GAMEJAM2022spr Emotional Category Grand Prize - Everything about "Lost Aquarium"
Hello everyone, my name is br. I usually work in the club called Gudagudabuton, where I create content that allows you to play TRPGs in VR.
This time, I would like to talk about "Lost Aquarium," which won the grand prize in the emotional category at ClusterGAMEJAM 2022 in Spring.
This article is divided into two parts.
・Part I: Introduction of the aquarium interior and talk about the special features of the aquarium
・Part II: The story of "Lost Aquarium" and a postscript
The first part of this article does not contain any fundamental spoilers.
The rest of the article may contain spoilers about the game's storyline and worldview.
We will warn you before spoilers in the article, but please try to play the game once without knowing anything about it ⇓
(The game takes about 10 minutes).
Part I: Introduction of the aquarium interior and talk about the special features of the aquarium
First of all, let me start with a little about myself (you can skip this part if you want).
I enjoy visiting aquariums all over Japan.
I got hooked on the fascination of aquariums thanks to the wonderful anime "Kemono Friends," which became a social phenomenon for a while.
Currently, I have visited 40 of the 128 aquariums in Japan (including 3 that have already closed). To be honest, there are people on the Internet who have visited all the aquariums in Japan and even those overseas, so I hesitate to say out loud that I am an aquarium geek, but I think I have been to more than the average person, so in this article I will introduce photos of various aquariums and talk about my passion.
To be honest, I am not that interested in fish and other living creatures. I am more interested in the structure, display methods, and management style of aquariums.
First of all, let me show you a blueprint of the aquarium that is the setting for this project.
This is a paper drawing of an imaginary aquarium that I originally wanted to create before I started working on the game production in earnest.
This may be the first time I have made a game with a proper blueprint like this.
I designed the main large water tank, which I will show you later, and everything else I wanted to do as per my fantasy. But to be honest, there are a lot of things I wanted to do but compromised on, considering the 48-hour time limit and gameplay.
And here is what I refined from this blueprint by tinkering with Blender.
I'm amazed I was able to create something like this considering it was my first time using Blender and I had no experience with building modeling. This was all thanks to my club's Sakanagi-kun, who taught me step-by-step. He also won the Athletic Category award for his work "Tag Climber". This time our club won both the Emotional and Athletic Category awards, which is really amazing.
From here on, I'll introduce the various aquariums and scenes according to the progress of the game.
①The Beginning Room
Although this room is not part of the main aquarium, I've decided to introduce it since I mentioned 'everything' in the title. You might think it would have been better to start with the aquarium itself, but there are two reasons why I decided to put this room here.
First, this room is here to separate the real world from the aquarium world. Without going into too much detail to avoid spoilers, the location of the aquarium is a non-realistic space. By moving from a familiar room like this one to a more otherworldly aquarium, it's easier for the player to change their mindset and become more immersed in the experience.
The second reason is more game-system related. I wanted all the participants to explore the aquarium together. At first, I thought it would be fine to start from the front of the main aquarium, but I was worried that some players might start exploring the aquarium before the others had a chance to catch up. Because of the nature of the story, if there is too much distance between the players it could cause issues for the finale.
②Main Large Tank - 1
The first thing you see when you start the game is this large aquarium.
It is the first tank and the one we put the most effort into.
I used Caustics shaders to represent the light from the surface of the water. It's really beautiful.
The interior of this large tank and the plaza-like space in front of the tank are actually based on the large tank at the "Uminomori Aquarium" in Miyagi Prefecture.
This is quite similar to the original.
Personally, I really like the placement of the tall rocks in the foreground on either side. It makes me feel as if I am diving under the sea and observing the fish from the same perspective.
Also, I have heard that some people are so particular that they think the contents of the tanks are just the same as the assets, but all the fish, rocks, and grass in our tanks are all placed manually. I also created the fish movement animations for all the different types of fish myself. Obviously, this is not a task that can be done in 48 hours, and I was prepared to die.Sometimes, obsession kills. Let's be moderate.
③Aquarium Guide AI "Noah"
One of the key elements in this game is Noah, the AI.
There is so much I want to say about it... but I'd like to carry over various explanations to the second part. Everything is a spoiler.
