roll up a guy

Created as an aid to a project in my game design class. Here's the project: Create an explorable, interactive space that uses narrative and visual "clues" to communicate the identity of the resident. The class was taught using Bitsy.

Environmental Storytelling

Think of environmental storytelling as leaving clues. How do you communicate that someone's a werewolf without outright telling the player? Maybe their home contains shed wolf hair, a lunar calendar with the next full moon circled in red. This character is planning a bank heist. In their apartment are a map of the bank vault, a blowtorch, and a bad disguise.

Here are some good readings / watchings on environmental storytelling:

• Matthias Worch and Harvey Smith - What Happened Here? (slides/notes from a GDC talk)
• The Tragic Story in the Background Design of "Bonnibel Bubblegum" - Adventure Time Scenery Analysis (YouTube, 6:05)

And here are some Bitsy games that feature strong environmental storytelling:

• Cowgirl Boots (felleroni, 2019 - an older trans woman comes out to her spouse)
• The Strange Floating Eye That Sometimes Comes Into Your Room in the Human Sanctuary and Messes With Your Stuff (cephalopodunk, 2019)
• Investigate (caeth, 2018 - has mystery / horror elements)
• Rainy Day (bee tea, 2021 - references to self-harm)