Dawning

Dawning is an educational adventure game designed to explore the themes of individuality and freedom in a dystopian world. Targeted at players aged 16–30, the game immerses players in a society where conformity is enforced, and disobedience leads to severe consequences.

Key Features

• Thought-Provoking Gameplay: Players navigate challenges that require obedience to authority while reflecting on moral and societal dilemmas.
• Innovative Level Design: The game features scenarios such as syncing NPC behaviors in a school setting and making high-stakes decisions under group pressure.
• Engaging Visuals and Mechanics: Inspired by Orwellian aesthetics, the game combines immersive storytelling, dynamic NPC behaviors, and interactive mechanics.

Objective

By simulating the loss of individuality and the impact of authority, Dawning aims to help players critically understand the value of personal freedom and the importance of standing by moral principles in the face of societal pressures.

This project was developed as the Final Project for the Fall 2024 MSTU 4039 Game Design Fundamentals: Theory and Practice of Game Design course at Columbia University. It was awarded Best Skill Development and Most Joyful Project during peer evaluations.

Dawning 是一款教育冒险游戏，旨在通过设定于反乌托邦世界中的故事情节，探讨个体性与自由的重要意义。游戏的目标人群为16至30岁的玩家，通过沉浸式的游戏体验，玩家将深入感受一个强制同化、违抗命令将受到严厉惩罚的社会。

主要设计

• 发人深省的玩法：玩家在遵守权威命令的过程中，需要应对一系列道德和社会困境，思考个体自由的本质与价值。
• 创新的关卡设计：游戏设计了多个场景，包括在学校中同步 NPC 行为，以及在群体压力下做出关键决策，充分结合游戏机制与教育意义。
• 引人入胜的视觉效果与互动机制：受到乔治·奥威尔《1984》风格的启发，游戏融合了沉浸式叙事、动态 NPC 行为与互动玩法，带来深刻的思考与体验。

项目目标

通过模拟个体性丧失和权威影响的场景，Dawning 旨在帮助玩家深入理解个人自由的价值，并在面对社会压力时坚持正确的道德选择。

本项目为 哥伦比亚大学 2024年秋季 MSTU 4039 游戏设计理论与实践 课程的期末项目。在课程结尾的同学评选中，Dawning 被评为 最佳技能提升项目 和 最具乐趣项目。