Illustrator // 2D/3D Art // Game Design // UI/UX
Mail Game Documentation
ARTG 145 - Non-Digital Game Design
Creating the game.
Going into this project, I was very excited to create the games and let the fate of the post-office become an element of the game. The two games I worked on and sent used the format of chain-mail. The idea was to play the game then forwarding it. Originally I wanted to create a game every recipient takes a turn in the game and then forwarding it, but I felt that it would be more worthwhile doing it in a longer period of time like a year rather than several weeks. So instead, it was a game where a new game starts with recipient and they can look back at previous gameplay.
The 2 games I created, I wanted to make something that was easily integrated into everyday life and added 'flair' to it. One had the player go on an 'adventure' while the second has the player create a movie like setting.
Additionally, something about sending physical mail and receiving them bings a sense of joy as it's something that's almost rare nowadays.
"Everyday Adventure"
The first game that was sent out unfortunately got lost along the way. The game had the player pick out an item and it would be their chosen "weapon" of the day. The player will then create a small character sheet that consists of them drawing their character holding their weapon. Afters they will go one about their day, "conquering" it like going on an adventure and using their "weapon" to help them along the way. Problems solved throughout the day will be through the eyes of the fantasy play.
By the end of the day, on the back of the character sheet, the player will record their adventure(their day) and write down advice to the next adventurer. The player can also write down a quest for all the next players to follow.
It was quite sad that the game got lost as I was excited to see all the recorded adventures, though in the end, it created an interesting outlook.
It made me wonder how each adventurer's journey went. Each adventure conquered though each lost to oblivion and can no longer be discovered. Like history that was never record or has been destroyed, we might never learn or find it.
No written record.
"Playlist"
In this game, the player creates a playlist that acts like a movie soundtrack for a specific movie genre. For example it could be a horror soundtrack, slice-of-life, action, fantasy, etc. The soundtrack they created will be the only one they can play and listen to throughout the day and the goal is to finish the whole playlist. Afterwards they can repeat it. Players are also able to switch to a different song on the playlist depending on the mood to better fit the situation. At the end of the day, players will reflect on their day and what kind of adventure they felt they had or envisioned as they went through their day.
When I created the game, I hoped that the player could imagine themselves has a movie character and the music helps aid them in their imagining of their "adventure"/movie scene throughout the day.
I wish more people were able to receive this game as it would be very interesting to see wha they create and how they felt about their creation. As music is an important element of everyday life, I wanted to create a game that's easily blended in to our normal routines.
One player who did receive and played the game used the playlist to help with homework. The slice-of-life genre they went for helped create a relaxed peaceful atmosphere. Usually they would listen to any music that pops up but having to create a playlist and listen through it was an interesting experience for them.