GENRE: Microgame Collection
Engine: Unity
Platform: itch.io
Role: Designer, Developer, Writer
Team: 4
Magic Stone is a micro-game collection that explores the theme of loss through the eyes of those who once knew a fictional, now-deceased game designer. After his passing, his loved ones come together to help complete the game he had been quietly working on throughout his life.
Background
When approaching the design of a semester-long project for NYU Game Center’s Studio II, our team quickly landed on the theme of loss and how loved ones commemorate those who have passed. To highlight the different ways people experience grief, we chose to create a micro-game collection in which each game represents someone important to a fictional deceased character.
Originally, the backstory took the form of a travel log, with each mini-game reflecting a shared memory between the protagonist and someone they loved. But as development continued, we became increasingly drawn to the concept of an “unfinished game.” This eventually evolved into Magic Stone—an RPG started by the protagonist and completed by the people who meant the most to him.
Key Responsibilities
Movie Minigame
This minigame is designed from the perspective of the fictional girlfriend, who often found herself complaining about the protagonist while he was still alive. It recalls a moment when the couple went out to see a movie, but the protagonist kept dozing off. As the girlfriend, the player can poke him awake whenever he falls asleep.
On the screen, a film plays that symbolically portrays their relationship, accompanied by the girlfriend’s monologue—a reflection filled with regret for not cherishing her now-deceased boyfriend while she still had the chance.
Museum Minigame
This minigame is told from the perspective of a close friend who works as a museum curator. After the protagonist’s death, the curator creates a virtual exhibition in his honor. The gallery features large, blank Polaroid frames that play voice recordings from other friends—each sharing their memories of the protagonist.
Art Concept
