assignment

Game design document „Pariah“
I. What is „Pariah“ about?
The story of the game „Pariah“ takes place in futuristic and dystopian world.
Because of the massive pollution and the wasteful lifestyle of human beings the global warming proceeded in
an inexorable way. As a result the polar caps melted rapidly and a major area of the world got flooded. After
this catastrophe in which a lot of humans lost their lifes, the human habitat is nearly completly destroyed. To
create a new living space they build „The Ark“: an enormous city floating on the sea and underwater. The
buildings are giantic glass spheres which are connected to each other with tunnels and elevators.
After a while they noticed some problems: They where not able to dispose their junk inside the Ark, so they
needed a new, bigger „trashcan“. In this case they choose the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the sea, to
destroy the next ecosystem with junk and nuclear waste. Beacuse the Mariana Trench is still an unexplored
part of the sea the antagonist of the game „Captain Tristan“ is commissioned to dive down to the seabed and
explore the conditions to store the waste down there.
But down there is more than Tristan expected: A living ecosystem with values and rules similar to human
ones.
The prostagonist of the story is „Alfred“, a big mutated fish who is outcasted of his society because he is
(falsely) accused of a crime. The usual punishment for criminals in this society is to sew together their
mouthes to take away their right of co-determination. Same happend to Alfred, even if he did not do anything
wrong.
After Tristan explored the ecosystem in the Mariana Trench, he and his team decided to store the waste down
there, even if it causes the death of many living beings.
But again, they got a real problem: The society in the sea decided to fight against the plans of the humans
and try sabotage their project. Tristan and his team notice the uprising of the sea-society during their
preaparation on the seabed very fast and needed to abort their dives multiple times.
Because the most outcasted fishes hate their society they decided to help the humans to realise their plans
without any disturbances. Because Tristan promises them to cut the threads in their mouthes, even Alfred
decided to help them first. But later on he question his decision because he realises that he hurts other fishes
while helping Tristan.
The player is able to decide wether he hates the society which outcasted him and if he want to help Tristan to
destroy the ecosystem and even beliefe in his promise or if his heart is bigger than his hate and decide to help
the society to save the Mariana Trench and show them, that he is not a criminal.
II. Platform and genere
The Game „Pariah“ is a 2D, singleplayer, point-and-click adventure which could be played on PC or MAC.
The Player is able to interact with his environment to explore the story and solve riddles by mouseclick.
In the case of „Pariah“ the player can explore the underwater world of the Mariana Trench and interact with
the sea dwellers and humans like Tristan. Depending on the players decision he has to solve different riddles
to reach his goals. For example Alfred can damage the submarine by remove the right parts.
III. The target audience
The game´s target group is probably a young one because it is a point and click adventure with a comic-like
art style. I created a more comic like art style in contrast to the serious topic of global warming, pollution and
difficult decisions. Next to the art style, the possibility to make own decisions which change the story and the
end of the game make it work for the audience. Especially young people like it to make decisions without
any consequences in reality to see what would probably happen in real life. In this game they can decide if
they want to be the villian or the hero of the story. Being the vilian is something they can not be in reality
which is the charm of the game for young people because they like to try out and find out who they are. But
even if their decision has no consequences in real life, they have consequences in the game. The player
probably has a guilty consience if he realises that he damage the ecosystem and hurts the sea dwellers and
decides to help them, instead of being the villian.
The game should teach people to make decisions and to decide what is wrong and what is right. It should
show that life is unfair sometimes, but that it is important to decide for the right things and people.
The topic of global warming should also show the consequences of our lifestyle and our behaviour and that
humans can be the antagonists of our real life world and are able to destroy their own habitat.

Characters and environment
I. Alfred
Alfred is the protagonist of the game. He is kind and friendly, mutated ´Monsterfish´ who is falsely
accused of a crime. That is why his mouth is sewn together. It is the usual punishment for criminals
to take away their rights. Because he did not do anything wrong he feels totally wronged, but did to
try to complain. Since then he lives as an outcasted.

II. Captain Tristan
Captain Tristan is the antagonist of the Game and represents the whole human race. He is the one
who dives down the Mariana Trench with his team to explore everything.
Tristan is selfish and very confident and always gets what he wants. He is also a very good liar has a
feeling of superiority.

