Ghost of Gettysburg: Narrative Game Project

Overview:
For my final project in Game Design at Penn State University, I collaborated with a team to conceptualize and develop Ghost of Gettysburg, a text-based exploration game that takes players back to the historic Battle of Gettysburg. The project focused on narrative depth, player choice, and historical immersion, with a strong emphasis on storytelling.

Play it here

KEY CONTRIBUTIONS

Game Concept & Narrative Development:

Collaborated with my team to shape the overall game concept and narrative structure. Our goal was to create an engaging historical experience, where players could uncover the mystery of a forgotten Confederate battalion through multiple story routes.

Contributed ideas for the game’s key storylines, which centered around player choice and historical events. The narrative was designed to evolve based on the items players collected, leading to different story paths and endings.

Creation of the Game Book:

Authored and designed the official game book, which served as a comprehensive user manual for players. This book detailed the game’s storyline, essential commands, game mechanics, and item collection system, providing players with everything they needed to navigate the game successfully.

Structured the manual to be player-friendly and informative, breaking down complex gameplay elements into easily digestible sections.

Included historical references and resources in the game book to enhance the immersive experience, allowing players to connect with the real-world history behind the story

AI-Assisted Imaging:

Utilized AI tools to create the visual elements for the game, including AI-generated imagery that depicted key items and settings in the game. These images were designed to evoke the historical period and add depth to the narrative experience.

The AI-generated images were integrated into the game’s storytelling and item collection system, helping players visualize the items they collected and their significance in the game’s plot.

OUTCOME

The project received positive feedback for its engaging narrative and historical accuracy. The game book was highlighted as a critical component that enhanced the player experience by providing clear instructions and rich background information. The AI-generated visuals added an extra layer of immersion, making the historical narrative more vivid and accessible to players.