Covetous
Overview
#worldbuilding #teamwork
A pixelated dystopian game with "genetic modification" as a hint, characters and storylines designed with two classmates, completed on 11/1/2022.
Introduction
Set in the 1980s, in this universe the internet is very basic. Technology’s direction has found itself advancing in the fields of microbiology and psychological perception. And there’s a blackmarket fprs genetics process where humans physical appearances and genealogy can be altered to an individual’s desire. They escape the government and authorities because of its massive effectiveness in creatings disguises, a whole new face and body.
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The Blue Apples = ​black market, improperly disposed of genetic modification experiments and contaminate the wild
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The Meta = rich people
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The Peasants = poor people
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Genetic Modification = controlled by the Meta in the Blue Apples; side effects stronger to people under 18, including mutating animals into monsters and creating delusions that think genetic modification is beneficial without side effects
Cast
Brandon Schwartz
Sophie Schwartz
Kate Becker
Identity: Used to be a Meta, punished to be a peasant because of anti-genetic modification
Age: 40 (dies when Sophie was 15)
Character: hardworking, honest, nice to his family, highly educated
Identity: Peasant
Age: 17
Town: Mansfield
Character: lively, cheerful, dare to love and hate
Appearance: not genetically modified
Identity: peasant
Age: 16.5
Character: shy, cowardly, speaks softly, values friendship, willing to sacrifice for Sophie
Wallace Rodgers
Albert Bush
Anthony Hudson
Age: 28 (sold to be a servant at 7)
Character: obedient, timid to express his emotions, brainwashed to be loyal
Appearance: wears black cloak
Identity: Meta
Age: 59 (but 21 in physical appearance and physical conditions because of genetic modification)
Character: egoistic, dare to challenge, innovative, smart and gifted, crazy, polite, good at disguise, Appearance: handsome (how everyone wish to be with genetic modification)
Age: 70
Character: conscientious, intelligent
Appearance: gray-haired, kind
Moodboard and Character
Story
On a hot summer day in 1980, Sophie sets out to rebel against the Genetic Modification organization after witnessing her mother being severely hurt by Albert's men who forcibly acquired the land, and her father being bitten to death by animals mutated by genetic modification. At the same time, the people are also suffering from the forced change of environment due to GM, and there are many voices of resistance. Sophie thus joined a resistance group.
Before her dad died from his injuries, she told Sophie, who was crying at his bedside, that his family had been nobility and therefore had access to the black market. Knowing this, Sophie defied her best friend Kate and went to the black market alone. The black market deals on genes overturned Kate's perception that rich people are willing to spend millions to buy a gene that can turn their looks into an instagram face. And the money that the nobel uses to trade for a pretty face is equivalent to a decade of living expenses of a single family of civilians. But Kate was soon suspected because of her poor people’s dress, and when the servants were about to found her, Kate stepped forward and helped Sophie attract attention, so Kate was discovered and seriously injured. While Sophie was dragging the seriously injured Kate to escape, she met Anthony, who had just resigned from the Institute. Under Sophie's prayers, Anthony helped Kate to modify her genes so that Kate could recover quickly. At the same time, Anthony also warned Sophie and Kate, because Kate was less than eighteen years old, the side effects of genetic modification will also be accelerated in Kate's body.
Anthony also joined the civil organization of the resistance genes in order to redeem himself, and after learning of Sophie's determination to take revenge, brought Sophie to his previous institute, where he happened to meet Albert, who was here to receive the final genetic modification - so that everyone could obey his genes…
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Act 1:
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Starts with a scene of the Blue Apples trade
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In the summer when Sophie is 15, her dad is killed by genetically modified animals. After that, her mother was beaten to death for resisting the land acquisition, so she hates genetic modification.
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Sophie is very sad, and Kate comforts her.
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The Blue Apples does genetic modification and trading more blatantly, and there are more voices of resistance among the people. Sophie joins one of an anti-genetic modification organization to avenge.
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Albert purposely releases genetically modified animals to kill Sophie’s dad to exclude him.
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Act 2:
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Sophie’s mom tells Sophie how to get to the Blue Apples before her death.
