Narratives for Interaction Sharing: Firewatch

Firewatch is an indie adventure game developed by Campo Santo. You took on the role of Henry who decided to take on the job as a fire lookout in the woods to get away from the hectic city life after his wife passed away. His only contact with the rest of the world is Delilah, his supervisor. Strange things begin to happen during his work which forced him to investigate. Throughout the investigations, he will account various challenges, and you must make decisions based on his interpretation of the situation. 

I feel that one of the reasons that draw me to Firewatch is its game environment. I love the art style of the gaming environment. The natural surroundings that you are in are well crafted and feel immersive. The realism in the surrounding light during a different time of the day is an impressive part of the game. The sounds of nature such as the sound of running water, birds chirping, wind howling and the rustling of leaves all add on to the realistic and inviting feel of the game. It makes you feel that you are in the wild interacting with nature. The attention to details and the effort put in creating the overall immersive gaming environment engage you. It makes you want to explore the places around you and discover new things. The game brings joy in seeing new places and gives many incentives for you to set into the unknown.

Henry’s relationship with Delilah is also another area of the game that interests me. I feel that the use of walkie-talkie as the primary form of communication between the two characters is refreshing. Through their conversation over the walkie-talkie, they slowly and patiently build up their trust and understanding with each other. The lack of face to face communication did not affect their relationship which I feel is very intriguing. The conversions between them are also personal and down to earth. It also allows you to build a personal understanding and connection with them. Over time, it makes you feel that they are people you know. The sentimental values created by the human conversations will trigger the emotional side of you.

Overall I feel Firewatch is a great first person adventure game. It prompts you to explore and discover new territories through creating meaningful interactions with the gaming world. The character development is fantastic. With merely the communication over the walkie-talkie, it allows you to feel engage in the connection between Henry and Delilah. It is a game worth playing and spending your time on.

Narratives for Interaction Sharing: The Train

The train is a simple yet interesting text based interactive web story. The story is about you having a date with a girl, and you have to find your way home. In the beginning, the girl you have a date with will take to you to destiny. When she leaves, you have to find your way home through making a series of choices in which will affects the outcome of the ending. There is a total of ten different endings for the players to explore. This interactive project showcases the power of storytelling. Through using purely text, it can engage the player to go the entire flow of the story. It also creates curiosity within the players which make them replay the interactive story to discover the other different endings. 

This is the link for the website:

https://herringblue.github.io/content/train/index.html

Narratives for Interaction: Documentation and Progress XI

PROJECT OCCUPATION

Goh Cher See | Nicholas Makoto | Zhou Yang

These are the scenes for the ending of the game. It will consists of a final event which will provide the player with three choices. Each choice will leads to a different ending. There will be three different endings in total. 

Narratives for Interaction: Documentation and Progress X

PROJECT OCCUPATION

Goh Cher See | Nicholas Makoto | Zhou Yang

*UPDATE*

These are the trial scenes for our game project. These scenes tell the story of how sook ching was being carried out. We want to show the fear and uncertainties it created during that period. It also shows the moral dilemma the main character had to go through when faced with people he had a personal connection with.

 

Narratives for Interaction: Documentation and Progress IX

In game narrative content

Goh Cher See | Nicholas Makoto | Zhou Yang


The transition from the main game page to chapter one game page:

Dialogue:

This is the first time I am holding a gun. I was given a rifle along with my friends. We were trained to shoot and take cover from enemy fire. With a few days, we were sent to the front. We thought together with the British; we could protect our family from the Japanese.

We were wrong.

I miss them.


Content for chapter one

Introduction:

On the 8th of December 1941, with the major world powers engaging in power struggle throughout Europe, the Japanese took the opportunity to expand its empire through fighting various battles in an effort to drive out the white colonial master from Asia.

Photo 1: The push

In merely 55 days of fighting, the Japanese Imperial Army drive the British Empire forces down the Malay Peninsular for over 600 miles.

The war was at our doorstep.

Photo 2: Battle for Singapore

After suffering a series of defeats, the British finally realized that they are fighting an army that is at least on equal footing with them.

Photo 3: British surrendering

15th February 1942, after more than a hundred years of colonial rule over Singapore, British surrendered unconditionally.

Photo 4: Japanese marching into the city

For those left in Singapore, what lay ahead was over three years of pain and suffering.

Photo 5: Plan to capture all Chinese rebels

The Japanese want to get rid of all its anti-Japanese elements in Singapore as they did not want guerrilla activity. They wanted to ensure the Chinese community was subdued.

Photo 6: Sook Chin

All Chinese male above the age of 18 must report to detention centers for mass registration. There were supposed to be no exceptions. There were 250,000 men on the island during the Japanese Occupation. For many, this was their final journey.

The massacre that history would call Sook Chin had just begun.


