Similar to my last project, I created my story by taking into Otter.ia. I began with a little monster going on an adventure, across the ocean and forest.
I used the Oblique Strategy Cards for this process too.
“Listen to the quiet voice” helped me to come up with the shy dog with the key.
“What is the reality of the situation” helped me to figure out how you win. In reality, you don’t need all the gifts to win, just a minimum of 7 flowers shows your crush you care.
“Not building a wall but making a brick” made me think about using the pixel art to my advantage. I don't need to draw one thing with the tiny square, I can use multiple squares to make one big image.
“Question the heroic approach” made me think about the protagonist's actions. Clearly, Little Monster is a sweet person, so there are many kind things you can do for the animals, like give them a bone or acorn.
“You can only make one dot at a time” helped me to organize my work process. Very literally, I could only draw one thing at a time so I made some base pieces I could reuse in each room: a wall, tree parts, stepping stones, and grass/kelp and clouds could be used across the game to save time.
Lastly, I used “Breathe more deeply” to relax and remember that the project was an art project. I wanted each room to be beautiful and spacious, it helped me to stay calm and patient when constructing each narrative and action in the rooms. From multiple drafts, I finished with a story about a little monster collecting gifts for his crush.
In the end, either you’ve collected enough and she’ll accept, if you collect everything she invites you inside, or you didn’t collect enough, and she rejects you.
I used the N+7generator for the title of the romance DVD you collect from the cinema. I plugged in “The greatest love story ever told” and I came out with “The greatest lump strategy ever told!”
I also used CharNG for the description of the DVD. I plugged in a tale about two forbidden lovers and came out with “O! thorns, and to behold doting away, The suspect shall far thou haste; But what my measure I be well-refine eyes as fair, kiss thee forbidden.” If you go to the wise owl, you receive the translation of the DVD: “‘The greatest love story ever told’ It's a tale of two lovers who fight for their love against their conflicting families!”
I used crowdsourcing to decide what sprites to put into the game. A few of my friends' favorite animals, a cat, a dog, an owl, a hedgehog, a rabbit, fish, jellyfish, and a squirrel made it into the game.
I used the anagram generator again at the cinema. The board was all messed up by some kids, changing the title “Movie Theater” to “Reheat Motive.”
Lastly, Botnik was used for the romance book you pick up from the library to make, “All my lovers in somersaults, bow today. The all of self where two colors live.” The book is in French, which the squirrel outside can translate for you.