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novafarma/docs/GAME_BIBLE_COMPLETE_v2.md
2026-01-20 01:05:17 +01:00

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🎮 MRTVA DOLINA / DEATH VALLEY - COMPLETE GAME BIBLE

Official Game Design Document
Version: 2.0 (Updated Jan 10, 2026)
Developer: David Kotnik
Genre: Story-Driven Farming Survival / Post-Apocalyptic Adventure
Platform: PC (Steam, Itch.io, GOG), Electron Desktop
Art Style: Style 32 Dark-Chibi Noir (Cult of the Lamb inspired)
Demo Status: 95% Ready for Launch


📖 TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Game Concept & Pitch
  2. Story & Narrative
  3. Main Characters
  4. Gameplay Features
  5. Game Progression
  6. Demo vs Full Game
  7. Special Features
  8. Technical Systems
  9. Assets & Content
  10. Marketing & Launch

🎯 1. GAME CONCEPT & PITCH

High Concept

"Stardew Valley meets The Last of Us in a punk-aesthetic post-apocalyptic world where farming feeds your survival and memories define your identity."

Elevator Pitch

You wake up as Kai, a 14-year-old amnesiac in a zombie-infested wasteland. With no memory except your twin sister Ana's face, you must survive by farming, build a new home, and search for the truth. But each memory you recover ages you visually from confused teenager to weathered elder as you piece together a dark family secret that could change everything.

Core Pillars

  1. Emotional Storytelling

    • Twin siblings separated by apocalypse
    • Memory-driven narrative
    • Every discovery matters
  2. Farming Survival

    • Grow crops in toxic soil
    • Build sustainable economy
    • Cannabis farming as starter capital
  3. Dark Fantasy Aesthetic

    • Cute chibi meets grim reality
    • Punk/alternative character design
    • Noir cinematography in intro
  4. Unique Progression

    • Visual aging system (14-60 years)
    • Companion unlocks (Gronk, Susi)
    • Memory-based power scaling

📖 2. STORY & NARRATIVE

Main Plot

Act 1: Awakening (Demo + Faza 1)

Kai wakes up in a dark cellar with complete amnesia. He finds an ID card showing he's 14 years old, and a photo of a girl Ana, his twin sister. The last thing he remembers is her screaming: "KAI! DON'T FORGET ME!"

A wise orc named Gronk (if early supporter) appears and explains: the X-Noir virus turned most people into zombies. Kai's parents fought and died protecting the twins. Ana was taken by something... or someone.

Kai must survive by farming the abandoned land, slowly finding Ana's diary entries and memory fragments. Each memory ages him slightly representing the psychological weight of time passing in his mental prison.

Act 2: The Search (Faza 2)

As Kai explores beyond his farm, he discovers:

  • Ana is still alive but infected conscious zombie
  • She's being held by a cult leader who believes she's the key to a cure
  • Kai's aging is tied to recovering suppressed trauma
  • The virus was man-made, not natural
  • His parents were scientists who tried to stop it

Act 3: The Truth (Future DLC)

  • Confrontation with cult
  • Choice: Save Ana or save the world
  • Multiple endings based on choices
  • True age reveal (time perception was warped)

The Intro Sequence (60 Seconds)

Epic Cinematic - Polaroid/VHS Aesthetic

Phase 1: Happy Memories (0-15s)

  1. Kai + Dad Longboard (0-2.5s)

    • "Dad and I. Before everything changed."
    • Warm Polaroid glow
  2. Barbershop (2.5-5s)

    • Him getting dreads, her coloring hair
    • "Getting ready. We always did things together."
  3. Birthday Cake (5-7.5s)

    • "Here we were still happy. Still a family."
    • Family celebration, warm glow
  4. Family Portrait (7.5-10s)

    • All together
    • "All of us. Together. Perfect."
  5. Twins Holding Hands (10-12.5s)

    • Kai + Ana as kids
    • "We were always two. Inseparable."
  6. Kai's Bedroom (12.5-15s)

    • "Our room. Our sanctuary."

Phase 2: The Virus (15-30s)

  1. Virus Microscope (15-17.5s)

    • Toxic green, glitch effects
    • "Then came X-Noir. The virus."
  2. Chaos Streets (17.5-20s)

    • Red tint, camera shake
    • "Everyone changed. Streets burned."
  3. Zombies (20-22.5s)

    • Red strobe
    • "Friends became zombies."
  4. Parents Ghosts (22.5-25s)

    • Translucent spirits
    • "Our parents fought... and lost."
  5. Ana Taken (25-30s)

    • Red tint
    • Ana screaming: "KAI! DON'T FORGET ME!"

Phase 3: Amnesia & Ana (30-60s)

  1. BLACK SCREEN (30-35s)

    • Complete darkness
    • "I have no memory. Everything is... gone."
    • "They say I'm fourteen. But I don't remember... anything."
  2. Kai Alone in Basement (35-40s)

    • Dark cellar
    • "Alone. In darkness. With only... this."
  3. Ana Memory (40-50s) - 10 SECONDS!

