In Project Anaximander you play as a scientist that studies the Many-Worlds Theory trying to invent multiverse travel. The game starts with you waking up in your apartment and heading to your lab for a seemingly normal day. But once you enter your lab you find a strange device that takes you to many different universes. Each universe having different problems. Do you help solve these problems or do you help yourself?
Thematic Setting and Genre
Project Anaximander is a singleplayer stealth RPG set in many thematic settings. In the game you travel the multiverse each universe you visit has a different thematic setting. There is: modern day, sci-fi, steampunk and noir thematic settings.
Target Audience
This game will be aiming for a PEGI rating of PEGI 16 as it allows for the use of more extreme bad language than PEGI 12 and it allows the use of alcohol.
Core Player Experience
The player will have the opportunity to choose whether they want to help other people or just help themselves. Which ever way they choose to go they will have to sneak past enemies to avoid detection. They will be able to throw items to distract enemies to help avoid detection.
Platforms
-Steam
-Epic Games
-Xbox Series X/S
-PlayStation 4 & 5
I’ve decided to put the game on these platforms as it allows both console and PC players to play the game meaning the game reaches a wider audience. I’ve decided not to put the game on Nintendo Switch as the target audience of the Switch doesn’t match with the games target audience.
Moodboards
Future
Steampunk
Noir
Current Day
Character Bios
Dr Anaximander
Name: Dr Stephen Anaximander
Occupation: Stephen is a scientist working for a government funded science institution called 10 Point Laboratories. 10 Point Labs funds and houses the top scientists in a wide range of fields allowing them to carry out their research and experiments. Stephen is the top scientist in the world studying the Many-Worlds Theory.
Backstory: Stephen was always the top student in his science and maths classes always getting the top grades. When he was child he used to read lots of comics which is where he got his fascination for the Many-Worlds Theory.
Appearance:
Skinny
Tall
Full beard
Glasses
Brown eyes
Lab Coat
Mr Mayor
Name: Thomas Steam
Occupation: Mr Mayor is the mayor of Steam City. He has been the mayor for the past 23 years and has been a very popular mayor for anyone that supports steam engineering and power.
Backstory: He was born into a very rich family that made its money from steam engineering and power. Since he became mayor he has done everything within his legal and illegal power to keep steam power the main source of energy.
Occupation: Stephen is a scientist working for a government funded science institution called Mendel Laboratories. Mendel Labs funds and houses the top scientists in a wide range of fields allowing them to carry out their research and experiments. Stephen is the top scientist in the world studying genetics.
Backstory: Stephen was always the top student in his science and maths classes always getting the top grades. When he was child he used to read lots of comics which is where he got his fascination for genetics.
Appearance:
Mermaid tail
Velociraptor head
Llama everything else
Red tie
Ideas and Sketches
Key Game Mechanics
Movement
The player has the basic movement of walking and sprinting. They will have a stamina bar for sprinting. They will also be able to crouch to crawl under things and hide behind things. They won’t be able to jump but will be able to climb certain things.
Abilities
The player will be able to pick things up and store them in their limited inventory. They will be able to throw these objects to distract/lure enemies to the location of where the object lands. They will be able to acquire a “Bobzooka” to increase there throw distance. They will also be able to acquire remote noise makers which will be devices that can be place and set off remotely. When set of enemies will be lured to the devices location. Players will also be able to get an officer’s uniform which will allow them to be hidden from officers if the player doesn’t run and doesn’t go too close to the officers.
Game Flow Diagram
Studio Engine Disclaimer
Game Start
Intro videos
Studio Engine Disclaimer
New game Load Settings Quit
Main Menu
New game Load Settings Quit
You wake up and get out of bed.
Intro Cutscene
You wake up and get out of bed.
The player now has free rein over the character to explore their house. The player needs to interact with the front door to continue the story.
House Level
The player now has free rein over the character to explore their house. The player needs to interact with the front door to continue the story.
Dr Anaximander enters his office and finds a strange device in his lab.
Strange Day Cutscene
Dr Anaximander enters his office and finds a strange device in his lab.
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the lab. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story.
Your Lab Level
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the lab. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story.
Space/universe hop/drug trip.
First Hop Cutscene
Space/universe hop/drug trip.
Scientist walks into a futuristic lab holding a bazooka. He looks up and screams in fear. The camera doesn’t see what he sees only the shadow.
Genetic Mishap Cutscene
Scientist walks into a futuristic lab holding a bazooka. He looks up and screams in fear. The camera doesn’t see what he sees only the shadow.
Anaximander wakes up on the floor of a futuristic lab and gets up.
Waking Up In the Future Cutscene
Anaximander wakes up on the floor of a futuristic lab and gets up.
