Thematic Worldbuilding

Thematic Worldbuilding is a project exploring the worldbuilding process by focusing it around one specific story as expressed through the medium of a story-based video game. In the game Gates of Marhior, the player interacts with different social classes and political factions and through a mix of dialogue and visual cues, the nature of each class and faction is revealed to the player.

Thematic Worldbuilding is a project exploring the worldbuilding process by focusing it around one specific story as expressed through the medium of a story-based video game. In the game Gates of Marhior, the player interacts with different social classes and political factions and through a mix of dialogue and visual cues, the nature of each class and faction is revealed to the player.

This project consisted both of the development of the world within which the game takes place as well as the game itself. I developed both based on themes of class and power affording me a way to keep my developements consistent.

In Gates of Marhior, the player inhabits the role of a bureaucrat during tumultuous times. By placing the player in a role with natural loyalties to the government, the game seeks to make the player question the material interests that come with such a role as well as the nature of governmental power. The game further seeks to illuminate the different socioeconomic positions and political beliefs of its characters, revealing to the player both the nature of the fictional world they've been invited into and the ways in which it parallels our own world.

Gates of Marhior can be downloaded or played in your browser here.

Synopsis

A year ago, nobles executed their emperor. On this day, the anniversary of his execution, protesters have swarmed the empire's capital. Outside the city gates, more citizens seek to join the protests.

You are a Lawspeaker. You hear complaints and you file them. Today, you have been sent to the East Gate to speak with the would-be protesters...