Game Log 1 – Experience

Team members and Roles

Suqi Xiang： Gamemaster & Crafter & Designer

Xu Han : Storyteller & Crafter & Designer

Jiqiang Dong : Artist & Crafter & Designer

Artwalk

The first painting portrays an intense battle scene, with soldiers charging, horses galloping, and smoke engulfing the battlefield. It captures the relentless nature of war, where survival depends on quick reflexes and strategic movements.

The second painting, in contrast, illustrates an assassination followed by an escape. A cloaked rider on horseback is seen fleeing, suggesting that war is not just about open conflict but also involves covert operations and strategic eliminations.

The third painting depicts a warm lakeside landscape with a tranquil house, sparkling lake water, and trees surrounding the scene, providing a sense of comfort and tranquility. The soft tones in the painting seem to suggest a quiet haven, offering a brief moment of peace and respite.

The fourth painting shows a port scene, where many people are saying their goodbyes, preparing to embark on a journey to the New World to start a new life. The overall tone is gray, hinting at sadness and uncertainty about parting. The faces of the characters convey complex emotions, full of expectations for the future and farewells to the past.

Game ideas

Ideation wheel 

EU Value: Freedom, Human Dignity

Game Type: Puzzle,  Anti shooter, Simulation, Rhythm, 

Cultural Heritage: Cultural Gameworlds

Cultural/societal: Remixing Heritage

Culture change 

When designing a game inspired by historical or cultural themes, integrating cultural heritage can create an immersive and meaningful experience. In this case, the game uses letters, artifacts, and historical records as key puzzle elements, allowing players to uncover the true story behind a painting. Players would decrypt and piece together fragmented clues from letters to reveal hidden facts, ultimately leading to the discovery of the painting’s origin, its artist, and the cultural context behind it.

Through a combination of cryptic messages, encoded texts, and symbolic puzzles, players engage in a process of unraveling the painting’s history. Each decryption or puzzle solved takes players closer to understanding the deeper cultural and historical significance of the artwork. This approach creates an emotional connection, encouraging players to not only solve puzzles but also reflect on the meaning behind the artwork.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, players would be tasked with decoding ancient letters or solving riddles that contain clues about the painting. The game could feature puzzles such as matching symbols, deciphering codes, or uncovering hidden messages, each tied to the artwork’s backstory. As players progress, they uncover layers of history and eventually witness the painting’s true narrative unfold.

This method of integrating decryption and puzzle-solving enhances gameplay depth and provides players with a cultural journey, blending intellectual engagement with emotional storytelling.

Culture storming

1. Lost Scrolls

Players stand in front of a real-world table, which in the game transforms into an ancient desk, covered with letters and a diary. They must flip through, read, and decipher these documents, uncovering hidden clues that gradually reveal a lost painting. As the puzzles are solved, the virtual painting begins to appear within a virtual frame. Once fully revealed, AR plays a historical story about the artwork, its origin, journey, and cultural significance.

2. Escape the Battlefield

 In times of war, survival is often the only path to freedom. This game concept focuses on players navigating a war-torn landscape, where they must evade enemy attacks, find cover, and strategically move through dangerous terrain. Inspired by real battlefield survival tactics, the gameplay could include stealth mechanics, quick decision-making, and environmental interactions that help players avoid detection and reach safety.

3. Battlefield Rescue

War is not only about combat but also about survival and humanity. In this game, players take on the role of battlefield medics or rescuers tasked with saving injured soldiers. Through fast-paced yet strategic gameplay, players must assess critical situations, carry wounded allies to safety, and provide medical assistance while avoiding ongoing threats. Inspired by historical battlefield rescue techniques, the game would encourage players to think critically and act quickly to ensure the survival of those in need. 

4. Escape the Silent City

In this game, players control a character within a fixed grid using piano keys. Each key corresponds to a musical note and a specific action, such as moving forward, backward, or interacting with objects. Players collect music fragments by pressing the correct keys, which unlock new paths and restore color to a war-torn city. The game combines music with historical storytelling, using melodies to represent freedom and the struggle for survival, immersing players in a simple yet meaningful experience.