Project Dogma
Concept Proposal + Production Plan
⇲ In a nutshell
A vertical slice of a branching-narrative puzzle-adventure game, featuring storylines that blend science fiction, folk religion, and supernatural elements.
The idea for this game has been in my mind for quite some time. Throughout the year, I have been conceptualizing it, jotting down fragmented ideas in my notes, and drawing inspiration from everyday life. However, I never had the opportunity to formally plan or begin production until now. With the technical skills and software experience I have accumulated over previous terms, it is time to start turning this concept into reality.
⇲ Game Overview
Working Title: Project Ghost Dog or Project Dogma
Genre: Branching-Narrative Puzzle-Adventure
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Platform: Primarily PC and Console
Target Audience:
Narrative-driven players who interested in science fiction, supernatural themes, and culturally rich storytelling.
One-Line Pitch:
In a bureaucratic, hyper-technological underworld inspired by Chinese folk religion and quantum physics, a ghostly dog guides souls through parallel realities, uncovering the infinite possibilities of fate.
⇲ Key Features
→ Unique Worldbuilding
A richly imagined afterlife blending Chinese folk beliefs with quantum physics.
→ Branching Narrative
Player choices shape the fates of souls and the structure of the multiverse, leading to multiple story outcomes.
→ Stylized Visuals and Black Humor
A balance of dark comedy and poignant storytelling that explores life, death, regret, and redemption.
→ Interactive Cinematics
Animated cutscenes with Quick-Time Events (QTEs) enhance immersion and emotional engagement.
⇲ Worldbuilding (Partial)
Core Premise: Quantum Information in the Afterlife
Wave of Everything: In the underworld's science, souls, memories, and fate are all quantum information waves — each life is a wave function representing all possible outcomes.
Observation as Actualization: Conscious observation collapses possibilities into reality. In the underworld, advanced beings (ghosts, spirit agents) can observe and manipulate wave functions more directly, altering reality.
Posthumous Enlightenment: The underworld is home to countless deceased mathematicians, physicists, and astronomers who continue their research beyond death.
Technological Superiority: As a result, the underworld science has surpassed the living world in fields like quantum computing, soul mechanics, and metaphysical engineering.
Akashic Tree
The Map of Possibility
Definition:
A visual projection of the universe’s wave function;
Inspired by Akashic Records (Akasha: Sanskrit word आकाश means aether in traditional Hindu cosmology) and the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI).
Structure:
Trunk & Major Branches:
- High-probability, "classical history" timelines.
Thin Twigs & Leaves:
- Low-probability, surreal quantum branches.
Gameplay Role:
Serves as both a explorable region and the UI for narrative branching—players browse and “jump” into alternate storylines.
Ghost Abilities
"Scientific" Reinterpretation of Supernatural Phenomena
Ghost Maze Loop (鬼打墙):
(e.g., being trapped in an endless loop in one location)
Principle: Localized Space Curvature Programming. Any information wave attempting to cross it is rerouted back to its starting point.
Ghost Eyeshade (鬼遮眼):
(e.g., failing to perceive a person or object right in front)
Principle: Sensory interference. The ability directly transmits interference signals to the target's visual processing center, overwriting or blocking the information of specific objects, rendering them imperceptible.
Ghost Blowout (鬼吹灯):
(e.g., a flame mysteriously snuffing out without cause)
Principle: Forced wave function collapse of flame or lightbulb systems; extinguishes fire or electricity via quantum observation.
Ghost Pressing Bed (鬼压床):
(i.e., Sleep Paralysis)
Serves as both a explorable region and the UI for narrative branching—players browse and “jump” into alternate storylines.
Ghost Possession (鬼附身):
Principle: Consciousness Wave Function Superposition and Transient Synchronization.
Soul Mechanics
Harmonics and Karma
Base Frequency: Each soul has a core wave function representing its innate traits (e.g. curiosity, fear).
Harmonic Overlay: Life experiences add resonant layers—memories, emotions, learned behaviors.
Meng Po’s Tea
Originally Meng Po Soup (孟婆汤). Traditionally erases memory before reincarnation.
Reimagined as a “harmonic dampener” that softens disruptive emotional frequencies while preserving persistent patterns (e.g. betrayal, compassion) influence future entanglements.
Démon de Laplace
Antagonist Philosophy
Original concept from Pierre-Simon Laplace in 1814.
