behind the mask

Introduction

Exploring the Providence Athenaeum Through Game-Based Narrative

Inspired by mapping the rich history and captivating tales of Providence Athenaeum Library, we have created a third-person perspective game inviting audiences to gradually uncover and immerse themselves in the hidden narratives within its walls.

Background

research‍‍

The project's scope is holistic, covering the entirety of the Providence Athenaeum Library, emphasizing its significant literary history and architectural uniqueness.

Established in 1836, the Providence Athenaeum Library has been a cultural cornerstone on College Hill, Providence. Frequented by literary legends like Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, the Athenaeum fuses historical charm with mysterious legends, making it an intriguing setting for our game.

edgar allan poe and h.p. lovecraft regularly visited and drew inspiration from the library.
poe courted poet sarah helen whitman at the athenaeum in 1848.
local legends speak of paranormal events, notably poe's ghost sightings.

goal

Transform historical data into contemporary visual storytelling, making the Providence Athenaeum Library's legacy accessible, engaging, and immersive for today's audiences.

context

Re-Contextualization of Historical Narration

Utilizing mapping as a foundational tool, we gather and structure information, transforming complex, multi-layered urban narratives into intuitive, captivating visual and interactive formats. Our project experiments across media, translating historical contexts into modern storytelling methods that resonate with contemporary audiences.

game design

An Immersive Journey Through Literary Darkness

Our 2D adventure platform game plunges players into a supernatural realm inspired by the Athenaeum's historical and literary depths. Players engage directly with legendary literary works such as Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven and H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu, navigating interactions with symbolic entities like the black cat and monstrous beings to uncover literary mysteries set decades ago.

character

Moore: Protagonist seeking truths behind his father's mysterious past.
Poe: Moore’s father, librarian, and fallen Cthulhu cultist, now guiding Moore.
raven: Mentor figure guiding Moore’s sanity.
Black Cat: Harbinger of danger, first encountered as an easter egg.

game story

Unlocking Athenaeum’s Dark Legacy

Moore's childhood exploration of the library, shadowed by his father's strict warnings about the forbidden Attic, turns sinister when Poe is consumed by the Cthulhu Cult. Poe's last act—handing Moore the Attic key - sparks Moore's quest for truth, against a backdrop of a library now turned sacred cultist ground.

perspective

Moore: Player-controlled, third-person perspective.
Poe, Raven, Black Cat: NPC, third-person perspective.

game mechanism

Sanity as a Gateway and Obstacle

Sanity/clear Modes: Visual and interactive differentiation between reality and madness.

Instant death upon enemy contact, sanity loss when wearing a cult mask, and environmental interactions that shift across realities. Masks and collected items enable level progression, with the duality of worlds requiring strategic exploration and interaction, guided by crows and cats linking both realms. Intensity builds through the countdown of church bells and environmental collapse upon complete sanity loss.

Endless Escape, No Attack

Players must continually evade threats without direct combat abilities, emphasizing stealth, strategic hiding, and resourceful use of the environment to survive relentless pursuits by cultists and otherworldly entities. The inability to attack enhances vulnerability, intensifies gameplay tension, and necessitates careful decision-making at every turn.

visual identity

Historically Informed Yet Fantastically Reinterpreted

environment settings

Realistic Foundation Transcribed for Gameplay

final design

scenarios‍‍

The scenarios highlight critical gameplay sequences designed to immerse players deeply into the narrative and mechanics. Each scenario is crafted to reinforce key narrative themes and enhance player engagement through interactive exploration and tension-filled experiences.

Boss Chasing‍‍

Reinforces the "Endless Escape, No Attack" mechanism as players must stealthily evade the relentless pursuit of cult leaders (e.g., Margaret and The Twins), enhancing urgency and narrative tension.

Key Finding‍‍

Mirrors Moore’s quest for the truth left by Poe, requiring strategic exploration and careful interaction within shifting sanity modes to unlock the library’s secret rooms and advance the story.

Teleport‍‍

Enables transitions between sanity and insanity worlds, directly tied to the "Sanity as a Gateway and Obstacle" mechanism, allowing exploration of dual realities essential for narrative understanding.

Teleport Instruction‍‍

Integrated guidance provided by the Raven and Black Cat, crucial for maintaining narrative coherence amidst shifting realities and supporting immersive exploration.

Skull‍‍

Serves as critical narrative markers indicating historical clues and pivotal plot revelations, directly tying player discovery to the core business goal of engaging modern audiences with immersive storytelling.

Shaver Finding‍‍

Symbolizes Moore’s deeper dive into his father's hidden past, unlocking narrative depth and progressing gameplay by revealing critical backstory elements related to the Cthulhu cult.