Cryptid Chronicles is a single-player simulation vertical slice where the player takes the role of the world's first cryptozoologist as he undertakes a daring journey to the lair of a mystical creature. Created for a Futuregames school project. Featured at SGA 2021!
Cryptid Chronicles is a single-player simulation vertical slice where the player takes the role of the world's first cryptozoologist as he undertakes a daring journey to the lair of a mystical creature. Created for a Futuregames school project. Featured at SGA 2021!
Cryptid Chronicles is a single-player simulation vertical slice where the player takes the role of the world's first cryptozoologist as he undertakes a daring journey to the lair of a mystical creature. Created for a Futuregames school project. Featured at SGA 2021!
The Story of the Cryptid Chronicles
Join me, the world's first cryptozoologist, as I undertakes a daring journey. This is my single-player adventure (simulation), where I, Thaddeus, journey into the territory of a cryptid with intent of studying it. Originating at Futuregames, featured at SGA 2021!
Genre: Adventure Simulation
Time: 7 Weeks (2021)
Size: 9 Developers
Engine: Unreal 4.26
Game Length: 15-25 min
Awards: SGA Narrative Finalist
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Cryptozoology: Pseudoscience that aims to prove the existence of animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated.
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Cryptid:
An animal whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated.
My Contributions
Click underlined words to jump to that section!
Narrative Design
Narratively, I worked primarily on writing and recording the VO.
To increase the immersion factor, I lightly researched zoology and real-life cryptozoology to add a sense of realism to the narrative components.
Game Design
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Concept Creator
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Encounter
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AI
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Content
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Product Owner / QA
As game designer and product owner I pitched the concept and maintained the end-vision and communication across the team's disciplines. Learn more on the game design page.
Narrative Pillars
Cryptozoology
The foundation of the game, all narrative derives from cryptozoology.
Immersion
Simulate the experience of a curious cryptozoologist in the 1930s.
Discovery
Learn undiscovered secrets of the world and record the findings.
Game Narrative
Personal Motivation
Like others, I spent much of my youth believing that Bigfoot, Trolls, and other cryptids lived amongst us. My imagination would run wild, hoping that if I looked hard enough I'd stumble into something magical. I see it as my game-design-duty to create a simulation experience of what our world could be when these creatures aren't disputed, but simply "hidden".
Narrative Layout
The narrative of Cryptid Chronicles is spread into five sections:
1. Start Menu Lore
3-minute optional introduction of player character and his history leading up to now.
2. Introduction
Shifting from Main menu to game, players know where they are and the goal of the experience.
4. Main Loop
Completely revolves the core gameplay loop of Thaddeus studying the Cryptid's behavior.
5. Ending
Wraps up journey; conclusive observations, a final journal entry, and Cryptid taxonomy.
3. Tutorial
Helps teach the game mechanics to the player, introduces the Cryptid, and guides them to Main Level.
Start Menu Lore
During the early drafting process, I struggled to fit in a description of cryptozoology, world lore, and Thaddeus' backstory in the 30-second transition between main menu and game. The monologue that plays in the start menu was originally a spur-of-the-moment experiment to find a way for me to squeeze in more narrative and real-world history.
History of Cryptozoology
The main purpose of the Start Menu Lore is to provide backstory for those who are interested in the character's experience & life.
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The secondary purpose was to connect Thaddeus to the real world and dive a little deeper into the history of cryptozoology.
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As I wrote this, it became what I imagined to be the foreword for Thaddeus' book once he published it. The thought that his story continues after this game fills me with joy.
Introduction
In most scenarios, players won't want to listen to a 3-minute option lore dump. When the "New Game" button is pressed, the camera slow zooms towards the tent and plays the TN_Intro file. Sets the current scene and presents the character's motivation and goal to the player.
Drawing the player into the mind of Thaddeus. They get to briefly experience his thought process as he prepares to study a cryptid.
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However, when the Cryptid howls he can't help but spring to action. People love a nerd who can't help themselves to the passion of their hearts.
Created in Audacity by remixing an elk's howl. Showcasing the cervidopsis early on.
Tutorial
As the Introduction ends, the player gains control of Thaddeus; starting the Tutorial. Locked into place, the player has to pick up the Spyglass, Journal, and Compass/Map before leaving. Voice lines guide the player, teaching them how to play the game. Below I've outlined the narrative beats of the tutorial:
Hover over the cyan to learn more!