Transition from chapter one game page to chapter one game play

Dialogue:

When the Japanese came to Singapore, everyone was afraid. They ordered all the Chinese from the Chinese communities to report to them. My dad and went with his neighbors. The other people from the neighborhood went with them as well.

I never saw my dad again.


Main game play

Dialogues for character interaction


Character 1

Name: Tan Jiao Ming

Age: 23

Occupation: Warehouse labourer.

Family background: The eldest son of his family. He lives with his parents. Two siblings: a younger brother and sister.


TJM (Tan Jiao Ming): Please let me go! I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m innocent. Please.

T (Traitor): We shall see. Are you part of the Delta force member?

TJM: No, I’m not! Please let me go.

T: STOP LYING!!! (1) * Fine, we can sit here all day until you tell the truth. (2)

TJM: I am telling the truth. Please. I did not take part in the war. Please let me go.

T: ADMIT IT NOW!!! (1) * It is time to tell the truth. (2)

TJM: I really know nothing of the Delta force. Please let me go. I beg you. Please.

T: Are you kidding me? Letting you go? A rebel to the Imperial Japanese Army? (1) * You have to give me something so I can let you go. You understand me? (2)

TJM: You have to believe me. I did and know nothing. Please let me go. I’m begging you.

T: TELL THE TRUTH NOW OR I WILL KILL YOU!!! (1) * You have to give me something. (2)

TJM: Please…I really know nothing about the Delta force. Please let me go home. Please…

T: Take him away. He is one of them. (1) * He can go. (2)


Character 2

Name: Ong Jia Yan

Age: 35

Occupation: Business man.

Family background: Married. Five children: three boys and two girls.


OJY (Ong Jia Yan): What do you want from me? I know nothing.

T: Are you sure? (1) We shall see about that. (2)*

OJY: …

T: Keeping quiet is not going to help you. (1) Tell me what you know. (2) *

OJY: Please just let me go. I seriously know nothing. I wouldn’t be of any help to you.

T: You better tell me what you know. Or else… (1) Mr Ong, I am sure you have a family. It will be pretty sad if anything happens to them. (2)*

OJY: What do you want from me? Please do not hurt them.

T: Why don’t you start by telling me things that I want to know? (1) They will be fine if you tell me what you know. Surely your family is more important than anything else. (2) *

OJY: …

T: Come on Mr Ong, I don’t know how long more I can keep up with this. (1) Come on Mr Ong, think about your family. Just by telling us where those rebels are operating, you can go home with your family and get protection from the Imperial Army. (2)*

OJY: I don’t know much… but I know one of their operating bases is located at the warehouse near the dock. They stored weapons and supplies there.

T: Tell me more! You definite know more than you say! (1) Anything else you want to tell me? I don’t think that is enough to keep your family safe.

OJY: …

T: TALK!!! (1) …(2)*

OJY: Their main operating base is located underground in one of the farms opposite the river bank. The exact location I’m not too sure. That’s…that’s all I know. Please do not tell people that I told you about all these. That’s all I know. Can…can I go now?

T: Take him away. (1)  You may go now. (2)*


Neighbour 

Name: Yan Hong Yi

Age: 45

Occupation: Postman

Family background: The father of three children, two girls and a boy. His wife died two years ago due to malaria.

He lived next to your house and you went to regular fishing trip with him from time to time.


YHY (Yan Hong Yi): Ah Huang is that you?

T: Mr Yan, please know where you are now. (1)* Mr Yan had being a while since we last met. (2)

YHY: Why are you working for the Japanese? What will people think of you?

T: I don’t care. Just tell me anything you know about the rebels. (1)* I don’t have a choice. You think I want to do this? (2)

YHY: I don’t know what you talking about.

T: Mr Yan this is for your own good. If you do not co-operate with us, I’m afraid I can’t protect you from the Japanese (1)* Please Mr Ong tell me something so I can help you. (2)

YHY: What are you talking about Ah Huang? Do not forget you are a Chinese yourself. How can you expect me to help the Japanese?

T: Come on give me a break. Helping the Imperial Army is the only way to survive. (1)* I will guarantee protection for you and your family if you provide me with information. (2)

YHY: I got nothing to offer. And even if I did, I will rather die than tell you. Betraying your own people. You will meet with no good end.

T: Take him away. (1)* (Only left with the “Take him away” option)


Childhood friend 

Name: Xia Han

Age: 25

Occupation: Factory Worker

Family background: The second eldest child in her family. She lives with her father. Her mother died of malaria two years ago. Three siblings: two younger brothers and one elder sister.

She is your childhood friend. The two of you used to play together back in the earlier days. She told you she wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

XH (Xia Han): Peh Huang!?

T: Xia Han, do you know why you are here? (1) …(2)*

XH: What are you doing here? Why are you working for the Japanese?

