The concept
Sugar Shack is a maple syrup management game and world crafter set in a cozy, magical forest inspired by Quebec lore and art. Hungry villagers with endless sweet tooths make their way to this legendary shack. Grab some friends, fire up the boiler, and let the syrup flow!
Developer: MadLife Divertissement
Publisher: Freedom Games |
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My role: Narrative Designer
- Created inclusive characters with a backstory and personality
- Created the storyboard for the opening cinematic
- Created a narrative document with character sheets, narrative structure, and quests
- Creation of worldbuilding and stories
- Did historical research for the stories, worldbuilding, NPCs, dialogues, and quests
- Ensured narrative consistency throughout the game's progression
- Ensured that the storytelling is culturally appropriate for the people and places involved
- Worked with level designers and programmers to create quests, mechanics, and game systems
- Wrote and edited dialogues
- Wrote several story pitches
Creation process for non-player characters (NPCs)
- Read the first version of the GDD (game design document) with some historical and legendary figures from Quebec culture that the company wanted to include in the game
- Extend historical research on these characters, their stories, and their legends
- Find other interesting historical and legendary characters from Quebec culture for the game
- Make an initial selection of characters based on their gameplay and narrative potential.
- Create character sheets (background, tastes, psychological and physiological traits, roles, moodboard)
- Introduce the characters to the development team
- Make a second selection of characters with the team, according to their preferences and the scope of the project
- Add and modify information on selected characters based on team feedback
- Confirm everything with the team
Creation process for quests and dialogues
- Brainstorm gameplay ideas and narrative elements for one of the NPCs' quests
- Develop the first quest for this character on “paper” (flow chart, objectives, dialogue moments, NPC actions, rewards)
- Present the quest to other designers and project supervisors
- Modify the quest according to comments
- Confirm everything with the team
- Write dialogues
- Present the quest dialogues to other designers and project supervisors
- Modify quest dialogues according to feedback
- Confirm everything with the team
- Start working on the next quest
Creation process for the opening cinematic
- Brainstorm ideas for the cutscene
- Create a detailed storyboard (framing, dialogues, sounds, camera shots)
- Present the storyboard to other designers and project supervisors
- Modify the storyboard according to feedback
- Confirm everything with the team