Imprint
A game about individual versus collective memory, and the longing to belong. Wander through liminal spaces, uncovering echoes of forgotten moments and traces of those who came before. Shifting between isolation and connection, you're invited to reflect on that which defines us - and glimpse at what lies beyond.
Based on experiences of cultural integration and the search for home, Imprint is a symbolic abstraction of memory. The player is guided linearly through environments, interactions, and dynamic levels of agency which reflect the character's emotional journey.
Imprint was created for my master’s thesis at The Royal Danish Academy. It is a work in progress.
Roles:Â Â Solo Developer (concept, design, 3D art, animation, tech, and audio)
Planning
Storyboards and diagrams created to plot out the game's visual narrative arch and expected emotional engagement.
Character Design
2D concept art inspired later 3D design. Characters were modelled, rigged, and animated in Blender. I experimented with proportions, seeking a simple design that players could 'imprint' themselves upon. Emulating the graininess of the initial concept art was achieved with Unity's shadergraph:
Interaction & Design
Mechanics, composition, and tone correlate with Imprint's themes and emotional narrative arch:
The experience begins with minimal agency, immersing the player in monotony and suspense. It continues on to sentimental reflection, granting them fleeting choices which prompt unique interpretations. Emphasis was placed on the affordance, signifiers, and feedback of interactive elements in each scene.
The experience begins with minimal agency, immersing the player in monotony and suspense. It continues on to sentimental reflection, granting them fleeting choices which prompt unique interpretations. Emphasis was placed on the affordance, signifiers, and feedback of interactive elements in each scene.
The shifting scale of elements, like character/room sizes, or the camera’s movement from wide-angle anonymity to an over-the-shoulder perspective, reflects one of Imprint’s core themes: the ongoing cycle between individuality and collectivity.