Here I will talk about Noah's existence. It was my plan from the beginning that "Lost Aquarium" would be composed of two contradictory elements: the beauty of the aquarium itself and the surprising worldview that is revealed at the end of the experience. The aquarium can be visually appealing, but we had to find a way to convey the story and worldview. I myself usually create worlds where people can play TRPGs in Cluster, so at first I thought I would present information in a TRPG-like manner. I tried to give out information by dropping newspaper articles, or by having the player actually have amnesia and remember something as the game progresses, but it all seemed a bit forced, and I wanted to confuse the player by making him or her disassociate the visual and auditory instructions (I wanted to make the player feel more confused as the game progressed). I decided to use AI as an entity that speaks to and instructs the player in a straightforward manner. The name "Noah" is also a good fit for this worldview. I will tell you more about Noah in the second part of this article.
[Update: April 21, 2022]
I completely forgot something very, very important!
I wondered where the idea of putting AI in an aquarium came from, but I found the reason at Shikoku Aquarium, which I visited on 2022/02/16 (I remembered it when I was sorting through the images). The Shikoku Aquarium in Kagawa Prefecture, a new aquarium to be opened in 2020, has such a wonderful exhibition method that it looks like a museum.
There was a corner where you could ask questions to an AI. (see image)
I can't remember if I attended the game jam presentation or visited the aquarium first, but it's clear that this aquarium was the origin of "Lost Aquarium".
The physical restrictions from the pandemic actually made it easier for us to imagine what could be done in an aquarium in a VR setting. (I wonder how much natural language processing and suitable responses it can provide... I wonder if it's still working.)
④Starfish Tank
This is where we start to see more traditional aquarium-like tanks. While this particular tank doesn't have a specific motif, the size and the small fish swimming around add a nice touch. From here on, I'll also introduce some explanation images attached to the tanks.
The explanation images were actually added after the game jam deadline. While making the game, a teammate suggested adding them, but I had to abandon the idea due to lack of time.
The explanation texts generally start with real information that can be considered trivia (I think that discovering new things is part of the fun of visiting an aquarium), and then move on to something that makes the reader pause and second guess themselves.
I was surprised to hear someone visiting the world say, 'Oh, I didn't know people ate starfish.' (Sorry if anyone believed that!)
⑤Coral Tank
Some aquariums also have fishless tanks, like this one. To make it look as beautiful as possible, I tried my best to use red, blue, and green lighting since there are no moving objects. I was inspired by the lighting in the Kochi Prefectural Ashizuri Aquarium, which has four or five fishless tanks that are filled with only corals and seaweed, each with a different concept, and all of them are incredibly beautiful.
Must seem a bit weird to go to the aquarium to take photos of the lighting.
Looking back, I regret creating this somewhat dubious description, as it walks a fine line between truth and fiction. Although some of the species are endangered, it's unlikely that all of them are. Sorry if I was wrong!
⑥Main Large Tank - 2
This is one of my top 3 favorite spots in the aquarium. Some people have mentioned it on X, but the main focus of this project was to make the most of the main large tank.
I absolutely love aquariums that allow you to view the tanks from different angles, like the Toba Aquarium in Mie prefecture.
At the Toba aquarium, you can view from three different angles: from the top, through the tube, and through the underwater glass on the lower floor.
So for my project, I also designed it to be viewed from three angels: from the front, from the side, and from above. I also paid special attention to the view that is framed by the round window when seen from the side. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to create an aquarium that didn't look awkward, no matter if you looked at it from the front or from the side.
The view from the round window is actually the only place where you can see a certain octopus. Try to find it!
[Update: April 21, 2022]
While sorting through aquarium images, I found a place that looked similar. It's the Sumida Aquarium at the base of the Tokyo Skytree.
⑦Jellyfish Tank
This tank is one of the ones that I'm really satisfied with, along with the main large tank.
Recently, there has been an increase in jellyfish exhibits in aquariums, perhaps because of their popularity on Instagram. The jellyfish are incredibly beautiful when lit up in changing colors, and just watching them is a healing experience.
For reference, I used the "Aqua Park Shinagawa" in Tokyo as a model. Some of you may have visited this place before.
I think I was able to recreate this jellyfish tank with a high degree of accuracy.
As for this jellyfish in the "Lost Aquarium," they’re created using particles, so they sometimes escape from the tank. Due to time constraints, I couldn't prevent this from happening, so if you find it outside of the tank, consider yourself lucky!
Also, here's an explanation image of the jellyfish. This is a genuinely useful piece of trivia, no lies!
⑧Horizontal Tank no.1
From here on out, the ideas for the aquarium designs start to run thin. I would have loved to come up with more creative concepts if I had more time, but alas. Nevertheless, this particular tank features a cute little clownfish, which definitely adds some charm. And everyone loves the clownfish Nemo. Even though the design of this tank may be a bit more simplistic than the others, it still has its own appeal.
