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Biblically Accurate Angel Dating Simulator

MIT CMS/W Trope Tank, Prof. Nick Montfort & Angela Chang x Wellesley Prof. Jordan Tynes

Created a narrative game about truth and reality; game accepted to Wellesley Tanner Conference, Ruhlman Conference, "3, 2, 1" Arts Exhibition

Team

MIT CMS/W, Trope Tank (Prof. Nick Montfort & Angela Chang)

Wellesley, Prof. Jordan Tynes

Emilie Zhang, Wellesley College

Lena He, Brown University

Software developer, narrative designer

Role

September 2022 - Present

Timeline

Biblically Accurate Angel Dating Simulator (BAADS) was sponsored by the MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing (CMS/W) Trope Tank under Prof. Nick Montfort, supervised by Angela Chang. Playing as a sunflower with spotty memory, this is a game that raises questions about truth and reality, dreams and sacrifice. As the lead software engineer & narrative designer in our small team, I was responsible for translating our visions into Python, and presenting the game at the Wellesley Tanner Conference, Ruhlman Conference, and the “3, 2, 1” Arts Exhibition.

My Role:

Lead software engineer, programming 80% or more of the game in ren'py with Python
Lead narrative designer, creating the world of Biblically Accurate Angel Dating Simulator, designing character personalities, and writing every branch/choice of the game
Designed all presentation and marketing materials submitted to and presented at conferences & exhibitions

ren'py

Python

Tools

Overview

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When my friend, Lena He, came to me with Biblically Accurate Angel Dating Simulator, she had already created a beautiful title page, some character art, and an opening scene. What she was stuck on, however, was what the story would actually be about, and how to program this narrative game into creation. In other words, she needed someone who could flesh out the world and create an overarching narrative that tied back to her visuals--and subsequently code that into a game engine.

This was a unique set of challenges for me. Since I did not want to change the two main characters--the sunflower and the angel--or the title, I decided to take the expectations users would typically have for a "dating simulator" and subvert them. I also brought this idea to Prof. Nick Montfort, director of the Trope Tank from the MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing, who decided to sponsor our efforts along with Angela Chang.

Thus began our official collaboration: Lena on all the art, including characters, clothing designs, backgrounds etc., and me on everything else (not related to art), including coding, writing the script & plot, and deciding the narrative direction.

Software Development

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First image is the game booted into ren'py. The second is an example of my code.

After writing a scene that may have dividing plot points and different responses to dialogue choices, I coded it in Python. The files were then booted into ren'py, a game engine that launches the game. Audio, background, and transitions were added into the script.

Narrative Design

Characteristics of a Sunflower

always finds the sun, even if it means twisting its stem
an invasive species!
typically symbolizes life, vitality, and growth
quite tall, compared to other flowers

Since the undertones of a traditional dating sim is cute, funny, and whimsical, I knew that to subvert these expectations, the game would have to go towards a serious and (possibly dark) contemplation of the game's themes. But apart from that, I had no idea how I wanted this to go. Thus, I began by researching the characteristics of a sunflower.

The biggest surprise was when I found that sunflowers were invasive. Furthermore, there is almost a pious quality to the way they always turn towards the sun, a constant, higher being that controls its growth by whim. It is almost like sunflowers are growing towards the sky, needing it to survive. All this brought me to a character filled with dreams, hope, but also obsession. Coupled with the fact that sunflowers were invasive, I began to see a character willing to do anything to reach their "dreams."

The biblically accurate angel, on the other hand, seemed the perfect connection to the sunflower's reverence of the sun.

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many things require sacrifices
We all have different sets of standards to balance these choices
but what happens if the dream you are pursuing is at the expense of other people?

How much are you willing to sacrifice?

Over an iterative process, you gradually unravel the mystery behind your memory loss because...

This is you.

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“Let’s plant it right here then, next to the roses, how ‘bout that.” The voice seems close. You feel the sunlight fade as you’re lowered into something damp. “There you are. Hehe, Nice and snug, eh?” The voice is nice. The dampness is different but not necessarily un-nice. You try to stretch or move but it seems you’re paralyzed for now, paralyzed but conscious.

“Let’s cover you up now. You’ll grow in no time.” Grow? Wait, what does that mean–oh no no no no–you can’t be leaving me here, not here–it’s so dark–don’t–

He doesn’t hear you (how could he) and you are covered up, entombed.

An eternity passes–less than eternity–it has to be less because at some point, even without the gorgeous sun, you sprout underground and learn–what it means–to grow.