BA2017_dick-caroline

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APPLICATION TASK 2017 // Democracy Caroline Dick 

LIBRA - GAME CONCEPT 

“LIBRA” is a first person action adventure PC-game in which the player (target group from 

12) joins a rebellion and is determined to bring back democracy and justice. 

The story takes place in Elpida which once was the biggest democracy on earth. 

When scientists managed to invent a helmet offering the user the possibility to create his 

own reality people stopped participating in politics. 

This caused a widening gap between rich and poor and the government built up a dictatorial 

system. 

One day the protagonist receives a note from the head of a rebellion consisting of young 

people trying to topple the government. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

As I want to show not only the game concept itself but also my approach to solve the task 

I built up the presentation in a chronological order showing the process and development of 

the game.

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CONCEPTUAL ARTWORKS - First ideas and sketches 

traditional environment sketch (scanned) 

First concept artwork of Elpida before its 

democratic system was destroyed by new 

technologies and the government. 

I tried to convey greek influences as can 

be seen at the columns and round arches. 

traditional character concept (scanned) 

Libra - Head of rebelling group 

Her parents died due to starvation 

when they got addicted to the new 

helmets. As Libra was only six years 

old she could not help them and grew 

up alone. The rebels see her as a 

symbol of free expression and political 

activity even though she was born 

dumb.

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traditional environment concept (scanned) 

Concept of Elpida‘s downtown in one of the poor sectors after the new technologie‘s development. 

traditional character concept (scanned) 

Concept of male and female protagonist the 

player gets to choose between at the beginning of 

the game as well as other features such as the 

player‘s backpack, the rebellion‘s badge and cloak.

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traditional sketch (scanned) - helmet concept 

First concept of the newly developed helmets offering the user to create his own reality with unlimited 

opportunities. 

Those who become addicted loose their sensitivity to differentiate between reality and imagination, some 

even die due to thirst or starvation. 

The helmets appeal to all senses maximizing the closeness to reality in the user‘s mind.

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CONCEPTUAL ARTWORKS - Digital 

Character sheet - Libra (digital)

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- Elpida Concept (past) -

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- Elpida Downtown Concept - 

- Helmet Concept -

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„Join the rebellion“ - Digital Artwork

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LIBRA - GAME TRAILER 

All images used in the video are also available on my homepage: 

https://uncommoon.artstation.com/albums/81537

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Resources 

ICONS: http://www.flaticon.com/packs/painting-tools-2 [designed by Freepik from Flaticon] 

VIDEO MUSIC: Oblivion by Dag Reinbott [TerraSound.de] 

FONTS: „Dalek“ by K-Type (used in video) www.dafont.com 

„Greek“ by Pedro M. Pastor (used in video) www.dafont.com 

All images and texts were created by myself.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 

In his essay Étienne de La Boétie sharply criticizes the ruler’s use of games and enjoyment as an instrument 

for achieving obedience within the population by referring to the historical example of Lydia. He explains 

that the establishment of entertainment leads to a lack of political participation and blindness. 

Concerning the relation between games and democracy it can be said that in history entertainment has often 

been used to especially distract lower classes of society from poltical questions and problems, as can be seen 

e.g. in the ancient Rome and their gladiator fights. 

Nowadays games have to be seen in a more differentiated way as there are various types. Some are dealing 

with serious issues and try to make the player aware of it. 

[Source: Étienne de La Boétie (1530-1663): “The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude”]

BA2017_dick-caroline

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