Game Development Project
Objectives
- Create an interactive story that explores prior course content
- Understand how games rely on both rules and narrative experience
- Collaborate in writing and coding
- Reflect productively on the experience and on how games relate to the humanities
Part 1: The Game
For this project, you’ll be working in groups to create a short interactive fiction piece (a game, but within specific limitations) that allows players to experience some content from a prior part of the course. These games should be small – probably no more than a few minutes to play through – owing to how little time we have to produce them.
You should use either Twine (twinery.org) or ChoiceScript (https://www.choiceofgames.com/make-your-own-games/choicescript-intro/) to make these games. You can play through some example Twine games at https://itch.io/games/tag-twine and some ChoiceScript games at https://www.choiceofgames.com/category/our-games/.
All other specifics of the game are negotiable. Be realistic about how much you can accomplish. Make good outlines and flowcharts. Don’t try to create a complex programming situation without the time and energy to resolve it!
Part 2: The Reflection
I’m also asking that you individually write a short (2-3 page) reflection on this process. You should address all stages of the project, from pre-planning to finishing touches, as you discuss the challenges you faced and how you navigated them. Additionally, you should suggest some ways you think games and the humanities are related: is the work you did humanistic work? Are games always humanistic?