Lecture Notes on Island Life and Back Rooms Concept

Introduction

• Discussing the concept of island life in a gaming context.
• Players are unaware of potential game mechanics that trap them.

House Buying in Game

• Players spend in-game currency on houses.
• Often, players lose money or experience confusion in their new homes.
• Key Question: Where do players go after buying a house?

The Back Rooms Concept

• Definition: A surreal, endless space that players can accidentally enter by ‘noclipping’ out of reality.
• Description of the Back Rooms:
  • Smell of old carpet, monotonous yellow lighting, and endless empty rooms.
  • Associated with feelings of madness and fear when hearing unknown noises nearby.

Game Mechanic Outline

• Goal: Create an infinite loop experience in players' houses.
• Teleport Mechanic:
  1. Players step onto a teleporter when entering their house.
  2. They are teleported to an endless loop of similar houses, creating confusion and a feeling of being trapped.
• Effect of Teleportation:
  • Players experience a momentary glitch feeling.
  • Explore various rooms but find no escape, leading to frustration.
• Checkpoint System:
  • If players try to reset, they are sent back to the starting point.

Gameplay Experience

• Describing player reactions when trapped:
  • Confusion about the layout of their house.
  • Attempts to reset or escape lead to failure.
• Environmental Design:
  • Use of printed images to simulate an outside view that players believe is real.

Player Interactions

• Players expressing their love for houses or frustration when trapped.
• Unusual character dynamics (e.g., characters acting in humorous, exaggerated ways).

Conclusion

• Emphasizing the fun and chaotic nature of the mechanics introduced.
• Potential for future creepypasta stories emerging from these trapped experiences.
• Encouragement for player feedback and suggestions for further game mechanics.

Final Thoughts

• Exploration of freedom and entrapment in gaming environments.
• Overall, the experience reflects on human emotions through gaming mechanics.