![\"RainyDay\"](\"http:\/\/www.joshuarosenstock.com\/teaching\/IMGD3500_A14\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/RainyDay.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTruth be told, \u2018Rainy Day\u2019 is not so much a level of a game as a standalone world designed to tell a self-contained story through the environment and characters in said environment. Through simple choices in the short game world, a small set of outcomes can be reached. The gameplay is largely simple exploration and interaction with the set of npcs along the path of the level.<\/p>\n
The general idea is portray the player on their way back from work, walking in the rain. The character being played is a genderless figure in a raincoat, designed to be a self-insert for the player.\u00a0 The \u2018story\u2019- that the character was fired from work and is left to return home in the rain- is revealed through dialogue with characters scattered along the way home. Players have to explore and find these people to learn the full story, and in doing so ca change the outcome of the level.<\/p>\n
Additionally, players will be able to interact with specific NPCs along the walk home, who require specific actions to be performed. These actions are simple- usually just interacting with the character in a certain way or interacting with a nearby object for them. Doing these mini-quests will change the outcome of the level as well.<\/p>\n
To further specify how the level will play out, here is an \u201cOrder of Events\u201d in the level:<\/p>\n
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- The player\u2019s character arrives via train at an elevated city station. The din of the rain above can be heard, dully.<\/li>\n
- As the player descends to road level, the rain sounds become much clearer and pronounced. The city around them is dimly lit, using few light sources and largely desaturated colors to evoke the sense of a crumby day.<\/li>\n
- The player proceeds on the walk home. By interacting with most characters, the player can learn the story behind their character and why this walk home is particularly important.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
3a.\u00a0 These NPCs will do nothing more than stand around idly. IE: The conductor of the train, or a man waiting for the bus.<\/p>\n
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- Certain other NPCs will have small tasks to ask of the player, which will be mechanically simple. Completing these can cause changes in the player\u2019s demeanor, causing small changes in the character\u2019s walk and idle animations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
4a.\u00a0 These NPCs will be things like a small restaurant owner trying to close down for the day, or a smoker asking for a light.<\/p>\n
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- Upon reaching the final stop, the character\u2019s home, they will be welcomed inside. Depending on how many people they talked to and how many people they helped, the character\u2019s demeanor will be at a specific value. Depending on their demeanor, an unseen person inside the home will greet them differently, ranging from a reluctant hello to saying that they missed you while you were out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Visually, I want to adopt a simplistic style that amplifies atmosphere rather than realism. Characters and NPCs are cartoonish and stylized, with bolder colors to make them stand out from the drab environment. Textures are simple and defined, using clear edges to block out important details in a mock \u2018cel-shaded\u2019 look.<\/p>\n
The environment visuals will be similarly textured, but will be limited in a number of ways. Too many \u2018rainy cityscape\u2019 environments feature grand fluorescent lights illuminating the barren streets, reflecting off the puddles in the road. That is NOT the mood I want to evoke- I want to instead go for the muted grays of a drizzly day, with only a few dim lights coming from the streetlights and windows along the road. The brightest light sources arefrom the odd passing car, which is uncommon, but loud and jarring. A steamy haze will be rising out of manholes and drains, as well as smokestacks and vents along the buildings. The \u2018Rainy Day\u2019 that is portrayed is lethargic and oppressive, not refreshing or cleansing.<\/p>\n
The time of day that \u2018Rainy Day\u2019 takes place is just before sunset, with the clouds blocking out what little sun remains. The lighting will be ambient but very weak, and any shadows present in alleyways and crannies will be very dark. It is not yet dark enough for things like streetlights and windowlights to stand out very much against the grey backdrop.<\/p>\n
It is VERY important that the player gets the notion of a \u2018bad day\u2019 right at the beginning of the level. Any sound is muted by the din of the rain, or interrupted by the passing of cars. The character\u2019s pace is slow and weak, only picking up a little when NPCs are interacted with.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t really a true \u201cObjective\u201d to \u2018Rainy Day\u2019. While the level is completed by getting home, \u2018Rainy Day\u2019 is meant to be a showcase for the story inside it. One COULD say that you \u2018win\u2019 by talking to every NPC and achieving the most positive end, but all that does is tell a different story, not a better one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Level Idea: Rainy Day Truth be told, \u2018Rainy Day\u2019 is not so much a level of a game as a standalone world designed to tell a self-contained story through the environment and characters in said environment. Through simple choices in the short game world, a small set of outcomes can be reached. The gameplay is … Continue reading Level Concept: Rainy Day<\/span>
- Upon reaching the final stop, the character\u2019s home, they will be welcomed inside. Depending on how many people they talked to and how many people they helped, the character\u2019s demeanor will be at a specific value. Depending on their demeanor, an unseen person inside the home will greet them differently, ranging from a reluctant hello to saying that they missed you while you were out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Certain other NPCs will have small tasks to ask of the player, which will be mechanically simple. Completing these can cause changes in the player\u2019s demeanor, causing small changes in the character\u2019s walk and idle animations.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n