Group Project

Main role: Game Designer/Programmer
Software: GameMaker Studio
Genre: RPG

Project Overview

Adventure of Ardoyama is a role-playing adventure game created as part of a university project centered around intercultural communication. The game follows the story of a pirate who washes ashore on an unfamiliar island and must navigate the challenges of adapting to a new culture to repair his ship and continue his journey.

Gameplay Concept:

The game features a top-down, story-driven adventure with puzzle-solving and dialogue interaction, inspired by classic games like The Legend of Zelda. Players control a pirate who must explore the island, interact with NPCs, and complete quests to gather materials, blueprints, and assistance in fixing his ship. Along the way, the player learns about and adapts to the island's culture, which is influenced by traditional Japanese values and customs.

Cultural Themes:

The central theme of the game revolves around intercultural communication, specifically the clash between the pirate’s rough, free-spirited culture and the more structured, traditional culture of the island. We explored this dynamic using Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory to inform how the two cultures interact. The islanders initially view pirates with suspicion, and the pirate must learn to navigate these cultural differences to gain the trust and assistance needed to repair his ship.

Key Features:

Cultural Exploration: Players encounter cultural barriers and must adapt to the islanders' traditions, language, and attitudes.

Puzzles & Quests: To repair the ship, players solve puzzles based on cultural themes, such as finding materials, blueprints, and individuals to help.

Character Interaction: The player engages in conversations with NPCs, learning about their culture, history, and values through dialogue and story progression.

Setting: The game is set on an island with a blend of pirate and Japanese influences, offering a unique visual and thematic contrast.

Challenges & Solutions:

Integrating intercultural communication theories into the gameplay and narrative to provide a deeper understanding of the cultural clash.

Designing puzzles and quests that reflect cultural nuances, such as the importance of tradition and respect in the islanders' society.