Vessel of Memories
World Building Design Studio
2023.01 ~ 2023.05
Introduction
The project is about a future fantasy world where there has been no newborn in the world for 60 years. The entire society is aging and facing the end of human life.
See the world with elderly eyes
Intension
An interactive piece by which players will feel peaceful and lonely when they are on the journey as an old person.
Deliverables
Mood
The World
Fantasy world in near future (around 2100 approximately)
Genre and Era
Death matters
Culture and Society
Places to die:
Dying people will be sent to specific facilities.
This rule is set mainly because people who are alive don’t want to see people die silently, unceremoniously, and anonymously out of nowhere. Due to the shortage of labor, it is more convenient to gather people together for mutual care.
There are also arguments about the rule depriving people of their freedom and rights to choose a place to die.
Rules
The Space
The Scene
A boat combines high-tech and old-school stuff(something old people in the future will use). The protagonist will live in this floating home and start their journey. They can direct it, fish, cook, sleep, watch TV, etc.
Modeled by the talented Artist Yuhong(Yvette) Fu.
Environmental Storytelling
An environmnet with details and functions that can show the background of this world and also tell stories.
Living Countdown
A countdown projected on the wall shows how many people are alive all around the world.
Floating House
A place for the protagonist to live.
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High-tech elderly-friendly bed and device
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A way that can maintain self-sufficient: Stove
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A communication method that can obtain information: TV
Navigation
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rudder
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terrestrial globe with GPS
Character-building Items
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pills
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glasses
Storytelling Items
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old picture
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old postcard
AI
AI becomes a digital database to save memories, instead of diaries, people tend to talk with AI to let them store the memories, which is more comprehensive and efficient.
The boat itself is an AI, so it is also a vessel of memories. It is the only item that can build communications in this scene.
Character and Narrative
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An experience about an old person who is on their journey/adventure
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A visit to their friend, who lives on the other side of the sea. They haven’t met each other for long. And the protagonist plans to visit them with their limited remaining time.
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A journey to find a place where they want to die.
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Players have 2 choices: whether to organize resources and successfully reach the other side, or end up their life on the sea. Either way is an active choice to find a place to die. But the important part of this game is not about the end or the motivation, it's about the journey toward the end of lifetime.