Overview
This would be a simple point and click exploration game about a young alien exploring a dead planet. He is sent out by his mentor to discover the world’s cause of death. Numerous artifacts/objects will be available for the player to interact with and investigate. These will provide clues to the answer, and can be found in any order and any number of times. Based on what (and how many) was found, the player can return to their mentor to attempt to give their answer. They may also ask questions to learn more. Eventually they will discover that this world, Earth, was unintentionally destroyed by its dominant species. Human industry was far too wasteful, and inconsiderate to their home world. Though there was plenty of warning, these were largely ignored due to widespread apathy, lack of education, and lack of intellectual humility.
The center tube of the spool will be clad with a corkscrewing level design to grant as much area to explore and navigate as possible. It will likely be elongated in the middle (or toward the top) to add a few more inches of workable space. The environment will be created with occasional sections that screw the opposite direction to add some more layers, and more areas to hide artifacts.
While the landscape will be dark and bleak, the story will still end with a seed of hope. Examples will be given on simple ways the player can begin to implement better design and product choices in their own lives, as well as constructive ways to break down hubris and apathy at its core.
Early Sketches
Research and Mood Board
- The Apathy Epidemic
- The Apathy Curse – Sources and Solutions
- Intellectual humility: the importance of knowing you might be wrong