#threedots

Aelys is a city like no other—a marvel of human ingenuity encased in a shimmering dome of light. Beneath its radiant canopy, the sky is always clear, the streets hum with energy, and innovation knows no bounds. The dome provides more than protection—it makes Aelys feel limitless. Within its glowing embrace, life is good. People stroll through sunlit plazas, admire breathtaking artificial sunsets, and celebrate the city’s endless stream of technological breakthroughs. In Aelys, there’s no struggle, no chaos—just progress, prosperity, and a promise that they are humanity’s greatest achievement.

-> Again Credits to our Game Artist Steffi

Age: 22

Origin: Aelys, The City of Lights

Specialization: Engineering, repairs, and a knack for getting into (and out of) trouble

Ren grew up surrounded by grease-stained tools and half-finished inventions in her father’s mechanic shop. By the time most kids were learning how to ride bikes, Ren was welding metal and programming circuits. When her dad took a prestigious job for the government, she proudly took over the family shop—until things went sideways. Her dad grew secretive, distant, and then vanished without a word.

All that remained was a strange chip, perfectly shaped to fit into the robot she built as a teen: B1-TZ. Now armed with her engineering brilliance and a sidekick with a few surprises up his metal sleeve, Ren sets out to uncover the truth behind her father‘s disappearance and the secrets of Aelys—one repair at a time.

-> This cool character was designed by Steffi :)

See you soon,

The interface is inspired by traditional open-world games, featuring classic categories like inventory, quests, and maps. Players access these through the the icon of Ren's small robot companion. On the 3rd screen is the categories “skills” where players can upgrade the robots skills and unlock new abilities.

Have a nice one,

Progressive Unlocking of World

Experience the progressive evolution of characters and the world, as you revisit familiar areas now unlocked by your growing skillset, revealing hidden depths and untapped potential that were once beyond your reach.

Storyline

The storyline of our game captivates players with its rich, compelling narrative, drawing them into a world where every choice and discovery fuels their curiosity and keeps them eagerly engaged.

 Visuals

The storyline of our game captivates players with its rich, compelling narrative, drawing them into a world where every choice and discovery fuels their curiosity and keeps them eagerly engaged.

That's it friends.

After we decided on the type of game we wanted to create, it was time to think about who we were making it for. And how better to do that than by looking at other games in a similar genre with similar mechanics?

Open world

First and foremost, Zelda: Breath of the Wild heavily influenced us, particularly in how we approached our open world and exploration. We loved the idea of being able to go anywhere, as long as you could acquire the right equipment.

Map Design

Although they are movies, our map layout reminds us of Zootopia and The Hunger Games (specifically the Capitol and districts), with the city in the center and the outer lands surrounding it. However, our map differs in that the different areas are larger, almost like their own small continents encircling the central city.

Overall look

When it came to the aesthetic, we immediately thought of games like Cyberpunk 2077, Stray, and Nier: Automata. We wanted a sci-fi look for the city while maintaining a post-apocalyptic, destroyed theme for the surrounding regions.

What sets us apart?

After considering all these influences, what sets us apart from the media above? First, we don’t have a traditional villain. Instead, we focus on exploring why people make bad decisions. We aim to use the environment to illustrate how the collective poor choices of large groups can devastate the world. Through this, we hope to emphasize the importance of caring for our planet, working together, and helping one another to create a brighter future.

What is the feedback and awarding scheme? Players receive feedback through rewards such as items, new lands, and access to previously locked places. This feedback reinforces their progress and encourages exploration. By solving challenges and improving the conditions of the regions, players are also awarded symbolic milestones that signify their efforts in achieving harmony between the regions. The game provides both immediate feedback, such as improved visuals or reactions from NPCs, and long-term rewards like unlocking deeper storylines or advanced tools.

What will players learn from playing your game? Players will gain an understanding of environmental stewardship, including how to take care of the planet and maintain harmony with nature. They will see the consequences of exploitation and neglect and learn how small, thoughtful actions can have a large positive impact on their surroundings.

