Sunday, April 8, 2012

Memory

Memory

Overview

Memory is a 2D side-scrolling platformer meant to convey the human experience of memory and remembrance. The game was inspired by the quote, "We have all forgot more than we remember." I wanted the game to play out as a simple conversation where someone is trying to remember something from long ago. The game is meant to be played as an experience rather than a goal oriented game.


Here is a link to the exe.


Now there's more info below if, you know, you're into that sort of thing. 



Goal

Like I stated above, the goal of this game was to convey the human experience of memory. When we consider what little of our own lives we can remember in a lifetime, we can easily gain new perspective on who we are, our history, and the meaning of our lives. Is it true that what we remember most is what we hold dearest? Perhaps it is a little less endearing than we would like to imagine. I am not attempting to create a scientific explanation or analysis of memory, but only a conveyance of the universal feeling of remembering and forgetting. 

Meanings and Symbolism

Here I plan to explain the choices I made in the game. Whether or not I was successful in these decisions has yet to been seen, but once I can get some feedback I report back. 

Meanings and Symbolism:


  • Arrangement – The arrangement of the blocks represent the diminishing of memory over time. As the player progresses the paths go from solid and orderly to sparse and varied.
  • Color – The block coloring represents the strengthening and fading of memories over time. Memories rarely are remembered correctly either being remembered better or worse than they were. Here white is represents clarity while having a darker color represents the changing of the memory until they fade away into black.
  • Movement of blocks – If the player visits a second of the game, leaves, and then returns, changes in the blocks placement will be apparent. This represents the changing in the events or order of events when memories are revisited later.
  • Blackness – The blackness that is the background represents forgotten memories. This can be seen later in the levels as it become more and more apparent. This is also seen when the player “fails” and largeness of the blackness is seen, dwarfing the remembered memories. This helps to drive home the fact of how much in human memory is forgotten rather than remembered. 

Results

To be continued... (if I remember)

Please leave any comments or feedback below!