Facade

Zelcon Games

For Windows, Mac & Linux

Facade is a first-person, futuristic, 3D, cross-platform (Win/Mac/Lin) open-source adventure game project, built using Unity.. Players will use nanotechnology to solve puzzles, unlock areas and progress through the game world. It's designed to be incredibly immersive, with little in-game UI, speculative loading and a compelling storyline.

Facade is about finding out what it truly means to be human.

Table of Contents

Options - Controls Menu*

Controls

Graphics

General Information

Facade is about finding the true meaning of “being human.”

(journey of self-discovery)

“It takes a robot to truly realize what it means to be human...”

To-Do: Overview with more detail.

To-Do: Walk the reader through the main points of the gameplay, focusing on the most important aspects of Facade. (feature-set)

Game Description

Concept

As the sole subversive robot in a world of automatons, your goal is

to uncover the historical events leading up to the present situation.

Why?

To satisfy your innate sense of curiosity and wonder.

Through complex clues and subtle hints, the player gradually discovers

the reasons for humanity's disappearance, the robot factories and the

mysterious structures.

What does it truly mean to be human?

Background Story

To-Do: Describe tone, basic narrative, the "heart" of the story.

Linear Storyline

SEE STORY DOCUMENTS

Objective(s)

Find the reasons behind the humanity’s disappearance.

Discover what it truly means to be human.

What is the player's goal and why would they want to accomplish it?

The player wants to know and experience the full narrative, from start to finish.

Gameplay

Overview

Single-player focus (Multiplayer/co-operative gameplay may come later)
First-person
Real-time 3D adventure
Physics and logic puzzle-solving gameplay
Combined game structure of levels/areas and storyline chapters
Puzzle-solving/narrative/exploration is the heart of the game
Roughly 7-10 hours of gameplay for the average player
Slight learning curve, but practically none for the average PC gamer

Puzzle Mechanics

Player Actions (Player Interaction)

Walk
Move Camera
Jump
Nanos: Crawl
Nanos: Chain
Nanos: Absorb
Nanos: Assimilate
Nanos: Stay
Nanos: Return
Activate triggers

AI Behavior (Nanos)

Crawl: Nanos move forward in a straight line until hitting an object, or triggering a device.
Chain: Nanos form a collective unit in the form of a chain extending from their originating point.
Assimilate: Nanos gather together forming a solid mass in the form of a block
Absorb: Nanos absorb the spatial pattern of the material they momentarily take in (works to coat normal objects while remaining original objects form as well.)
Stay: Nanos are placed in a spot and remain there until recalled
Return: Nanos return to ADAM

Secondary Actions / Resultant Behavior

Walking

Stand on triggers, which can activate devices
Activate devices by proximity

Crawl

Activate triggers by running into them (proximity)
Pick up objects while crawling, both on the to and from crawl, and continue crawling
Wrap around an object with an indifference to gravity’s portrayal

Chain

Chain formation can act like a bridge
Chain formation can fill the role of wire (electric grid, circuit box, etc.)
Chain formation can act as a rope (only acknowledges gravity at the time of initial placement)
Chain formation can create a pendulum
Chain formation can simultaneously fulfill these roles

Assimilation

Objects can be devoured by the nanos and stays within them while in block form
The block can be moved by ADAM and the environment
The block can act as a shield for ADAM
ADAM can stand on the block

Absorb

Each absorbed object’s properties will transfer to the nanos
The absorbed substance will also move with the nanos’ movement
Nanos can coat solid objects like a paint while retaining the objects form

Stay

Nanos can activate devices
Only acknowledge initial gravity

Return

When nanos are recalled from any form other than stay, the puzzle resets to last checkpoint

Environmental / World Behavior

Mass/Energy

Activate/Release mass or energy

Gravity

Via devices the directional preference of gravity changes
Manipulation of gravity to make new use of nanos
Physics enacted upon the nanos

Space

Activation of spatial manipulation devices
Activation of conveyor belts via devices
Net velocity enacted upon objects in the world
Two-way warps
One-way warps (marker)

Time

Activate time altering devices
Multiplicity of time
Change environment’s flow of time
Change ADAM’s flow of time
Change nanobots’ flow of time
Halt of time
Phantom instances

Light

Release / Activate lights
Reflect light off of objects
Refract light
Disburse light

Gameplay mechanics and concepts from previous labs/areas may be used in the following areas, i.e., the teleportation exhibit, teleporting nanobots, manipulating objects’ size/volume, etc.

Non-crucial elements of the story could be discovered throughout the game, i.e., a training video made by Dr. Xel.