Start of game. Thaddeus picks up each tool, describing them briefly.
Thaddeus prompts the player to use the Spyglass on the high ground.
Thaddeus comments on the runestones, and that interacting with them reveals parts of the map.
Thaddeus discovers his first clue. Interacting with it reveals tracks leading off to the Cryptid.
Following the tracks, Thaddeus makes relevant observations and hypes up the Cryptid.
The Cryptid appears. Thaddeus reacts appropriately, questions it's prey-like-behavior.
The Cryptid delves further into its territory. Thaddeus follows. Questioning the extraordinary abilities displayed out loud.
Thaddeus hints that the howl came from the opposite direction. The player should turn back.
Main Level Encounter Loop
Following the Cryptid deeper into the island opens up the main game loop. Here, the player must find clues, trigger the revealing of tracks, and observe the corresponding behavior displayed by the Cryptid. One of four examples is displayed below:
Interacting with a sparkling clue reveals tracks and prompts Thaddeus to say a voice line.
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The objective was to make a comment on the clue and prompt players to follow the tracks.
Upon successfully inspecting the behavior. A conclusive voice line will play as an entry is made in the journal.
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No other clues of the same type can trigger once one has is completed.
Following the tracks takes the player to an activity zone. This is where the Cryptid is performing a corresponding behavior to the clue found.
The tracks disappear after a minute, giving the player plenty of time to follow them at their own leisure.
The Cryptid flees if it detects the player. This is considered a failed loop.
A voice line triggers here, letting the player know they've failed the attempt. Time to try again.
Hover over steps to learn more!
The Cryptid peacefully disappears as it finishes its behavior.
The four explorable clues are Raked Trees (as seen above), Scorch Earth, Glowing Mushrooms, and Feces. The game ends once all four loops are completed. Unlocking the full journal page of the Cryptid.
This is where the real Cryptozoology aspect of the game comes into play. The theme of the school project was "adventure simulation" and I really wanted to lean into that aspect in this game. The Main Game loop represents the activities of what a daring real-life cryptozoologist would do. Allowing the player to live the fantasy of days past.
Ending
Once the player has completed the game objectives, Thaddeus stops and speaks a quick voice line before teleporting back to the start zone. A final voice line plays as Thaddeus writes one last entry in the journal, finishing the game.
The player's journey is over, but Thaddeus will continue. This was a night of initial study and speculation. We learn the Cryptid's name and taxonomy. And, a final look at the completed journal before the credits roll.
Content Design
The Journal
Finding clues and inspecting the creature slowly fills in Thaddeus' journal with the information learnt. I spoke to a zoologist for advice on how to write the journal pages and what sort of observations Thaddeus might make. The goal of the journal was to showcase the player's progress throughout the experience.
Hover to reveal completed journal.
World & Story
The World
Cryptid Chronicles takes place on Earth in the year 1936, three years after the famous Surgeon's Photograph of the Loch Ness Monster spread worldwide.
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The world was skeptical, until a zoologist named Thaddeus Tankston produced definitive proof of the creatures existence, the world of science refused to acknowledge the discovery.
The Story
Despite the feedback from the scientific community, Thaddeus published his findings and prepared to return to his mundane life. To his surprise, the study confirming the existence of the Loch Ness Monster sparked interest in those who never quite stopped believing in the fantastical.
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With their support (and generous donations), Thaddeus turned the strange obsession into a full-time job. He now travels the globe, searching for cryptids to chronicle.
Character Design
Thaddeus Tankston
Growing up, Thaddeus, like many of us, was interested in zoology and biology. This passion grew steadily as he matured, but shifted focus when introduced to the concept of the Loch Ness Monster in 1933.
Role: Protagonist.
Appearance: Studious, fit, and dorky.
Personality: Driven, open-minded, and passionate.
Spectira cervidopsis
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Pseudomammalia
Order: Ungulaprimata
Family: Spectriaceae
Genus: Spectria
Species: S. anomalopeda
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Sonar Horns
A pulse of light that emanates from the two glowing horns. The cryptid becomes hyper-aware of any moment within the radius. Used to defend itself from predators and nosey cryptozoologists.
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Phasing
The ability to step into non-existence, the cryptid becomes ethereal and moves through the world as it pleases. A keen eye can sometimes spot glowing footprints left behind.
