Media Detective
1st person simulation video game
Software: Adobe After Effects/Adobe Audition/Photoshop/Aseprite/Procreate/Unity
TRAILER
Project Role：
[Group Project]
Project Lead/Manager: Ziyi
Game Design, Story: Ruby Guo, Ziyi
Technical Designer (Unity) : Ruby Guo
Art Director (All Visuals), Sound, Video Editor: Ziyi
The concept of the game is about letting the player take on the role of a "detective" after learning about a murder case on television. By exploring various websites and online platforms, the player gathers clues and information about those involved in the case, piecing together each person's story. However, the information collected is biased and unreliable. As the player blindly follows these online leads, they form an extreme and distorted conclusion, accusing innocent people of a crime they didn’t do. In the end, the detective persona is revealed to be nothing more than a fantasy, and the player is just another nameless user in the vast space of the internet. Yet the damage has already been done…. This game aims to serve as a critique and a warning about the spread of misinformation in the digital space..
GAME CONCEPT
Desktop Design
The main game page features a dimly lit, enclosed room, evoking an unsettling atmosphere. The room's design is inspired by Chinese office and home décor from the 2000s.
The gameplay of this game involves freely browsing various websites to collect "evidence" and compiling what the player deem useful into a digital notebook. Based on the gathered evidence, player can post their conclusions. The content they post will influence the fate of the characters involved in the case.
Game Mechanic
Browse webs for “evidence“
collect “evidence”
Post theory
Story Design
As players collect information, they encounter conflicting narratives, rumors, and misinformation. Each piece of evidence they choose to highlight shapes public perception and directly influences the fate of the case’s characters:
The Husband: Accused of neglect, domestic abuse, or even murder due to his financial struggles.
The Other Woman: Suspected of being a homewrecker or a member of a cult, exploiting the family for personal gain.
The Bun Shop Owner: Accused of being involved in kidnapping or murder, driven by financial motives.
The Woman (Victim): Portrayed as a struggling mother with severe depression, accused of neglect or suicide.
The truth is far more complex: a story of failed ambitions, mental health struggles, misunderstandings, and societal pressure.