⑨Large Convex Tank
Regarding this tank, I saw a convex-shaped aquarium during my trip to Nagasaki two weeks before the game jam, and I absolutely loved it, so I recreated it based on my memory.
The aquarium in question is called "Umikirara" in Nagasaki prefecture.
There's something about this tank that's indescribable, it just has a certain appeal to it. Perhaps it's the way it juts out in the middle, allowing you to enjoy the view from both the front and the side simultaneously. Or maybe it's just the fun of walking around it along the edge of the tank. My vocabulary is lacking to properly describe it, so I recommend visiting it yourself if you can. Of course, being in Nagasaki, it's a bit of a trek to get there.
⑩Main Large Tank - 3
And now we’ve reached the main course of the entire aquarium.
This view has been in my head since before I started building the aquarium.
In creating "Lost Aquarium," I've put a lot of effort into the aquarium part, not only to advance the main storyline, but also to share my love for aquariums with everyone.
While I feel like I may have used some past aquariums as references, it's surprisingly hard to find large aquariums that you can view from the second floor. If you have any information, please let me know!
The image of the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is definitely similar, but I think the picture is taken from a slope rather than the second floor.
⑪Horizontal Tank no.2
The naming of this tank might seem random, but I assure you it's not due to a lack of features or concepts. It's just... well, probably… the most accurate description.
As a vague concept, I created a tank that replicates a rocky area that extends all the way to the ground. The fish swimming in it are just some fish that look like they would fit in well. Nothing too fancy.
⑫Sea Turtle Tank
Finally, we've arrived at the last tank!
It's a little sad, but you know, turtles like these often seem to be kept in simple tanks without a lot of decorations.
The reference for this tank is the “Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium" in Kochi Prefecture.
The turtle is on the right.
As you mentioned, due to time constraints, the animation for the turtles may seem a bit rough. The parent and baby turtles frequently collide and pass through each other. And the fact that their fins don't move is by design... or rather, if I had more time, I would have liked to animate them, but they don't have bone settings, so…
Warning, potential spoilers ahead!
From this point on, there will be spoilers that are fundamental to the story. If you haven't played the game yet, please do so before reading any further! I strongly recommend experiencing it for yourself before diving into this article. Trust me, it's worth it! Please, please, please, please, please, please, please play it before continuing!
Lost Aquarium is a virtual world that won the Emotional Category Award in the ClusterGAMEJAM2022inSPRING competition on the Cluster metaverse platform. It's a game that will take you on a unique and emotional journey through an aquarium like no other.
https://cluster.mu/w/1fed707b-46ce-42d0-a47a-55e0d2bb76c6
⑬Emergency Stairwell ⇒ Surface
From this point on, we're entering the part of the game created by Flor, our teammate. Now that we're in spoiler territory, I can talk freely about the game's secrets.
The essence of this game is that you walk through a beautiful aquarium, feeling a sense of unease at certain points along the way. At the end, you discover the ruined world and the truth behind it, and all those little moments of unease throughout the game start to come together like pieces of a puzzle.
With that in mind, I felt that the longer the spiral staircase leading to the final scene, the better. The anticipation and fear you feel as you climb, coupled with Noah's cryptic lines, were the things I most wanted to achieve in "Lost Aquarium."
As for the hallway leading to the outside, I think it has a sci-fi vibe, but since it's set in the near future I went with it.
⑭Surfacre World
This location is the climax of the game and the true ending. I'll talk more about the setting in the next article, but essentially, it's a post-apocalyptic world where pollution has made it impossible for organisms to survive on the surface. This is a complete human extinction scenario.
I only gave Flor a brief description of the game's world and setting, but he managed to perfectly recreate the scene I had in mind.
Actually, did you know that you can sit down here? If you sit down and listen to the ending, you can watch the sunset in this ruined world.
⑮The Ending Room
And so, with that, the story comes to an end! This room returns you to your private quarters, giving the impression that you've returned to the real world.
The scattered garbage is there for those who are eager to take action after experiencing the story. Cluster citizens are known to enjoy picking up litter even without a narrative incentive, so I'm sure they'll be happy to help clean up.
⑯Basement -the True Ending
This is a post-ending release element, which gamers (in my opinion) love. Based on past experience, I know that people tend to post photos on social media if there are good photo spots, so I decided to add this element after the ending.
I would have loved to do more, but honestly, I ran out of ideas, and it was impossible to create post-ending content in just 48 hours. I could have had Noah speak, but I thought it might be better if she remained silent.
The generator on the right is a remnant of a planned event in which a low oxygen alarm would have gone off during the player's exploration of the aquarium, prompting them to descend to the basement and operate the generator and oxygen management system.
