This is the final post in a series of posts in conjunction with GAM 550: Incubation Studio, a graduate level course within DePaul University’s MFA Game Design program. These posts will follow my process in incubating a design concept to bolster engagement with performance arts, with a particular focus on how to integrate theatrical practices within digital game spaces.
My time incubating my design concept for a video game played live with actors in the role of NPCs is coming to a close. The rest of the series detailing my entire process can be accessed using these links:
- 5 Chair Challenge
- Design Research Concept
- Stakeholder Interviews
- Empathy Mapping and Personas
- Storyboarding
I condensed my process and findings into a Google slides presentation that can be viewed below:
I presented to a small group of my peers and guest critics, and received some great feedback! To wrap up this process, I would like to recap some of what was shared with me about my presentation and overall design concept:
- I had mentioned venues as potential partners for my live video game experience; a question came up about how I would involve live theater spaces in what would presumably be an entirely digital experience. I have some ideas based in my initial interviews that could involve building a digital version of a specific theater venue, but it’s a scenario that I will definitely have to think more about.
- One guest critic spoke to how the concept I proposed could potentially allow for a different game every time it’s played, as opposed to something like Sleep No More, where everything is pretty strictly scripted. I do want to lean into the opportunity for performing artists in game to improve and take the game in unexpected directions. How to quality control for that type of practice is a much more difficult question to answer!
- Another critic mentioned that she participated in a digital escape room recently, due to the ongoing pandemic taking most things online. She interacted with a character within the provided digital space who gave helpful hints about the puzzles her team was trying to solve to escape, Digital escape rooms could be a great design precedent to look more into for further development ideas.
Thanks for reading!