When your mother is your sky - Game Design Document

When your mother is your sky - Game Design Document

1. Summary

As a child I had a recurring nightmare. I dreamt of an endless void immersed in white. Far away stood a military figure screaming in rage. This game is an attempt to interpret the dream while the player can discover the interpretation through the gameplay.

2. Core Fantasy & Experience

The experience focuses on fear, cosmic horror and the fact that everyone of us has only one mother.

3. Design Pillars

Only One

We only have one mother. Her significance to us when we are children is immense.

Explore

Explore the meaning of the dream through the game

4. Gameplay Features and Game Sections

Movement

Move with WASD Keys

Rotate your character with the mouse

Use sprint with Left Shift

Chase Section

The player starts in his room. The room is filled with toys and books. The only door leads to a white void through a dark hallway. A tall figure waits in the distance for the player to enter. On entering the figure will move in the direction of the player. After 1/2 of the distance is passed the player is advised to hide and hide spots will appear. During this section the player has to avoid the chaser and survive for ~60 seconds. The chaser appears to be a general with empty black eyes.

Sky Section

After surviving the chase the scene changes to a night sky full of galaxies. The general reappears but much bigger, opens his mouth and devours the sky. (Galaxies move in direction of his open mouth.) The screen goes black and the player wakes up.

Wake up Section

The player wakes up in the room from before. This time four books appear on the bookshelf. Their titles form a poem that reads:

"When your mother is your sky, the sun, the stars, the reason why. Every threat that shakes her place, a cosmic horror vast in space."

After opening the door again the player can hear a woman sobbing behind it. The scene fades and the endings screen is shown.

Multiple Endings

The player will reach two different endings whether you are being caught by the nightmare general or not.

• Third ending - Facing your fears: The player can reach a third ending by sprinting towards the nightmare general and being caught within the first 10 seconds of the chase section instead of hiding. (not implemented: The player will wake up in the starting room. Opening the door will lead to a room where a man sleeps on the couch who looks like the general. The room is filled with beer cans and cigarette ends. I'm still trying to figure out how to conclude this scene. Maybe by leaving the house and looking into the sky or doing something nice for the man or something mean to him. This section could contain multiple endings as well since we can face our fears in different ways.)

• Fourth ending (not implemented): During the sky section a door will appear behind the player, If the player walks through, a different ending scene can be explored. After waking up in the childs room, opening the door will lead to a room full of stars and a message from mother that reads something like this: "Although I was absent in the past, I want you to know that I still love you and care for you. I want to be more present in your life. Please forgive me."