However, due to time constraints and the belief that the player didn't need to feel a sense of urgency during their time in the aquarium, the event was ultimately removed.
While the generator was placed to align with Noah's statements, it's a bit lackluster and only makes a sound when pushed. In hindsight, it could have been left out altogether. (I apologize to those who thought pushing it would have some effect.)
Part II: The story of "Lost Aquarium" and a postscript
This article is quite lengthy, but it's purely for my own enjoyment, so feel free to skip around and read whatever catches your eye.
Now, let's talk about the setting and worldbuilding of "Lost Aquarium." First, let's discuss the timeline of events.
Timeline:
Early 22nd century: Air pollution worsens rapidly, making it difficult for humans to live on the surface.
2150-2163: Life on the surface becomes nearly impossible. Humanity begins living underground, and governing bodies, such as nations, gradually cease to function. The Global Alliance Government emerges as a unified ruling body for the entire planet.
2163: The Global Alliance Government chooses to abandon the surface world.
2173: The "Lost Aquarium," a facility built to preserve species that once existed on the surface, is completed. At this point, humanity and resources were still somewhat plentiful.
2223: The setting of "Lost Aquarium." Living solely on underground resources is difficult, and humanity is almost extinct within the last 50 years. There may still be some people surviving somewhere on Earth, but without connections to other locations, there is no way to find out.
The timeline of events for "Lost Aquarium" was created in this manner. As a novice, there may be some inconsistencies in the finer details, but I ask for your understanding...
Now, let's take a look at the full text of Noah's dialogue in the game.
①Noah (Main Large Tank)
Oh, my apologies.
Welcome, thank you for coming today.
My name is Noah, the AI guide of this aquarium.
The aquarium is a place that bridges the ordinary with the extraordinary.
Please take your time and enjoy your visit.
②Noah (Jellyfish Tank)
This aquarium first opened in 2173, and celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.
It looks pretty good for an old facility, don't you think?
And we're still fully up and running.
③Noah (Large Convex Tank)
This aquarium is maintained and managed entirely by automated systems, including cleaning, feeding, and guiding visitors.
There is also an emergency generator underground allowing for continued unmanned operation.
④Noah (3F Entrance)
But, where did you all come from?
There's no way in or out of this aquarium.
I wonder how many years it’s been since we've had visitors...
Well, never mind.
⑤Noah(Sea Turtle Tank)
A way out, you ask?
There used to be a doorway on the 1st floor but it was sealed off.
You could get outside using the emergency stairwell over there...
No, forget I mentioned that.
Use of the emergency stairwell is not currently recommended.
⑥Noah(Emergency Stairwell)
Use of the emergency stairwell is not recommended.
Going above ground is...not the best idea.
Are you sure you want to go?
Even if it leads to regret?
If so...I will respect your decision.
⑦Noah(Surface World)
...are you surprised?
This is the surface world in the year 2223.
In the late 22nd century, severe atmospheric pollution made it difficult for life to survive above ground.
In 2173, the United Government chose to abandon the surface world.
However, they wanted to entrust some small hope to the future.
A facility built to preserve the species that once lived on the terrestrial world.
Noah's Ark, a journey through time.
This is the "Lost Aquarium."
"The pollution level exceeds the allowable limit."
Humanity did not heed the cost of its prosperity.
The end result of blind technological evolution has been the decline of mankind.
This is your future.
"The pollution level has reached a dangerous level."
Humans can only know the past.
And by analyzing the past, they can alter the future.
But now, by chance, you are viewing the future itself.
There is still time to change.
You must transform this future.
Your life depends on it.
Let's talk about the worldbuilding of this story. As I've mentioned multiple times before, it's set in a post-human extinction world. I think everyone loves this kind of story, right?Humans, who have been pursuing their own interests, ultimately end up destroying themselves. It's a story about karma and getting what you deserve. Who doesn't love that?I originally wanted to build the aquarium above ground to take advantage of natural lighting, but given that the surface is essentially destroyed and the atmosphere is dangerous, I decided to operate it underground as a shelter.
While the ending may have seemed predictable as an environmental message, I wanted to take advantage of the aquarium setting and draw attention to issues like air and ocean pollution.
How did everyone perceive the AI Noah?
In my initial idea memo, Noah's dialogue was written like this:
"Oxygen levels are rapidly decreasing! Please operate the system in the lowest layer immediately!"
It had a typical robotic tone.
However, as I developed the game, I realized that Noah was an AI left behind in a devastated world, so I wanted to create a sense of familiarity, even cuteness, to make the final twist more impactful.