T: That is none of your concern. Please answer my question. (1) I don’t have a choice. I must protect my family. (2)*

XH: What will people think of you? How will your family cope with you as a traitor to the people?

T: Just answer my question! (1) I don’t care what people think of me. My family is what matters to me.

XH: Please, Peh Huang you need to stop doing things for the Japanese.

T: I don’t think you understand the situation here. (1) How? I can’t just stop. It is the Imperial Army you are talking about.

XH: Huang, do you have any idea the harm you are doing to the people? Do you have any idea?

T: I don’t care. That’s nothing I can do. (1) I know. But what do you want me to do? Do you think I want to do this? (2)*

XH: Huang being a traitor is not going to save you and your family in the long run. They will ask you to do more and more. And that’s when you will see the true colours of the Japanese. You need to find a way to get out of this.

T: Please shut up. I don’t want to hear all these. (1) Han, please… (2)*

XH: Huang we know each other for so long. I know you are not a bad person.

T: I don’t want to hear any of these. (1) Please stop. (2)*

XH: Huang please…

T: Take her away. (1) I am going to let you go. Please stay safe. (2)*


Transition from the end of chapter one page to chapter two game page

Dialogue:

They were, I think some spies for the Japanese. They started going around and pointing out people. The people that were pointed out were told to stand up. There was this man in his fifties who was my neighbor. He was pointed out, and he stood up. When no one was looking, I signaled to him to sit down. Those that were standing were put in lorries and sent away.

They have never heard again.


Credits

My father provided the Chinese who were fighting against the Japanese in mainland China with money through buying of bonds. He hid them on the roof of the house. During the sook chin operation, the Japanese managed to find the bonds, and he was arrested, I don’t know how it was discovered. Someone must have told them. The soldier arrested him and took him away.

We never saw him again.

 

Narratives for Interaction: Documentation and Progress VIII

PROJECT OCCUPATION

Goh Cher See | Nicholas Makoto | Zhou Yang

Project Occupation Game Art

We have completed the game scene to the point whereby the traitor will be faced with moral dilemma of interrogating people that he knows.  

Updates:

We are still having problems with the gaming mechanics in terms of coding. For demonstration purpose, we are planning to use scripted scenes to explain our game flow if we are not able to resolve the issues before the final presentation.

At the same time we are also working on the narrative content of the game. We are trying to include first hand accounts by witnesses to give the game a more personal connection with its players. We will also be adding in bits of stories that led up to Sook Chin to give enough information for the players to have a clearer understanding of the event. 

Narratives for Interaction: Documentation and Progress VII

PROJECT OCCUPATION

Goh Cher See | Nicholas Makoto | Zhou Yang

Project Occupation Game Art

Opening scene

 

Main game page

In game scene

Main game play scene

Narratives for Interaction Sharing: Wolf Among Us


The Wolf Among Us is a fascinating narrative game developed by Telltale Games. It is the same game developer that produced The Walking Dead. It brings the players through various adventure and thrilling experience with the main character, Bigby Wolf.

I love the art style produced by Telltale Games. There is no fancy graphic or computer animation, just pure story book graphic style presentation. It creates a mysterious feel for the game and makes the players feel they are going through a story. It blends perfectly with the story that is going to unfold before the eyes of the players.

A huge bulk of the game involves interacting with in-game characters through Bigby Wolf. The things that Wolf said to them is going to affect how they react to him in the future. The decisions Wolf does will also influence the outcome of individual events. I feel that this is one of those games that you will spend hours trying out the different options for the interaction portion to discover different outcomes. The engagement aspect of the game is immersed. The players will feel that they are part of the game, part of the story. They have a personal connection with the in-game characters and feels that the choices they made matter.

 

Narratives for Interaction: Documentation and Progress V

PROJECT OCCUPATION

Goh Cher See | Nicholas Makoto | Zhou Yang

We were looking into the presentation of the story for the game. Due to time constraint, we are looking for a more efficient and concise way to tell our story to our players. We want to bring our message across to them in the shortest possible time so that the game flow will not feel draggy. 

The introduction portion of the game will be cut short. We feel that we do not have enough time to refine the story line to provide a good story telling experience for our players. Therefore, we look into alternative. 

We decided to tell the story through the medium of a file that keep track of the incident. Different parts of the game will be from the different parts of the documents. This is to emphasis the narrative element of the game. The game will be made up of memories kept in the document and unfold right in front of the players. 

This is the finalized game flow of our game. 

The different sound required for the different scenes in the game. 

The key scenes in the game.

Moving Forward:

With the game flow finalized, we will be focusing on materializing the game. The main problems we have is with game mechanics. We are have difficulties in getting in game interaction to run. But we are getting help from gaming forums and relevant people.