III. The Mariana Trench
This picture shows a small part of the Mariana Trench.

Letter of motivation
A few years ago, when I started to play games regularly, I also started to analyse the games I played.
Since then I wanted to know what is behind each game, what was the designers inspiration, his train
of thoughts during the creative production process. Behind every game are individuals who create a
unique game and I know that I want to be a part of the production process itself, instead of only
playing the game. During my studies at Saxion and my future job I want to bring the worlds I
created in my mind to life, with all their characters, landscapes and stories and the studies at Saxion
could teach me how to do it perfectly. I am also very interested in the psychological ways of
influencing the players during their decision to buy a game and during the game itself. Studying
Game Design and Productions at the Saxion could be an important foundation to realise my dream
of designing games, drawing, writing and being creative in my future career.
After searching for a possible course of study in Germany a friend, who is actually studying GDP,
told me about the Saxion in Enschede. Since then I knew that I want to study there as well. I really
appreciate the practice-oriented way of studying and that the lecturers have professional experience
as well. Studying in English and working together with different companies could help to find
connection to the world of work after finishing the studies. The small courses and the support
during the studies were an argument for the Saxion as well. Also the course of study is unique and
not available in Germany in this way and I also really like the possibility to specialize myself during
the studies at Saxion.
My expectations at the studies are to learn more about the multifaceted world of games, about
sounds, drawing, story telling and sculpting, because a game is much more than only playing it.
I also expect to learn something about marketing and advertising, because it is an important part of
the development process. I hope to “learn by doing” and not only learning theories during the four
years at Saxion. I expect kind lecturers and students as well as productive, creative teamwork with
different people who might have the same interests, but other interesting ideas. All in all I hope to
be capable of creating different kinds of worlds and bringing them to life and to lay a foundation for
my future career with the studies at Saxion.
When I think of my future career after the time at Saxion I think of multiple possibilities, because
the course could teach me different skills which are versatile applicable. During my studies I would
be able to create a portfolio which could serve as a base for future assessments. I also can not
exclude another professional development after the studies or found an own company, because the
course at Saxion also prepares me becoming a self-employed person one day. I am also very flexible
with my future place of working, because I could be able to develop my English skills during the
time at Saxion to work internationally as well.
But why should you accept me to study GDP at Saxion? First of all, I really love playing games, but
I think there is more than only playing the games. I want to study and analyse them and also create
them by myself. I am truly motivated to bring different worlds to life and work with an equally
motivated team to create something unique. I am curious about the different facets of games and
want to learn more about them. I want to broad my mind during the studies at Saxion. Whatever I
start, I am ambitious to finish it with a lot of attention to detail.
I am a perfectionist in nearly everything I do. I want to combine the things I love to do like drawing,
creating things, being creative and telling stories about different kinds of worlds in my future career
and in my opinion studying Game Design and Productions at the Saxion is a perfect foundation and
the first step into the right direction.

The Portfolio
I. Cailleach Oidhche
The main idea
The Game “Cailleach Oidhche” is about the same named young woman Cailleach Oidhche, which
live in the 9 th Century in a Scottish- Gaelic village. She is excluded of the villages society because
of her otherness and relation to her grandmother, who is feared by the villagers and blamed for
many deaths in the village. Because of these accusations her grandmother get murdered. On her
deathbed she told Cailleach to flee and to take the mysterious staff with an owl on it with her and
protect it. She also told her about a curse and her task to break it. With no idea what her
Grandmother meant she run away to save her and the staff.
I though about this Game as a classic point and click adventure, in which the players task is to solve
different riddles to obtain the truth about Cailleach, the mysterious death of her grandmother and
the curse she needs to break.
The possible target group are young people with a minimum age of thirteen, because of the riddles
with a moderate difficulty and the tragic background story of Cailleach.

