Reflecting Back to the GDD

The games design document for Anima Mundi expresses that the essential experience for the game is for the player to undergo the feeling of self-realisation/enlightenment and discovery. Josh (the designer) put a great emphasis on the idea of discovering new and amazing things and being immersed in world of colour, beauty as well as the idea of a "cosmic energy" running through the game world. Therefore it is important that as a development team, we are able to achieve a vertical slice that represents a big and beautiful world that is also suggestive of a deeper journey of discovery that the game aims to provide.

In the Anima Mundi GDD, it is suggested that these feelings should be evoked through the use of "abnormal physics as well as vivid colours that will guide the player through the game world." As a team, we decided that the spirits proposed in the GDD will be used to guide the player on their journey, providing visual clues as to how to complete the level. There could also be abnormal or say interesting physics related to the "cosmic energy" idea. There could be a visible glow of sorts travelling through the natural environment suggesting the idea of a mysterious discovery waiting to happen. It will cause the player to question what is is and inspire the need to explore further and know more about the games narrative.

When it comes to designing the structure and gameplay of the vertical slice it is important to remember the essential experience which is to inspire exploration and discovery. This could be achieved by a strategic and meaningful design of the players path through the fantasy world. There needs to be incredible assets that are visually stunning to the player and opportunities to further explore the game environment past the puzzle objectives.

In the GDD, there are gameplay loops designed that explain how the player should be granted the opportunity of discovery. This can be found here. The gameplay loop expresses how the different areas of the game world will showcase a diversity in wildlife and the player will "become immersed in an otherworldly environment which is rich of mystical animals such as dragons, as well as other animals like wolves, bears, lions, deer and tigers." This experience is a reward for the successful completion of solving the environment puzzles which will make those interesting areas accessible to the player.