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the futuristic lab. The player needs to interact with a cupboard to continue the story.
Futuristic Lab Level
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the futuristic lab. The player needs to interact with a cupboard to continue the story.
You find out that the version of you from this universe has turned himself into a mix between a mermaid, a velociraptor and a llama. He needs your help to reverse this.
Sci-Fi Anaximander Cutscene
You find out that the version of you from this universe has turned himself into a mix between a mermaid, a velociraptor and a llama. He needs your help to reverse this.
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the whole lab building. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story. The player can choose to help the sci-fi version of them or not. They can also help another scientist in the building. Lab security are on high alert and will shoot anything on sight.
Whole Futuristic Lab Level
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the whole lab building. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story. The player can choose to help the sci-fi version of them or not. They can also help another scientist in the building. Lab security are on high alert and will shoot anything on sight.
Space/universe hop/drug trip. Again.
Another Hop Cutscene
Space/universe hop/drug trip. Again.
A steampunk scientist is working on a solar panel. Then Mr Mayor walks in with a bunch of steampunk citizens. Mr Mayor isn’t happy with what the scientist is doing and is threating to kill the scientist if they don’t stop their research. Just before all hell breaks loose the strange device crashes through the ceiling.
A Green Future Cutscene
A steampunk scientist is working on a solar panel. Then Mr Mayor walks in with a bunch of steampunk citizens. Mr Mayor isn’t happy with what the scientist is doing and is threating to kill the scientist if they don’t stop their research. Just before all hell breaks loose the strange device crashes through the ceiling.
Anaximander wakes up on the floor of a steampunk room and gets up. Then the steampunk scientist burst through the door. You find out this is another version of your from another universe that needs your help to get out of town.
Waking Up In a Steampunk World Cutscene
Anaximander wakes up on the floor of a steampunk room and gets up. Then the steampunk scientist burst through the door. You find out this is another version of your from another universe that needs your help to get out of town.
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the steampunk city. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story. The player can choose to help the steampunk version of them or not. They can also help a man find his sister. All citizens are on a manhunt for the steampunk you but will attack you if they see you because you don’t look steampunk enough.
Steampunk City Level
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the steampunk city. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story. The player can choose to help the steampunk version of them or not. They can also help a man find his sister. All citizens are on a manhunt for the steampunk you but will attack you if they see you because you don’t look steampunk enough.
Space/universe hop/drug trip. Again.
Another Hop Cutscene
Space/universe hop/drug trip. Again.
A private detective walks into his office to find you on their floor.
Strange Day at the Office Cutscene
A private detective walks into his office to find you on their floor.
Anaximander wakes up in a black and white world tied to a chair. You find out that the PI is another version of you. PI you will either help you or not.
Waking Up in Black and White Cutscene
Anaximander wakes up in a black and white world tied to a chair. You find out that the PI is another version of you. PI you will either help you or not.
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the noir city. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story. The city is being patrolled by the police because a colourful strange device crashed somewhere in the city. They will shoot you on sight because you aren’t black and white.
Noir City Level
The player now has free rein over the character to explore the noir city. The player needs to interact with the strange device to continue the story. The city is being patrolled by the police because a colourful strange device crashed somewhere in the city. They will shoot you on sight because you aren’t black and white.
Depending on how helpful you were to others you get a different ending. -Ending 1 (You helped everyone 4/4) you get back home and your further studies into the Many-Worlds Theory is successful. You discover multiverse travel. -Ending 2 (You helped 2-3/4 people) you get home and are unsuccessful in your studies. -Ending 3 (You helped 1 person) you get home and are fired and put in a mental asylum -Ending 4 (You helped no one) you never get home.
Endings Cutscenes
Depending on how helpful you were to others you get a different ending. -Ending 1 (You helped everyone 4/4) you get back home and your further studies into the Many-Worlds Theory is successful. You discover multiverse travel. -Ending 2 (You helped 2-3/4 people) you get home and are unsuccessful in your studies. -Ending 3 (You helped 1 person) you get home and are fired and put in a mental asylum -Ending 4 (You helped no one) you never get home.
Minimum Viable Product
Have the following mechanics working:
-Walking
-Running with stamina
-Crouching
-Climbing
-Throwing objects to lure people
-Bobzooka (buffed throw)
-Inventory
-Remote noise maker
-Officer uniform
Have NPCs that:
-Walk a set path
-React to lures
-Can detect the player
-Can’t detect the player wearing officer uniform
Assets:
-Dr Anaximander model & animations
-Beat cop model & animations
Level Designs
This is where the player learns the movement controls.
This is where the player learns about the enemies, inventory and throwing.
This is where the player learns about the cop uniform and the remote noise device.
This is an area that allows the player to play around with the mechanics and AI.