Shortstory – The Lore of Cailleach Oidhche
Long time ago, when the northern part of the Kingdom of Alba was characterised by the culture of
the picts, a young woman lived in a small village. With her unnatural white hair and her interests in
extraordinary things, she was definitely different compared to the other villagers and women at her
young age. Cailleach Oidhche strikes with her strange outer appearance even if her intense desire is
to be unobtrusive and to be leaved alone. She tries to cover her strange hair under a huge hood of a
long dark green rope, but sometimes a few strands of hair fall into her face, so everyone is able to
notice her abnormality which she tries to hide so hard. Cailleach just loves to be alone in the
underground library of her village, which is nearly never visited by anyone else. Only there she can
flee from all the judging eyes and spend her time with what she loves so much: Books. Books about
alchemy, books about myths, about bloodthirsty beasts and creatures with magical abilities. All
these interests are influenced by her beloved Grandmother, where she grew up. She can remember
all the stories she told her, when she was a toddler. Sometimes they where fascinating, exciting or
even a little bit thrilling. Some day her Grandma told her about her Name which means ´owl´ or
´woman of the night´ and that the Cailleachs where the guardians of the animals, in form of women
with veiling ropes and big staffs, which created the nature and represent the night. This gaelic myth
was the most interesting for Cailleach. The story bolster her, and let her dream about being like
these strong women and not only a strange, abnormal girl in a poor village. But even the most wise
woman Cailleach knew, her grandmother, was strange for the villagers. No, they nearly hated her.
No one even talks to her and everyone mostly avoids her, just like Cailleach. Cailleach never
questioned about this, and tries to avoid the others as well. But sometimes she can't. Sometimes the
looks are too judging and the villagers are defame about her beloved Grandmother. They whisper
rumours about her, which Cailleach never believed. They talk about the big wooden Staff her
Grandmother owned, which they fear the most. Probably the grumpy looking Owl Cirdirsceol,
sitting on the Staff all day, scares them or the dark sphere in the middle of it is way too abnormal for
them. Cailleach knew that they believed in witchcraft, but for her the staff is one of the most normal
things in her live. “Witchcraft, what a stupid though” Cailleach told herself everytime she hears
someone whisper.
The last years of her life passed by without any curiosities, besides the strange behaviour of the
other villagers. But one evening she had a very bad feeling, like premonition or a warning. But she
ignored it in her naïve way. As announced earlier that day, her grandmother went to the library to
search for a book about herbs for some new medicine. She won't require much time, Cailleach
though and started to prepare a meal for dinner after her grandmother left the hut. But after she
finished everything, her grandmother still wasn't home. Cailleach began to worry, because her
grandma was never too late for dinner. Preparing everything took her nearly two full hours, because

Cailleach was a little bit clumsy with lighting the fire. No one, Cailleach though, no one needs two
hours or even longer to search a book. She knew the library was messy and dusty, but there are only
a few books available her grandmother could search through. After the potage she made already
became cold, she decided to look after her grandmother. She opened the old wooden door and
stepped out. Because of all the gaps in the masonry she already knew about the story and rainy
weather, so she put on her hood. The cold rain strikes against her face and began to hurt her. When
she was at the library she perceived painfull moaning next to the well a few meters next to the
library entrance. She turned around frightened and blanched even more when she saw the cause for
the moan. Her Grandmother lays on the ground, streamed with blood and gasped. Totally horrified
Cailleach tries to move her legs which became as heavy as lead. She kneed down next to her dying
grandmother and tears ran down her cheeks. This must be a nightmare, a joke of her own imaginary.
This could be the explanation. But it felt way too real for Cailleach. She felt like in a deep trance
when her grandmother tries to speak painfully. “Don't cry my dear, there is something more
important to do for you now.” She stopped, and coughed a surge of blood. “It's your duty to care
about Cirdisceol and the staff. This, my dear, is your priority now. But you can't stay! Flee and do,
what I couldn't: Find out how to break the curse.” She stopped again, gasped. “The curse, my dear,
break the...” she fell in silence and a touch of warm breath left her body, the last one. Cailleach
collapsed over her grandmothers dead body and cried, cried excruciating. Why does she felt like she
was stunned and chained when her grandmother talked to her? Why does she only listen to her?
Why doesn't she tried to help her? Maybe she was able to safe her? All those questions were in her
head and nearly crushed her mind, when she heard someone in the library. Someone argued down
there and seems to be very angry. Attracted from the loud dispute she stepped next to the entrance
and listened. “It wasn't the old woman! She was not the witch, do you hear me Alea?” “Why? How
could you be so sure about it?” “The infant of Mary died, exactly after we killed her! She wasn't the
witch, it must be her granddaughter, she always seems to be curious to me.” “Should we murder her
as well, just to be sure to bring all this to an end?” the other one questioned. Silence, nothing than
silence surrounded Cailleach, she even faded the rain. “They murdered her”, she though, “and I am
the next.” She heard footsteps, threatening footsteps coming up the library. Even before her mind
could react, her feet began to run. Her hand grapped after the old wooden staff, which lays next to
the cold, wet body of the grandmother, and Cirdisceol, because of her task to protect them both. She
slightly turned around to wish her grandmother goodbye and ran into the deep, dark woods. While
she ran, she though about what the others in the library said. Why should she, or even her
Grandmother be a witch? Where is the missing link to the dead infant? Questions she wasn't able to
answer by herself, but she need to find the answers. Her face was streamed by tears which mixed
with the heavy rain. What does her Grandmother mean? What Curse should she break and why

