Her Piece in His Story

This assignment was done as the individual assignment for Introduction to Interactive Storytelling (SAM_5SD080_VT24) course. 

In the assignment, the requirement was to make a text-based story game on Twine with

* at least 75 passages

* at least every 5th passage must provide an option for the player

* at least one conversation that lasts minimum three exchanges and reacts on the player's different (minimum 3) options

* a clear avatar that the player takes role of

In the assignment, I experiences how Michael Jakson's song could be used as a narrative tool but unlike Mamma Mia! movie, I didn't want the references be on the nose.

I used my personal song list as my reference to structure the main plot, and tried to utilize different songs as dialogues and set pieces rather.

Since I was aware the idea was a bit too experimental, I added a side plot for those who didn't get the song references.

In the side plot, I tested how a fight scene from Dragon Ball Z could be translated to Michael Jackson world. 

Lastly, there's an Easter Egg in the beginning to a movie scene, which I included since the assignment was submitted on the Easter.

I had couple of playtests with the game, and only with people who were not that familiar with Michael Jackson songs.

Even to the point that they didn't recognize the song in the beginning.

If I had a chance to return to the game, I would heavily adjust how the hints and reactions are given.

The game was not meant to be too punishing yet it became too punishing since how well I knew lyrics of the songs compared to the test players.

I never got this game tested with a person who was familiar with Michael Jackson's song lyrics.

The only things I managed to adjust before submitting was to color-code the sections and the endings.

Black background is used to the prologue and the first act.

The split of the story happens after the first act.

Magneta background is used for the Michael Jackson storyline.

Orange background is used for the Dragon Ball storyline.

If 'The End' was written in Red, the player's Game Over was a wrong choice.

If 'The End' was written in Yellow, the player met the ending that the intended option that may have not been revealed due to lack of collected references.

If 'The End' was written in Green, the player found the intended ending of said storyline.

During each acts whenever the player has a choice, the game counts how many Michael Jackson -related answers the player chooses.

The Michael Jackson storyline is rewarded if the player collects enough references before the Act 1 ends.

The similar gimmick is used in Act 2 and Act 3 in both storylines, where Dragon Ball storyline uses Act 2 to change the references away from Michael Jackson lyrics.

None of the test players ever got to the Michael Jackson storyline, and majority of the testplayers enjoyed the revision of Dragon Ball Z fight scene.