and various Cabins/Shacks encountered

First draft concept art of main antagonists

Concept for Arachnophobia areas

EDIT:

I found some awesome Australian Spiders that I have to include in this.

List of references for Spiders: 
Warning! Some images may be disturbing
http://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/sciencecommunication/files/2012/09/Image1.png
http://i.imgur.com/lYG3o.jpg
http://cdn.scahw.com.au/cdn-1ce09c113f0a840/ImageVaultFiles/id_142032/cf_7/Fun-Spider-Sky-Brazil-Erick-628.jpg
http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/012/4/c/arachnophobia_by_cheddarbomb-d370nct.jpg
http://dastafiz.deviantart.com/art/arachnophobia-35427857
http://winstontong.deviantart.com/art/arachnophobia-64852366