Level Design
Governmental District
Synopsis
The Great nation of Wei has been at peace for 1000 years, built on a revolution and centered around equality, the nation has slowly decayed from internal corruption from the royals. The great Emperor of Wei has graced you with the opportunity to meet with his majesty in the governmental district.
Design Goal
The goal is to present the player an unbiased view of 2 opposing factions and provide the player with the necessary information for them to make a decision that will drastically impact the player in the later stages of the game as the factions clash.
Player Objectives
- Uncover the story line
- Choose an allegiance (Choices: Royals / Ministers)
Core mechanics
- Walking,
- Sprinting,
- Relationships
(dialogue options: Deceive / Aid / Enigmatic),
- Combat (unusable in the city during the questline)
Level Layout
Main Routes highlighted in red
Overview
At first glance, the city has a symmetrical design with a circular courtroom and fountain in the center and 2 buildings at each of the sides, as such the city should feel balanced and equal, giving the player a sense of security and freedom, while conveying that the city treats its inhabitants equally. The fountain serves as a safe neutral ground that the player can constantly return to for rest away from the politics of the situation.
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The house of lords is defined by wide open walkways with clear branching paths, this characterizes the lords as influential and open. This layout attracts players who desire order and guided straightforward gameplay.
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In contrast, the house of commons is defined by narrow walkways with tight corners that are interconnected in a circular fashion. This attracts players who
The courtroom
The courtroom stands at the centre of the city and is the building that the player first visits. The courtroom should convey a sense of just and fairness representing the virtues of the city, which above all is equality among its citizens, this is shown from the circular shape the room is arranged.
However, a clear divide, with an elevated platform as well as 2 thin barriers form an implied line, separating the royals from the common ministers, hinting inequality.
The House of Lords
The house of lords resides the royals, and is a large rectangular building complex, representing stability and authority. The layout is defined by large wide spaces including the main lobby and the hallways. There is also a direct hallway leading to the court room suggesting direct influence on the courtroom.
The king’s office is a large room that directly connects to the meeting room. This provides a direct flow for the king to move from the office to the meeting room. The doors of the king’s room are a 2 door opening that has a direct line of sight to the king’s table, this is to represent the openness of the king to consort.
The younger prince’s office is the only office that does not have a direct view of its occupants from the door, instead, the room is hidden away, suggesting a more scheming persona. It also has a small door leading to the receptionist and suggests a greater knowledge of the ongoings of the building.
The House of Commons
The house of commons stands in contrast to the house of lords, with a significantly smaller area, with an irregular shape. This suggests that the house has significantly less wealth and influence. However, the entrance is wide and does not have doors, giving a sense of openness to the people they serve. The house of commons is also defined by narrow passageways and tight corners, this further emphasizes the difference in influence, while giving a sense of unease and adventure.
The meeting room stands in the center of the building, suggesting equality and freedom, it is also easily accessible by the offices in the building. The prime minister’s office is a circular office that has multiple doors leading the important rooms of the building, this directs all traffic to the office, and suggests that it is the heart of the building, where everything revolves around. The minister’s office is a chaotic office with tables unevenly places, and is extremely overcrowded, this gives a sense of chaos and suggest that the ministers favours productivity instead of aesthetics.
Quests
Quest line 1: The Grand City
“You are invited to the great city of Wei to meet the emperor, who has heard about your heroic deeds, the city seems grand and just.”
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Enter the grand walls of the governmental district.
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Meeting with the ground’s keeper in front of the grand fountain
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Enter the courtroom and address by the king and ministers.
Quest line 2: The Grand Divide
“Both houses invite the great hero to their respective abode, there is some clear injustices going on.”
4. The court is dismissed, proceed to the House of lords wait in the Guest Hall attended by the servants.
5. Meeting with the Elder Prince, in line for the throne
6. Meeting with mysterious younger prince, hinting of danger
7. Meeting with the King’s Secretary
8. Meeting with the King
9. Heads to the House of Commons reception
10. Head to Guest room of the house of commons, greeted by the secretary of the prime minister.
11. Heads to Ministers’ Office, greeted by Vice Minister.
12. Meeting with the Prime Minister
13. Gathering in the Meeting Room
Quest Line 3: The Grand Trial
“The injustices have been tolerated for long enough. A just trial has been overruled by the king.”
14. Meeting with the ground’s keeper
15. Called to the Courtroom as a guest jury
, King Decides on Guilty verdict
, Ministers Storm off
Quest Line 4: The Grand Conspiracy
“Tensions are rising around the governmental district. Do you hear the people sing?”
If Aligned with Lords (Loyal, Peaceful)
16. Meeting with the ground’s keeper, Informed about meeting with the younger prince.
17. Meeting with the younger prince, told to head to the servant’s quarters to investigate.
18. Discovers secret passage.
End: Player Chooses to stick with the lords and report back to the younger prince OR deceive the Prime Minister and join the revolution
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If more Aligned with Ministers (Just, Adventurous)
19. Meeting with the ground’s keeper, informed about meeting in the house of Commons.
20. Prime Minister Explains the revolutionary plot.
21. Brought down to the secret underground lair.
End: The player chooses to stick with the ministers and tell the king about the revolution OR accept the Prime Minister’s offer and join the revolution
Intensity Curve
The tension gradually increases as the player experiences the district and begins to lose interest during the tour in questline 2. The intensity sharply increases when confronted by the enigmatic younger prince (Plot point 6) and the prime minister (Plot point 12), both characters with a deeper motivation. The interest gradually decreases throughout questline 3 as tension gradually builds to a breaking point. The interest subsequently shoots up with each revelation of a rebellion plot throughout the whole of questline 4.
Iterations
Initial Iteration
The original concept had the house of commons be as big as the house of lords, with a hallway directly leading to the prime minister's office. This however did not showcase the unique selling point of the house of commons and was too similar to the house of lords.
Second Iteration
The walls were removed walls in the lobby of the house of lords, and the layout of the rooms was rearranged in the house of commons to be harder to navigate. However, the overall shape of the building was still too similar to the house of lords and require a complete redesign.
Final Iteration
A complete redesigned layout of the house of commons to a circular route with narrow corridors. The lobby of the house of lords is cleared of walls to present the player with an open spacious entrance when they enter.
Research
The White House blueprint (Scale on the bottom left)
Singapore Parlement Meeting Room
(Scale on the bottom left)
Singapore Parlement courtroom
(Scale on the bottom left)
Courtroom
(Scale on the bottom left
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Thank you for reading