ADVANCED COMPUTER GAME DESIGN PROJECT EPIGENETIC TWINS Project

ADVANCED COMPUTER GAME DESIGN PROJECT EPIGENETIC TWINS Project Leader – Oliver Gartside Lead Developer – Luke Campbell Lead Designer – Rhys Wynne-Lewis Lead Artist – Andrew Adshead

Project concept • The epigenetic twins project is centred around showing the biological differences in twins based on their environment and lifestyle, and the choice made in their lives to affect these factors. The game presents the differences that twins can go through internally despite their identical appearance because of these choices, and how this can then affect them later in life, including their health and life longevity.

Inspirations for the project idea • The fundamental inspiration for the project would be "choose your own adventure" books due to their ability to change the scenario based on a person's answers to multiple choice questions within the book. This can be extended to adventure games such as Lucasarts "The Secret of Monkey Island" in which there are similarly multiple choice questions, but with visual aids to convince players to experiment with the selections rather than aiming to progress.

Game ideas The first idea for the project is a 2 D game using questions. This idea makes the player and the AI choose different ways to approach their life by picking one of 3 options for each question. For example, your friend offers you a cigarette, you accept it this once, you accept it and become a regular smoker or you reject it. • The second idea was a 3 D game in which the player and the AI are put into a world with many choices of how to live their life. There will be several places that both the AI and the player can visit which will affect their health. These being places like a bar where the player and AI can drink alcohol, and a gym where they can work on their fitness. •

Game development – Luke Campbell • The development of the project will centre around being a choose-your-own path game, with one twin being controlled by the player, while the other is controlled by AI. Each twin will be given the same multiple choices throughout to determine how they live their lives. The game will include an age meter which will slowly count up until both of the twins eventually dies. Also, it will include health bars for their lungs, liver, heart and brain which will be affected depending on how the player and AI chooses to live their lives.

Game design – Rhys Wynne-Lewis • The games design will be somewhat minimalist, to focus on the main aspect of it, which will be the scenario’s themselves. It also means that the UI will not be obstructive, making it easier for people to understand exactly what is happening at any given time. Similarly, the scientific images during certain portions of the game will be on the sides of the screen, out of the way.

Art – Andrew Adshead • The art for the project will be somewhat cartoonish to contrast with the realistic images that are shown during certain sections of the game. This will also help with aiming for a younger audience, as they will most likely enjoy it due to its more animated look, and are less likely to be bored by the science behind the project. This may also encourage them to experience more of the game, to see the variations of art they can achieve from the different scenarios throughout.

Research • Alongside these scenarios will be scientific research related to health problems people can face through the decisions they make. For example, someone who continues to smoke regularly will eventually get a lung disease, and real scientific images will be shown to represent what is happening inside their bodies. This gives the game the ability to be a fun biological learning tool for younger generations, specifically high-school students.

Any questions?