Concept In Game: A deterministic demon seeking to eliminate all uncertainty by collapsing the multiverse into a single, optimal timeline. The hidden villain boss in the story. Indifferent "eye of observation”.
Conflict: Ghost Dog, initially a pawn, gains awareness and must choose between enforcing order or preserving possibility. Every soul-guiding mission becomes a battle for the future of free will.
⇲ Character Design
Black and White Wuchang, the two iconic soul-guiding deities of Chinese folk religion (comparable in function to the concept of the Grim Reaper), are central figures in the Chinese folk religion of the afterlife. Naturally, they are essential to the character design of my project.
As it happens, there are a white dog and a black cat in my family. With their enthusiastic (verbal) consent to use their likenesses, I used their photos as visual references. Drawing inspiration from the traditional depictions of Wuchang, I began designing the characters by first creating the White Dog Ghost – a spectral field agent under Bai Wuchang, blending folkloric elements with personal familiarity.
Another character who will appear at the beginning of the game is an old Dachshund. The design of other characters has not been decided yet.
Ghost Dog
Originally white Chinese rural dog
Field agent under Bai Wuchang, responsible for soul guidance
Tall Hat with the phrase "Bark Upon Encountering Me" (一見汪財) – a humorous twist on Bai Wuchang’s traditional hat ("Fortune Upon Encountering Me")
White Lab Coat inherited from the man who cared for him in the world of living, also symbolizing bureaucratic professionalism
Mourning Rod carried with his tail – a ceremonial staff used in funerary rites
Abilities:
Quantum Soul-Hopping (temporary possession) Akashic Tree Navigation
/ warm / slightly melancholic / a rule-abiding worker on the surface / secretly empathetic / frequently quotes the Handbook to maintain professional detachment/
Dachshund Soul
Witnesses multiple alternate versions of himself via the Akashic Tree with each ending in tragedy
Experiences existential shock and begins to question the nature of fate
/ gentle / obedient / emotionally repressed / a lifelong conformist / burdened by unfulfilled desires and quiet regret / faint but persistent yearning for a different life /
Dying Dachshund
Species: Elderly dachshund
First soul guided by the player
Catalyst for the main narrative arc
Entered Wagmore State College (a safety school) with average grades
Majored in Narcotics Detection, a path chosen to meet family expectations and societal pressure
Trained as a narcotics dog despite lacking passion
Died from chocolate poisoning
⇲ Storyboard
Chapter 1: "The Chocolate Incident"
Narrative Tone:
A surreal blend of humor and melancholy.
Scene 0: Prelude
Animated Cutscene
The elderly dachshund, unnoticed by its human owner, makes a comically exaggerated dash toward the desk. The animation plays in slow motion, emphasizing the absurdity and urgency of the moment. The dog leaps, stumbles, and finally reaches the mint chocolate with dramatic flair.
Technical Note:
Reuse previous animation assets. Retargeting required for new dachshund character.
Scene 1: The Dying Dog
Setting: A dimly lit apartment. A human owner (a muggle) works overtime at their desk, surrounded by clutter and fatigue.
Voiceover – Ghost Dog:
"Subject: Dachshund, ID #745. Cause of death: chocolate poisoning. Status: pending soul transfer. Caution: Associated human muggle is in a low-yang-energy state due to chronic overwork. Risk of accidental 'observation' is high. Proceed with quantum stealth per Article 7 of the Field Agent Handbook."
Gameplay Tutorial:
Players learn to “soul-hop” by temporarily overlaying Ghost Dog’s consciousness onto nearby objects (e.g., rag dolls, toys, figurines) to avoid being seen.
Mechanic:
If the human’s gaze approaches, a ripple warning appears — players must switch hiding spots to keep moving and remain unobserved.
Scene 2: The Soul Transfer
Ghost Dog reaches the dying dachshund and gently taps its forehead with a mourning rod (a ceremonial staff). The soul emerges — a glowing, translucent version of the dog.
Ghost Dog:
"Time’s up. Looking back won’t change anything."
The soul glances at its lifeless body and its exhausted owner, eyes filled with quiet sorrow.
Scene 3: The Coffin Boat
Ghost Dog opens a shimmering portal.
A coffin boat awaits in the void.
Gameplay:
Players board and drive the boat, then enter a dreamlike space filled with quantum mist and floating symbols.
