Sprint 4 – The choice, in choice and consequence

Sprint Goal

Note: Sprint 4 included a 2 week Easter break, where I largely worked on my research proposal but had extra time to work on this sprint.

For the prototype mechanics to take shape.

Sprint Planning

• Choice
  • Colours & Accessibility
  • The Card Deck
  • Narrative Design
    • Events
    • Characters
• Program Events System
• Program Personality Metre System

Choice & Accessibility

Colours

Inspired by nature and my own photography.

“Also potentially more effective than providing people with information is exposing people to natural imagery. Physical immersion in nature has been shown to lead to an increase in intrinsic aspirations (related to Self-Transcendence) and a decrease in extrinsic aspirations (related to Self-Enhancement) [73]. Similar effects can be generated by simply showing participants images of nature [73], particularly if those images evoke awe [63]. Not only does such exposure make us happier, but it has also been shown to both emotionally connect people with nature and increase their willingness to help others [8] — beneficial characteristics to foster if the end goal is to get people to make adjustments to their lifestyles for the benefit of the environment” (Knowles 2014).

Cornish Landscape

Fig 1. Masters 2018. Wind Turbines 2

Fig 2. Masters 2018. Wind Turbines

Choice & The Card Deck

During Sprint 3, we discussed exploring choice and the card deck in my current prototype. The choices for cards don’t feel like choices at the moments, so I’ve begun to brainstorm and prototype cards that will give the player more agency.

Card Mechanic & Choice

The game will limit the amount of choices the player starts with, with choices becoming more complicated and harder later on.

To start with the player can choose from three different groups of cards, the first being environment positive, the second offering a mix of popular options like greywater that have some negative effects and the third being shortcuts that will produce significant CO2 but may be necessary.

Group 1 Sample

Group 3 Sample

Fig 3. Masters 2022. Card Selection Draft

Card Layout

Part of supporting players to make choices is having all the information, so they can make an informed choice.

Fig 5. Masters 2022. Card Selection Second Draft

Storyboards, UI & Choice

Fig 6. Masters 2022. Storyboard

Choice & Character Archetypes

Personality Traits on a Visual Axis: Players were confused by the points, how they might work and whether the points suited each character. The personality traits and points appear to make more sense to players when presented in an axis or visual representation.

Fig 7. Masters 2022. Archetypes Chart

Choice & Events

Note: Add less extreme options

Fig 8. Masters 2022. Events Prototype

Setting up the Event System

Unity + Ink

Fig 9. Masters 2022. Integrating Unity with Ink

Setting up the Personality Metres

Fig 10. Masters 2022. Ink Personality Stats

Survey: Choice & Anxiety

Prototype: Anxiety and choice, adding a Timer

My second prototype can be viewed and taken here: https://impalpably.github.io/mp-prototype/Web/Choice/Sprint4Choice/

Fig 11. Masters 2022. An Experiment in Designing Anxiety

Prototype: Hope, colour and choice

A short prototype about choice, colours and cards.

Retrospective

My Gantt chart has potentially not included enough time to focus on narrative, so I will include more time in sprint 6 to balance the choice and consequences. Integrating variables with Ink and Unity has also taken a little time this sprint.