Project Status: CancelledFor more info why, check out this post:
https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=47220.msg1416891#msg1416891InfoDeveloper:
Vakey RujevicPlatform: TBD
Development Locations: Orlando FL (2014), Bay Area CA (2015), Taipei, Taiwan (Present)
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/VakeyRujevicTumblr:
LifeOfSundura.tumblr.comAboutAn interactive story of an organism's migration into life.
Sundura is an organism who is born into a habitat that is slowly diminishing due to the extraction of vital resources by artificial organisms. Upon birth she must adapt inorder to unite with her mother.
Prototype BuildsPrototype Build #7: Camera RotationPrototype Build #6: Egg Hatching 2.0Prototype Build #5: Egg HatchingPrototype Build #4: IndieCade SubmissionPrototype Build #3: Intel Level Up SubmissionPrototype Build #2: Organism MovementPrototype Build #1: Camera System
Original Introductory PostThis game is an interactive story driven experience where you play as an organism from birth to death in a habitat that is near the end of it's life.
SettingThe game is set in an imaginary habitat where artificial and organic organisms co-exist. The habitat is slowly diminishing due to the unconscious extraction of vital resources by artificial organisms. Without these vital resources, organic organisms can not survive. Thus, there is constant battle between organic nature and artificial industrialization.
StoryI do not wish to spoil the whole story, thus I will only share the beginning of the first chapter of the game.
The story begins with you hatching from an egg. The egg is located inside your mother who is 100 times larger then you are. Thus you will have to make your way out of her. As you do that, your mother, along with the rest of your family, is attacked by artificial organisms. Large creatures, like your mother, are a great energy resources for them. Inside your mother, you will come across other recently born infants, artificial organisms that made their way inside, parasites lurking within your mother, and natural defense systems your mother has in place that will be chaotic and confused due to the stress of the invasion. Through all this you must find your way out to begin your life. And thus your adventure through the life of one courageous, kind, and yet vulnerable organism begins.
Gameplay and Game DesignThe structure of the game (therefore the story as well) will be where you play through 5 stages of an organisms life: Birth, Growth, Purpose, Death, and Rebirth.
This will be more of a story driven experience then it will be a game. And what I mean by that is that the game will not be structured in level based way, nor a way that suggests you must overcome ever more difficult challenges. But instead, gameplay elements will be used, and at times not used, for you to be fully immersed in experiencing the story of an organism's life span. And though certain story elements will require you to defeat another character or solve a puzzle to continue, they are more so dictated by the story structure then by some game design structure.
With that said, the following gameplay elements will be used for you to experience the game:
- Fighting: Your body structure is very fish like with no mouth. Thus your attacks will be limited to head butts and tail swings. Here is a short clip of the fighting:
Fight Clip- Blocking: You will have a shield that allows you to block anything dangerous being thrown at you and also can be used to move dangerous things out of the way without touching them. Here is a short clip of the blocking:
Blocking Clip- Chasing and being chased: Given the relationship of predators and prey, you will be put in situations where you must escape a predator and situations where you will chase a prey. You are not at the top of the food chain, but you are not at the bottom either.
- Puzzle Solving: Certain story elements will require you to solve an environment puzzle to progress (very similar that of ICO and Limbo)
MotivationsI am a sucker for interactive storytelling. The idea of experiencing a story vs simply watching or reading it is something that can only be accomplished through our interactive medium. So I am excited to contribute towards the growth of interactive storytelling.
I was originally born in Serbia and the name of the game, Organizam, is from the Slavic word for organism.
I am also very interesting in the global problem of climate change and the struggle between industrialization and nature. Thus I wanted to make a game on a organism level that addresses those topics.
But I also feel that entertainment is a powerful medium to empower and educate people. One of my biggest idols, Hayao Miyazaki (creator of Sprited Away, Princess Mononoke), says that one of the reason he makes animated movies is to communicate a message that will empower kids. Though his focus is on empowering kids, his movies have empowered me even more so in my adulthood then in my childhood. So this is very inspiring to me because it gives my work a sense of purpose.
Thus, through this game I wish to communicate the message of the need for balance in the ever growing struggle between industrialization and nature.
Dev StatusCurrently I am the only one working on this game. And though I have dabbled in game development for the past 8 years, I have yet to truly make a full game. Like many indie developers, I have a full time job while working on this project on the side. I am putting 15-20 hours a week into it.
I have been prototyping and designing the game since September of 2014 and now I am nearing the end of the pre-production phase. Soon I will begin work on the first chapter which will take me around 3-6 months to complete.
I just recently heard about TIGSource and am amazed by how lively the community is. I plan to post regular updates on the development of the game as well as playable builds. Wish me luck.