Scene 4: Life Flashback – The Lantern Carousel
As the boat sails, holographic memories flicker around the soul like shadow puppets:
Scene A: The dachshund's parents encourage it to pursue a career in narcotics detection.
Scene B: Endless training drills, eyes hollow.
Scene C: A successful drug bust, but no joy. Day after day.
Scene D: Alone at home, it eats mint choc – its final act.
Dachshund Soul (murmuring):
"I lived a life where every day looked the same. If there’s a next life… I'd study nursing in college. Become a therapy dog."
Ghost Dog (recording, voice over):
"Subject exhibits regret and emergent desire for alternate future. Wave function shows late-stage emotional disturbance. Dominant harmonic: repression. Emergent motif: comfort-seeking. This karmic imprint might influence reincarnation trajectory."
Scene 5: The Akashic Tree Appears
Suddenly, the boat shakes violently. The quantum mist becomes a roaring "Probability Tide".
Ghost Dog (panicking):
"This isn't in the handbook! Stability index collapsing!"
The boat halts in a vast void. Before them manifests a massive region of Akashic Tree – a glowing, fractal structure of branching timelines. Each leaf pulses with a different life path of the dachshund.
Dachshund Soul (awestruck):
"What… is this?"
Ghost Dog (stunned):
"A full Akashic projection? How did we end up here?"
Scene 6: Glimpses of Parallel Lives
Gameplay:
Players steer the boat near glowing leaves to preview alternate realities:
Therapy Dog Path: The dachshund comforts a volatile, hysterical human; pillows soaked with tears are hurled every day; eventually, he breaks down and eats chocolate on purpose.
Guard Dog Path: A peaceful life in a sunny yard with a loving child, but eats chocolate accidentally in the end.
Social Media Influencer Path: amasses a fortune through viral fame on DogTok and PawTube, but draws the attention of a malicious enemy and is poisoned with a piece of chocolate.
……
Each path ends the same way: chocolate, death.
Dachshund Soul (terrified):
“No matter who I am… I always die the same way. Is this fate?”
Scene 7: Player Choice – Ghost Dog's Response
Dialogue Options:
Option A – Fatalism:
"We shouldn’t be seeing this. Let’s move on."
→ Soul resigns to fate. Narrative follows the path of submission.
Option B – Rational Doubt:
"This collapse pattern is statistically improbable. Something’s interfering."
→ Soul begins to question reality. Narrative opens a path of investigation.
Option C – Emotional Resonance:
"If every road ends in a cliff… maybe the road itself is broken."
→ Soul feels understood. Narrative opens a path of empathy and rebellion.
Scene 8: Arrival at the Chenghuang Temple Customs
The boat docks at Chenghuang Temple Customs – a fusion of traditional architecture and holographic signage. Ox-Head and Horse-Face (mythical enforcers, co-workers of Ghost Dog) scan incoming souls with glowing eyes.
Ghost Dog (internal monologue):
“The handbook says only the closest branches could be seen by us… but what we saw was a forest of possibilities.”
In his eyes, the Akashic Tree flickers. A shadowy figure – Laplace’s Demon – briefly appears, like a hidden line of code.
Fade to black.
⇲ Art Style, UI, and Reference
stylized, whimsical, and imaginative
with a surreal, slightly melancholic tone
UI and environment design incorporate symbolic elements
(e.g. Akashic Tree as branching leaves)
⇲ Production Plan
Phase 1 → Starting Oct 2025
⇲ Technical Overview
Engine Version:
Unreal Engine 5.6
Modeling:
Blender (manual) and/or AI-assisted asset generation
Alembic groom assets via Blender with Geometry Nodes
[Optional] UE PCG (Procedural Content Generation) for Akashic Tree structure
Animation:
Control Rig for real-time procedural animation
Facial motion capture via Apple ARKit BlendShapes + Live Link Face + UE ABP
[Optional] VAT (Vertex Animation Textures) via Houdini
Visual Effects:
Fluid Simulation via Fluid Ninja LIVE
Custom stylized shader and post-process shaders
Game Logic:
UE Blueprints
DualSense Controller Support via Plugin
Audio:
AI or self dubbing
[Optional] Audio Middleware: integration of Wwise for adaptive music and sound design
⇢Tom's Journal
⇢Oct 2025
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