How will the game help players learn this? Learning happens through problem-solving and overcoming challenges. Each region presents specific issues caused by neglect, overexploitation, or mismanagement. As players interact with these regions, they uncover what went wrong and are tasked with restoring balance. By observing the direct effects of their actions, players internalize lessons about environmental responsibility and sustainability.

What tools or features will support players in learning while they play?

QuestLock: A tool to track quests and challenges, ensuring players always know what needs to be done next.

Glossar: An in-game glossary providing definitions, explanations, and lore about the world, its problems, and solutions.

In-region Tools: Each land provides unique tools or abilities that reflect the specific challenges of that area, helping players solve problems creatively and adapt to the context.

How will you explain the game’s learning goals to players? The game introduces its goals organically through a rich backstory, character-driven dialogue, and storytelling. Players learn by doing, with initial tasks designed to gently immerse them in the world and its mechanics. NPCs and environmental cues also guide players in understanding the stakes and the broader implications of their actions.

How will the game start simple and gradually become more challenging to help players learn progressively? The game starts with a brief backstory introducing the main character, their role, and the immediate environment. Early challenges are straightforward, like fixing a tool or helping a neighbor, which familiarize players with the mechanics and world. As players unlock new regions, the complexity of the problems increases, introducing multi-step quests, resource management, and strategic decision-making to ensure a smooth progression.

How will players learn progressively (progress from simple to complicated)? Players are introduced to new mechanics, tools, and concepts one at a time. The game ensures a manageable difficulty curve, beginning with isolated, small-scale problems that build confidence and understanding. As players progress, challenges become interconnected, requiring logical thinking, creativity, and the application of previously learned skills in new, more complex scenarios.

How is the learning adapted to the individual skills of the player? The game caters to diverse playstyles and skill levels. Logical challenges appeal to analytical thinkers, while creative tasks encourage innovation. Players have multiple options to solve problems, allowing them to choose approaches that suit their strengths. Adaptive difficulty ensures that beginners are not overwhelmed, while experienced players remain engaged by optional challenges or advanced problem-solving opportunities.

Here are some of our learning outcomes, since this will be a learning game. :)

That’s all. Bye

Genre: Open-world adventure with deep narrative elements and progressive area unlocking.

Setting: At the heart of a vast world lies a bustling city that thrives like a powerful, beating heart—but at the expense of four surrounding regions. These regions, once rich and vibrant, are being ravaged by the city's insatiable hunger for resources, leading to catastrophic environmental destruction:

Forest Region: Once a land of endless trees, it is now almost barren due to the city's relentless logging. The loss of trees has unleashed violent storms, as the natural windbreak is gone.

Island Region: An archipelago of small islands is being systematically mined for resources. As the city strips them bare, the islands collapse, causing habitat loss and erosion.

Winter Region: Once a haven for winter tourism and outdoor adventures, pollution from the city has blotted out the sun. The region is now plunged into extreme cold, making survival and tourism impossible.

Lake Region: A fertile area interwoven with freshwater lakes. Over years of exploitation, the city has drained its water reserves, resulting in droughts and the death of its lush vegetation.

Storyline: The protagonist, a young resident of the city, refuses to stand by as the surrounding regions are destroyed. Her father, a visionary, once devised plans to mitigate the damage caused by the city. Though he failed in his mission, he left the responsibility to his child.

The heroine embarks on a perilous journey to complete her father's work and restore balance to the regions. Acknowledging that the past cannot be undone, her goal is to find sustainable solutions and offer hope to those living beyond the city's walls.

Gameplay: The game combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and quest mechanics in an open-world setting.

Restrictions: The world isn’t fully accessible from the start. Players must complete specific quests and gather necessary items to unlock access to the next region.

Regional Gameplay: Each region features unique challenges and gameplay mechanics tailored to its environmental crisis.

Message: This game tells a story of responsibility, hope, and environmental stewardship. It emphasizes that change is possible, even if it requires sacrifice. Players learn that sustainable solutions are essential not only for the survival of individual regions but for the entire world.

Lots of Love

-Tami