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Sophie disregards Kate's advice and goes to the Blue Apples alone.
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Kate, who is worried about Sophie, follows Sophie even though she is a little scared.
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Wallace discovers Sophie, and Kate jumps out to protect Sophie when Wallace is about to attack Sophie.
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Sophie escaped along with injured Kate. They met Anthony who just dismissed himself.
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In order to save Kate, Sophie asks Anthony to use genetic modification, which is against her will and may have some side effects.
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Act 3:
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Anthony confesses to Sophie about his regrets in experiments and research on genetic modification.
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Sophie tells Anthony that she wants to avenge.
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Anthony leads Sophie to his former research institute and bombed it.
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Albert is doing his final genetic modification in the research institute to make sure everyone obey him and was killed in bombing.
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Dialogue
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Narration: Summer of 1980, the time where the internet is just beginning to grow. This world has been advancing in gene modification that harms certain groups of people.
Soldiers: Alright everyone, it’s the day we evict you from this acre of land. You have until tomorrow to pack it up and go. We’ve made a contract with the government and are granted permission to create research facilities here. Do not resist, otherwise there’s no saving you from the mutated wildlife here.
Sophie: What’s happening?
[Soldier approaches menacingly]
Soldier: Back off kid!
[Dad appears and pushes the solder back hard]
Soldier: We warned you!
[Suddenly a mutated animal attacks and injures dad]
Dad: Arrgh!
Sophie: Dad!
[Animal starts lunging at mom, but soldier shoots animal]
Soldier: Next time you won’t be so lucky. We’re only bringing the mutated hounds out here to find a reverse to its illness. You should beg us to take your land.
[There’s a crowd also trying to resist]: You’re insane! You metas treat us like trash and kiss up to the government’s feet like dogs! We will resist!
Dad: Come inside Sophie, better start preparing.
Sophie: But you’re injured! You’re in no state to move.
[Dad goes into the house]
Sophie: I swear I take back what's ours… justice for the resistance!
[Dad trying to stand up, panting]
Dad: Sophie, now listen carefully.
[Sophie worrying and sobbing]
Sophie: Yes, dad?
Dad: We used to be Meta… but those Meta… it was a shame! They’ve been doing genetic modification in the Blue Apples, right under the Red Apples market! All our crops… and your mom… now me…
[Dad dies]
[Sophie silent for a while and suddenly run towards the door]
[Kate just arrived at the door, panting]
Kate: Are you Ok? Where are you going?!
Sophie: I’m heading to the Blue Apples!
Kate: What’s that? You can’t go now! Mutated animals are out everywhere!
[Kate stops at the door, thinks for seconds, and runs after Sophie]
[Sophie arrived at the Blue Apples, trying to hide and observing around]
[Wallace pops up, trying to attack Sophie]
Wallace: Hey peasant! What are you doing here?!
[Kate jumps out to protect Sophie and gets injured]
[Sophie espaces with Kate, and they meet Anthony]
Anthony: She’s injured.
[Sophie sobbing]
Sophie: Yeah… You look like a doctor. Could you save my friend?
Anthony: I WAS a doctor a while ago, but not anymore.
Sophie: But she’s dying…
Anthony: Her injury will need genetic modification to cure, but I already decided not to touch that thing again.
[Sophie hesitating a bit]
Sophie: Could you do whatever possible to save her life? She saved me from a black cloak man. She didn’t do anything wrong!
[Anthony muttering]
Anthony: Wallace…? Ok, I can treat her right now, but be prepared for side effects…
[Anthony saves Sophie]
[Anthony sighed]
Anthony: I spent all my life doing research on genetic modification here, but I just realized the Meta has been utilizing it for their own sake this whole time! I can do no more harm to the environment or farmers…
Sophie: $%@%^#* the Meta! Avenge!
[Albert laughing wickedly]
Albert: Stubborn Anthony doesn't want to do it anymore, let him go. I can still get what I want!
Wallace: My wisest master, you will! I just cleared a peasant sneaking in the Blue Apples. No one will be a threat to you.
Albert: Good! I was right to let you manage the Blue Apples. My final genetic modification is almost done. Make sure nothing goes wrong! For the great Meta and a bright future!