The Making of internaliZe
Internalize is the product of over three months of design and development carried out to deliver an engaging, and powerful experience to players. From art conceptualisation, to narrative design, to technical design, there are many facets that have come together to create the final experience.
Please explore this page to gain a deeper insight into the production of Internalize.
Narrative
The narrative of Internalize focuses on a college student's struggle grappling with her mental health. It was important that in the design and structure of the narrative, the struggles that Erin, the games protagonist, felt both accurate to that of a college student, but were also relatable to a wide audience.
This focus on authenticity and relatability stems from a desire to represent the struggles of dealing with anxiety and panic attacks in a way that is true to life. Someone struggling with these problems alone can feel trapped and believe that there is no way to make them stop. This emotion is what the narrative team have translated in game, and in doing so show how someone who suffers from these issues can take the first steps overcoming them.
Technical Design
Art Design
The Art Design team were responsible for setting the tone of the game, a tone that can be felt from everything to the set design to the UI and marketing of the game.
Taking inspiration from games such as Gone Home, special care was taken to make Erin's room feel authentic as a teenage girl's bedroom.
In addition to making the game feel authentic to players, the art design team was also responsible for creating the mood of uneasiness and tension that allows the players to share the feelings of anxiety that Erin is experiencing.
Using the Unity game engine, our technical team have built an interactive experience that allows the player to truly step into Erin's shoes and live through this pivotal moment in her life.
Hours of development have been poured into making the gameplay experience enjoyable and responsive. As well as this, particular attention has been given to ensuring the gameplay and narrative experience complement each other and work together in a way that players will enjoy and find engaging.