I wanted Noah's lines like, "We're still a fully operational aquarium!" to have a cheeky, slightly angry tone, but I don't think it came across very well.
I really wanted people to like Noah.
I was a bit hesitant about using the name "Noah" for the AI in my game, since the same name is used for the AI in the acclaimed VR story game "ALTDEUS." However, since the keyword of my game is "Noah's Ark," I decided to use the original spelling of the Biblical ark, "Noah," rather than the spelling used in "ALTDEUS," "Noa."
Another challenging aspect of creating Noah was adjusting her voice. As an AI character, I initially thought of using a text-to-speech service, but I was unsure which service to use. VOICEVOX, Coefont, Tsukuyomi-chan, etc. I eventually settled on VOICEVOX's Shikoku Metan, but fine-tuning the accent and pronunciation timing took about four hours. This was quite taxing considering the limited game creation time of only 48 hours. If you have a team, I recommend dividing the work between Unity and other tasks, as it would make things easier.
Regarding the VOICEVOX Shikoku Metan voice, many players were surprised by Noah's final dialogue, "Your life depends on it," in their feedback on "Lost Aquarium."
However, I had initially thought of creating a post-apocalyptic story centered around an aquarium, and when I heard the theme "challenge," the idea of a facility reminiscent of Noah's ark racing against time to preserve life in a ruined world seemed very poignant.
That's why the AI's name is Noah, but I'm very curious at which point did everyone realize it? Personally, I love how it's right on the edge of not noticing. If the twist made people go "aha" at the end, I'd be happy as a creator, but during Amano Kori-san's live stream, the comment section gave it away during the introduction. It's amazing.
https://youtu.be/xOhvvMpXxMk?t=5059
Flor did a great job with the UI effects in the final scene, I think they really gave it a nice touch.
I don't think anyone wasn’t surprised by the alarm and field of view warnings. Personally, I believe that UI displays have great potential in TRPGs and VR story games.
In reality, it's impossible to place an object that doesn't move even if you move your eyes within your field of vision. Setting AR glasses and other similar products aside, since UI is not a physical entity, humans tend to believe that it is not an external factor but a result of their own problem or perception. That's why the red alert image and the sensation of dizziness during a blackout can be depicted as a result of the person's field of view disappearing rather than the surrounding environment becoming darker.
Sorry if I digressed, but ultimately, the alert image, being set in the future, would have been really cool if it had been visible to the player. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as a visualization of the player's internal warning system. Regardless, I believe that UI is more effective in conveying the seriousness of a situation and directly appealing to the player's psychology than simply explaining the situation.
In Conclusion
This article has become much longer than I originally anticipated.
I apologize for rambling on with my mediocre writing skills, but I'm glad I was able to finish my Spring Game Jam 2022 entry by writing this article.
I believe that Cluster hasn't had many large-scale story games in the past. In this context, I participated in the Game Jam with the goal of creating a game that would provide a deeper sense of satisfaction in a shorter playtime of around 10 minutes. Therefore, I am truly honored to receive the Emotional Grand Prize, which can be considered the pinnacle of story games.
I hope "Lost Aquarium" can be a game that people will recommend to others for its engaging story in the cluster community even after the Game Jam period has ended.
Thank you for playing the game and reading this article in its entirety. I'm not sure when I'll participate in the next jam, but I still haven't made my ideal aquarium yet, so I might create another aquarium world someday. It would be a pleasure to meet you again somewhere.
Creating "Lost Aquarium":
During the 48-hour Game Jam, I worked for 38 hours without any sleep. Not eating for two days or sleeping on a bed for two days is not good for you. I learned that a human can survive without food or drink for 24 hours. Conclusion: put your health first during Game Jams (warning).
Software used:
・Unity：Yeah.
・Blender：Easier to make buildings than placing planes in Unity. But it's a swamp, so be careful.
・VOICEBOX：I wanted to use the Zundamon voice, but it would have destroyed the world view, so I gave up.
・Illustrator：From posters to simple drawings. It's convenient if you can use it (it's expensive).
・Photoshop：I actually adjusted the contrast a little bit for the thumbnail in Photoshop. Even if it’s a small change, I wanted to make it look as beautiful as possible.
Team Gudaguda Aquarium Work Allocation:
・Flor: Created the first and last rooms, the world after the spiral staircase, and oversaw the lighting.
・Yu: Logo creation
・br: everything else
I am very grateful to my team members.
本記事は過去に投稿した日本語版記事を翻訳したものとなります。
Japanese ver.
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