The Monsters of Maurier
Narrative Designer/Writer - Game Dialogue Script
Solo Project - 4 months
Solo Project - 4 months
Some writers say "everything has been done before" - I prefer to think that what's already been done is our gateway to do something new, that there are infinite ways to reexamine and reconstruct our experiences in new forms. As such, when assigned the task of writing a full original game script, I immediately knew I wanted to create a twist on horror games, to explore the genre's themes of villainized otherness and the dangers of isolation in a new context. As a designer, I find that some of my favorite ideas to work on are old stories looked at through a new lens, taking the themes of the original and examining them under a different light, taking the familiar and making it new. Starting from a simple shift in perspective, looking at the "mysterious ghost town" through the eyes of its residents, I created Maurier and populated it with strange beings just as scared of us as we are of them. Then, through the myriad eyes of Councilor Lorelei "Lori" Hill, I sought to tell a story of social crisis and the importance of perspective, accountability, and cooperation.
Over the course of the project, I was responsible for the following:
Upon final submission, the project was well-received by both professors and fellow writers, with praise for the conceptual twist and characterization. If I were to improve one thing about this project, I'd have liked to take some time to flesh out the setting and worldbuilding in more depth, adding more environmental storytelling and natural exposition, to make the situation of the characters feel that much more palpable and relevant. Someday I hope I can develop this script into a full game, and will be on the lookout for opportunities to share Lori's experiences with the world. All in all, I am proud of this scrappy little town and its people, and I'm glad I got to work with them.
Over the course of the project, I was responsible for the following:
- Developing the setting of Maurier and the characters who reside there
- Creating the player character, Lori, and drawing out her arc
- Outlining gameplay and mechanical concepts
- Writing and editing an original 50-page script
- Providing commentary and constructive feedback on others' scripts
Upon final submission, the project was well-received by both professors and fellow writers, with praise for the conceptual twist and characterization. If I were to improve one thing about this project, I'd have liked to take some time to flesh out the setting and worldbuilding in more depth, adding more environmental storytelling and natural exposition, to make the situation of the characters feel that much more palpable and relevant. Someday I hope I can develop this script into a full game, and will be on the lookout for opportunities to share Lori's experiences with the world. All in all, I am proud of this scrappy little town and its people, and I'm glad I got to work with them.
Content Warning: Violence/injury, body horror, mild language