should she protect the staff like she did her lifetime? Cailleach just wanted to hug her Grandmother
and ask her all these questions. She felt guilty that she left her dead body behind. But now it was too
late to turn around.
Possible Level
In the following course of the game, Cailleach met some friendly young people in another village
after she left her old home behind. They told her about a terrible drought which leads to many death
in the last few month.
Seliha: “It´s terrible! During the last month a lot of elderly people and babies died because of the
drought. Even my younger sister became sick in cause of the less water and food.”
Jeriha: “But everyone is helping to make the best out of the situation. My father and some other
men are trying to find a new source for a well.”
Seliha: “Uhm no, think about the old creepy woman. She never helps anyone. She went to a dark
carve everyday to pray to a stupid tree. Does she think it has some magical abilities to save us? HA!
Thats absolutely ridiculous.”
Jeriha: “My mother told me to stay away from her, probably she hexes us if we annoy her. HA! But
even if she is just a joke, her weird staff scares me a little.”
Seliha: “Yeah, you are right. But hey....when I think about I now...it´s really similar to yours,
Cailleach. I hope you won´t hex us. HA HA!”
Jeriha: “There is nothing like witchcraft. The woman is just a little bit crazy and probably senile.”
Seliha: “Jeriha, it's becoming dark outside, we should go I guess.”
After this conversation Cailleach is curious about the old woman and her staff. She decided to find
out more about her and resolve to search after her in the dark cave the both told her about.
Right after she found the cave she secretly observe the old woman talking to the tree. After the
woman went out of the cave, Cailleach went out of her hideout and tries to the tree as well, but
nothing happened.
The Riddle
When the player clicks on the tree in the cave he gets to the riddle.
The tree got different holes on different spots. When the player clicks on the holes they make
different noises.
In front of the tree is a sign which says: “Play the melody of your beloved ones.”
Connection to the Game
In the beginning of the story, when Cailleach remembers the myths her grandmother told her, there
is a melody in the background. Her grandmother used it to sing a lullaby when Cailleach was a
toddler. After Cailleach flee the melody of her grandmothers song, the person she loved the most,

accompanied the player the whole game.
The Goal
The goal of the riddle is to recreate the lullaby melody of her grandmother.
After the riddle is solved the tree become alive.
Dialogue with Chraobh the tree
The Tree: “Welcome my dear, lovely to see such a young face in my cave.”
Cailleach: “Who are you?”
The Tree: “I knew you would ask for it, even your grandmother did. I am Chraobh.”
Cailleach: “You knew my grandmother? Why?”
Chraobh: “I knew you would ask for it. I also knew you would find me, everyone who should, finds
me.”
Cailleach: “But why should I find you?”
Chraobh: “You are the granddaughter of your grandmother, and now, after she died, you need to
full fill her task.”
Cailleach: “What task are you talking about?”
Chraobh: “She never told you about it? Fine, then I will do. Your Grandmother was a Cailleach,
maybe you know about this myth. That's also why you are named like it, because you are one
aswell.”
Cailleach: “Yeah, I know about the myth. But what the hell have I in common with them? I am not
brave nor I could protect anything. I wasn't even able to protect my grandmother.”
Chraobh: “You aren't able to protect humans. If they die, it's their fate. You can't stop the progress,
but you secure it.”
Cailleach: “I secure the progress of people dying? How, I does not do anything!”
Chraobh: “You protect the owl, you protect the progress. Have you never noticed what happened
when your owl is screaming? Someone is dying or a new child is born.”
Cailleach: “Can't I just leave the staff here or kill the owl? I don't want to be responsible for all
these deaths.”
Chraobh: “No you can't. You are born in the bloodline of the Cailleach's, there are nearly no ways to
escape your fate.”
Cailleach: “Nearly no ways? There are ways? Then tell me how I can escape! Is this the curse my
grandmother told me about?”
Chraobh: “Yeah, it's like a curse, but some are able to deal with their situation. You should accept it

as well. Think about your own life. If it's possible to leave the staff and the owl behind you aren't
protected from others staffs curse any more. I know you have many questions about it, but I can't
help you. I can't tell you how to break the curse, nor I want to.
Take care of the staff like your grandmother did, protect the owl and protect the sphere and all the
souls in it. Just if you take care of them they are able to reborn someday.” (Chraobh closing her
eyes)
Cailleach: “No! Stay! Help me, Help me! Please answer my questions! What souls? Of the people I
killed? Help me....”
III. Handmade Projects
This part of my portfolio shows my favourite hobby since 2014: Cosplay.
I really like to create things with my hands and build 3D Armors in reality and love to build
costumes which challenge my skills.
Both characters are from the game league of legends. The costume in the right pictures was
redesigned by myselft, because the original character is a non-human, male creature. I made it
wareable for me as a female human.
As u might see, I am able to think in a 3 dimensional way and build things I designed in 2D.