I need to find the balance in my animation, between the "point and click" game element, and how this also drives the story and presents the idea as a whole.
The premise is that Twink the corn snake has got out, and the player needs to find her, by exploring the room and finding where she could be.
End result animation will be presented as if a cut together of different stages of the game - present it as an advert for the game, with demo animations of play.
Have a voiceover (me) on the between scenes. Provide a bridge between them as if explaining the game as it goes. The factfile is a key asset, I keep a factfile myself in real life with handy go-to information about the care for my animals, ecerything from optimal heat settings to safe and unsafe food lists, as well as feeding and shedding records, its all in there. I believe something like this is vital for anyone in the hobby and feel it would also be a great way to bring the education element to the game, as well as a "collection" system, as a lot of games are driven by having collection elements, especially iOS/android "relaxation" games which is what this is marketed similarly to.
bold - voiceover
italics - fact file entry/achievement popup (on screen text)
underlined - camera/shot direction
"quotation" - character line
>something - scene action/setting
Story flow:
>Open to shot of the room from the doorway Title scene, Find TwinkleToes header appears over the scene. begin button below.
Find Twinkletoes, the new point and click adventure game! Click begin
Welcome to the reptile room, Twink the corn snake has escaped, Camera pans to Twinks empty viv, and its your job to help find her, she could be anywhere!
>Presented with fact file, middle screen item, on item base background This is your reptile fact file, explore the room to discover facts about each animal and their care. Completing fact collections will help you to understand the animals, unlock clues from them, and find Twink.
>fact file goes and sits in top right corner.
Pans back to room view, voice over at the same time
You should explore and ask around the rest of the animals - lets find that snake!”
>Day, base room set.
Zoom to Boots the hognose."Explore to find out facts and clues"
>She is moving towards the burrow hole. "go away, I dont know you!"
>Click on the substrate, opens journal fact popup
Western hognoses come from North America and are burrowing snakes. Their especially developed upturned nose scale is where they get their name and their burrowing skills.
>Popup appears, Success! You've found a creature care fact! Keep exploring to find out everything you can and be the best reptile wrangler around!
>popup closes, back to Boots viv view.
Careful though, you cant just dive straight in, >click "ask about Twink" Boots flips and plays dead. ...like with any animal, you need to understand it first!
>journal popup - Hognose snakes are generally docile and rarely attack, they are however drama queens and prefer to play dead if they feel threatened.
Click different areas to explore around the room, and investigate to find hidden items and secrets that can help you later on-
click bug box, morio worm (zoomed) appears on base background, congrats, youve found a morio worm! Worm entered to fact file. worm image goes to top right file.
Zoom to
"Some animals you'll have to tempt out first using items you collect around the room"
Basil: "I am fire, I am death, I am..." >Click give worm "ooh is that a worm?" >Shoots out his cave and snaps worm from tongs. >Popup - Skinks LOVE food, especially juicy bugs.
The more you explore and learn, the more you'll unlock to explore later
Wardrobe, first stage >Open wardrobe doors, pull out drawer and see shirts, >transition, open wardrobe doors and see racks.
Learn about different ways of keeping different animals, and how to meet their needs.
Ball python rack >popup "ball pythons are burrowing animals and live in termite mounds, they like dark small spaces
Transition to gecko viv, >popup gargoyle geckos come from the great forests of New Caledonia, provide them a tall vivarium with plenty of foliage and light!
>click a branch, >popup "make sure you have plenty of vertical climbing branches!"
Some animals are masters of disguise and dont like to be found, or are simply unsocial outside of their species.
pan through leaves at Georgie
>click eye "go away, I'll bite you!" just treat all animals with respect and listen to what they tell you Georgie "barks"
Find out about special animals, why not everyone is quite the same...
cut to Spyro, >click head, journal popup, "this bearded dragon is deformed due to inbreeding, always check your reptiles are from a reputable and trusted breeder, don't support bad breeders!
And how different genes can effect more than just patterns
ball python rack >Lunar spiralling , journal popup, certain genetics can cause neurological problems in ball pythons. Click here to find out all about Lunar's genetics
Other animals you'll need to visit at different times,
zoom to Stevie the leopard gecko
>bright, zoom to Stevie sleeping in cave, >just smiley head.
>Popup Tip: come back later when its darker, maybe Stevie will talk then.
-flash transition-
>Time change, afternoon, Stevie is out and by food bowl
Help out the creatures and they'll return the favour!
>fill bowl "Thanks man! I saw Twink digging in the terrarium earlier!"
Explore the world around you, and watch it change and evolve as your knowledge grows.
Pan around room >changes from first to last stage in centre split.
