Development Process Blog Post (Game Concept and Design )

Final Year Game Project  Development Process Blog Post

Game Designer: Elunga Mkunde 

Game Name: Lost In Zania

Hi,

My name is Elunga Mkunde. Currently I am in my final year as a game design student at the Technological University of Dublin.

As part of the game design course, we must complete a major game project, which can be done through a group or as an individual.

I have decided to do this game project as an individual for multiple reasons. One is, I want to display the knowledge and practical skills I have learned throughout this course, at a high level. From game production, game design, management, art design, and to 3d modelling. I have managed major group projects throughout the previous years. I felt that I have gained the necessary skills to be able to design and produce a game for my final year project whilst still learning and improving.

I want to excite you with a game idea that has been with me for the last couple of years.

 

    Game Description

Lost in Zania is a short story driven game, that combines genres from RPGs, story driven, adventure, and sports games. It offers a new game design and gameplay experience to players. Where player’s actions and consequences occur in real-time. Throughout the story, players must skilfully interact and overcome difficult situations when encountering or conversing with characters. Game mechanics, like the trust gauge, are implemented to enhance character’s behavioural dynamics, to make each encounter experience feel natural. It is designed with a reactive approach where everything players do influences the game world.

Players are given moments to explore and view the luxurious, grand, and beauty of the restaurant Nafsi na Ladha. Players are rewarded for exploration, as through the restaurant there are hints (papers/ documents) with background information on characters, players can use to their advantage. One being, giving another character the found information to cause conflict between characters.

There are several gameplay ways to locate where David and Matias devices are. Whether by taking a more action-oriented and difficult approach, by causing havoc in free roaming and attempting to not get caught by security. A risky but less action-oriented way, is to skilfully conversate with characters to gain their trust. Another way would be by calling and distracting characters to gain access to strict rooms. Or by combining and layering all the mentioned approaches. Players get to decide what they want to do and how they will do it.

        Setting

Lost in Zania is set in a large luxury restaurant called Nafsi na Ladha owned by Zuwena family. On the coast atop a hill overlooking the sea and the city, in a fictionalised Tanzania. Players will experience the game during a hot beautiful summer evening, in the speed of the night.