Concept Art Development

In the game design I document how the project is split into 4 narrative game experiences. In each of them the environment will transform around the main character into stunning fantastical worlds and one must navigate oneself through the sections.

1st Section: Masters of Flight

2nd Section: High Speed Chase

3rd Section: Untouched

4th Section: The Lava Crossing

Inspiring Cinematography

Closely relating to my chosen project some recent movies serve as great reference. Particularly "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" has some great moments blending between the real world and Mitty's imagination. The direction is fantastic in some of the sequences and produces visually stunning content in a movie where one might not expect so. I would like to integrate this idea into my project concept. The goal is to exceed expectations as people will compare it to the original story of "The Story of Johnny Head-In-Air" and taken by surprise when the environments transform into aesthetic environments through the main characters perspective.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Imagining alternative realities in general is a very human trait and other successful films such as the recent "Lego Movie" provide evidence for a great casual market potential. Dungeon & Dragons and roleplaying is widely recognized as a very geeky niche area, the imaginative steps of children everybody can relate to however as everyone has gone through them and will be able to draw personal connections to common topics such as jumping form object to object to avoid touching the floor (the lava game) or navigating oneself through the environment from a car window.

Early Concept Sketches for a Narrative Game Inspired by Johnny Head-In-Air

After choosing the main story premise for an innovative narrative experience I started to sketch down some ideas of how Johnny could view the world. The experience will be based on typical children's imaginations and merge imagination and real world situations.

I imagine him to view the clouds as fantastical creatures and story representations.

In some further sketches I tried to exaggerate and dramatize the perspective of a child and create into the sky rising structures with interesting compositions

And in the sky itself there would be space traffic or fantastical elements to further stretch the imagination. Below are some spacecraft concepts that Johnny could be imagining.

Interactive Storytelling - Investigating Multimedia and Interactivity to Create Innovative Narratives Based on Children's Literature (2nd Semester Presentation)

The main focus has shifted since the first semester's presentation due to very similar website and application findings of my original project idea and now instead solely focuses on the interactive narrative design to create an innovative application based on classic children's literature. The idea is to use multimedia possibilities to enhance the narrative flow and provide an interactive experience.

Good choice of literature is essential for a flourishing project development and in regard to personal origins and childhood memories, thorough research into German children’s literature was undertaken. I thereupon rediscovered a classic German children's book "Struwwelpeter" with which I share many childhood memories and particular the story of Johnny Head-In_Air led to great inspiration. Therefore the concept development will focus on the view of Johnny's daydreaming and merge the real and imaginative worlds in my project.

The Story of Johnny Head-in-Air

As he trudged along to school, It was always Johnny's rule To be looking at the sky And the clouds that floated by; But what just before him lay, In his way, Johnny never thought about; So that every one cried out "Look at little Johnny there, Little Johnny Head-In-Air!" Running just in Johnny's way Came a little dog one day; Johnny's eyes were still astray Up on high, In the sky; And he never heard them cry "Johnny, mind, the dog is nigh!" Bump! Dump! Down they fell, with such a thump, Dog and Johnny in a lump!

Once, with head as high as ever, Johnny walked beside the river. Johnny watched the swallows trying Which was cleverest at flying. Oh! what fun! Johnny watched the bright round sun Going in and coming out; This was all he thought about. So he strode on, only think! To the river's very brink, Where the bank was high and steep, And the water very deep; And the fishes, in a row, Stared to see him coming so. One step more! oh! sad to tell! Headlong in poor Johnny fell. And the fishes, in dismay, Wagged their tails and swam away.

There lay Johnny on his face, With his nice red writing-case; But, as they were passing by, Two strong men had heard him cry; And, with sticks, these two strong men Hooked poor Johnny out again.

Oh! you should have seen him shiver When they pulled him from the river. He was in a sorry plight! Dripping wet, and such a fright! Wet all over, everywhere, Clothes, and arms, and face, and hair: Johnny never will forget What it is to be so wet. And the fishes, one, two, three, Are come back again, you see; Up they came the moment after, To enjoy the fun and laughter. Each popped out his little head, And, to tease poor Johnny, said "Silly little Johnny, look, You have lost your writing-book!"

Please find the presentation with more detailed information and narrative design thoughts below.

Interactive Storytelling from samheisler