Possible Elements

Discovering color, similar to “The Majesty of Colors”:

Color could be used to create contrast, removing the need for destruction to do so

“Tour Guide” Holograms - Motion-sensors (proximity/motion-activated)

After approaching a sensor, it lights up, and the hologram/audio plays

To-Do: Describe game’s appearance, POV, and why gameplay will be fun

When the game begins, we see our hero appear in a scene.

To-Do: Describe the scene and what happens next. If nothing happens until the user does something, describe what the user's options are and what happens as a result of all possible actions. Keep in mind that most games to some extent are controlled by the user. The hero doesn't automatically do anything; the user, when playing the game optimally, might cause the hero to do such-and-such an act, which would cause the computer-controlled enemy to do this, and the user's options are to do X and Y...

To-Do: Describe the A.I. of the computerized opponent(s). Write a "walkthrough" of the game to further enhance the ability to visualize the game.

To-Do: Describe Chapters (basic interactive structure)

Sound and Music

Sound Effects

Sound effects will be used extensively throughout the game.

Every action in the game will be accompanied by a sound, and the sounds will be prioritized so that the important sounds don't get "stepped on" by less important sounds.

Digitized and/or sampled sound effects would be used.

Music

Music will be published here.

Music will be used to create atmosphere/mood throughout the game. It may also be used to increase suspense while the player completes puzzles.

The game’s musical style is a blend of Trance/Ambient Electronica/Industrial genres.

It will sound reminiscent of the “Portal” soundtrack, Mirror’s Edge, and perhaps the “Tron: Legacy” soundtrack.

Detailed sound, voice, tech and music lists will be separate (not part of this document).

Other Aspects

Characters

Renders/sketches will be included of what the characters will look like.

Robots

D.X.R.A./N.E.T.I.S.

(image needed)

(Neural Emulation of Temporal InteractionS)

Original prototype
Made of white polished metal
Powered by wireless electricity (transmitted, after being generated by solar, wind, etc.)

A.D.A.M.

(Automated Decision Analysis Matrix)

Player Character
White with blue accents

Approx. 1.6 m tall

Powered by wireless electricity (transmitted, after being generated by solar, wind, etc.)
Movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08EslPPX6f4

N.E.M.E.S.I.(S?)

(Neural Emulation of Malicious Entropic System Interaction)

Spherical-Wheeled Robot
Larger than A.D.A.M.
Similar shape to A.D.A.M.
Made of dark polished metal
CURRENT FINGERS/HANDS ARE NOT FINAL

Nanobots

Neutral entities
Virtually invisible
Sentient (?)
Manipulated by ADAM during gameplay

Humans

Dr. Aciano Xel

Multi-billionaire
Founder of Xeltech

Age: early 30’s

To-Do: Describe personalities and capabilities, and how they act in-game.

Other Humans

Humans are completely extinct. (?)

To-Do: Game World -- Describe the scenes in which the action takes place.

Reorganize this design document primarily by location, showing all characters and objects there, and indicating what events occur there. Locations in-game may be visited in different orders, list them in either the optimum order or in the order one might visit them if traveling in the simplest path.

BRAINSTORMING

AREA - MOVED

User Experience

Launch Sequence

Launch game
"Zelcon Games" logo appears
"Facade" logo appears
Main Menu appears

Intro Logos

Zelcon Games’ logo, with the text “Zelcon Games” in Serpentine Bold, with this transition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGN_T8RNWwI

(as of 00:20)

“facade” in Abode font with this transition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tnwToqWhoU&NR=1

User Interface

Tabbed UI for sub-menus
Overlay with a lightbox & desaturated-blur background effect, except for the main menu
No HUD, in-game UI might only be rare hints that could be disabled

Possible HUD Concept

http://gajitz.com/tie-one-on-high-tech-bracelet-is-a-personal-life-manager/

(holographic UI)

Wireframe Mockups

Main Menu

Options - Sound Menu

Options - Controls Menu

Controls

Supported peripherals (for full interaction):

Keyboard & Mouse

Keyboard

Standard WASD movement layout (“SPACE” to jump, “CTRL” to duck)
‘E’ to perform secondary actions

Mouse

Left-click for primary actions
Right-click for secondary actions
Middle-click for tertiary actions (?)

Considered peripherals (for full interaction):

Five-Button Mouse (?)
Microsoft Kinect OR Joysticks/Controllers (?)

To-Do: Describe all menus in detail, and chart out the "shell" structure.

To-Do: Detail on-screen messages in this document, or describe them in general terms.

Graphics

Hyper-realistic graphics
Minimalist, gray-scale, high-contrast, few colours (except where the storyline demands)
Aesthetics similar to Mirror’s Edge and/or Portal

To-Do: Include sketches of some game scenes to aid in the visualization of the game. Show a typical scene and give some indication of what we're looking at.

To-Do: Show the on-screen UI and include callouts so the reader knows what's what.

Detailed art/asset lists are separate (not part of this document).