    • Ana's face (only remaining memory)
    • "Her face. The only thing I remember."
    • "Ana. My sister. My twin. The last thing I saw... before everything went dark."
  4. Gronk Arrival (50-55s)

    • Orc mentor appears
    • "Finally awake, old man. Your mission awaits."
  5. Ana Photo + Determination (55-60s)

    • Ana memory reprise
    • "I must find her."
    • "...even if it takes my entire life."

Technical:

  • Crossfade transitions (800ms, zero black gaps!)
  • Polaroid frames with dirt texture
  • VHS overlay effects
  • Bottom subtitles (cyan glow)
  • English + Slovenian voices (Edge TTS)

👥 3. MAIN CHARACTERS

🛹 KAI MARKOVIĆ (Protagonist - Playable)

Visual Identity:

  • Age: 14 years (at start) → ages to 60 through game
  • Hair: Green dreadlocks with pink/purple patches
  • Eyes: Red vampire-like eyes, dark circles
  • Piercings:
    • Large silver ear gauges (both ears)
    • Eyebrow piercing (left)
    • Nose ring
    • Septum piercing
  • Clothing:
    • Torn blue hoodie with pink patches
    • Ripped black jeans with holes at knees
    • Brown backpack with patches
    • Sneakers (worn)
  • Skin: Pale with freckles, dirt marks on face
  • Style: Punk/alternative, post-apocalyptic survivor

Personality:

  • Determined despite amnesia
  • Skateboard enthusiast (learned from dad)
  • Resourceful and adaptable
  • Deep emotional connection to Ana (even without memories)
  • Grows from confused teen to wise elder

Abilities:

  • Farming expertise (learns as player progresses)
  • Longboard riding (movement bonus)
  • Combat (learns throughout game)
  • Memory recovery (main progression mechanic)

Character Arc:

  • Start: Confused amnesiac, lost identity
  • Mid: Determined survivor, building new life
  • End: Wise elder who found truth, made choice

💜 ANA MARKOVIĆ (Twin Sister - Main Quest)

Visual Identity:

  • Age: 14 years (twin)
  • Hair: Bright magenta/pink, messy short style
  • Eyes: Large dark eyes, fierce expression
  • Skin: Purple/lavender tint (zombie infection but conscious)
  • Clothing:
    • Black vest with skull patches
    • Green cargo shorts
    • Brown combat boots
    • Visible stitches on arms (infection scars)
  • Style: Punk tomboy, tough survivor

Personality:

  • Fierce and protective
  • Sarcastic humor (masks pain)
  • Devoted to Kai
  • Fighting infection mentally every day
  • Tragic hero archetype

Story Role:

  • Central motivation for Kai
  • Memory fragments scattered across world
  • Final confrontation/rescue mission
  • Possible playable character (DLC?)

Key Moment: Last memory before separation: "KAI! DON'T FORGET ME!"


🧟‍♂️ GRONK (Orc Mentor - VIP Exclusive!)

Visual Identity:

  • Species: Green orc with tribal markings
  • Hair: Pink dreadlocks (matching Kai's patches!)
  • Face: Friendly smile with tusks, ear gauges
  • Clothing:
    • Tribal patterned poncho (brown with geometric designs)
    • Black pants
    • Pink sneakers
  • Accessory: VAPE PEN (always in hand!) 💨
  • Style: Chill hipster orc, tribal meets modern

Personality:

  • Wise mentor with tribal knowledge
  • Laid-back, gives Kai space to grow
  • Vapes constantly (ADHD management narrative)
  • Deep voice (en-GB-RyanNeural)
  • "Old man" nickname for Kai (ironic given aging)

Special Abilities:

  • Vape Shield: Creates protective cloud (blocks zombies)
  • Speed Boost: +20% movement (baseline), scales with level
  • Tribal Farming: Teaches special crop techniques
  • Lore Master: Explains virus origin

Progression System:

  • Levels 1-10 (vape usage = XP)
  • Stats scale per level:
    • Cloud size: +15%
    • Duration: +0.5s
    • Shield strength: +20 HP
    • Speed boost: +5%
    • Cooldown: -0.5s

🏆 EXCLUSIVE TO FIRST 20 BUYERS!

  • Unlocked immediately in game
  • Exclusive questline
  • Founder badge in-game
  • Name in credits

🐕 SUSI (Rottweiler Companion - Hidden)

Visual Identity:

  • Breed: Black and tan Rottweiler (chibi style)
  • Face: Cute big eyes, tongue out
  • Collar: Pink collar with skull tag
  • Size: Small (chibi proportions)
  • Style: Adorable but tough

Personality:

  • Loyal and protective
  • Emotional support for Kai
  • Playful but serious when tracking
  • "The Hunter" - finds Ana's memories

Abilities:

  • Memory Tracking: Finds hidden memory fragments
  • Follow AI: Stays near Kai (50px)
  • Whistle Response: Comes when called (Y button)
  • Bark Alert: Warns of dangers/discoveries

Animations:

  • Idle (4 frames)
  • Run (6 frames)
  • Bark (2 frames)
  • Sit (3 frames)
  • Sleep (2 frames)
  • Jump (2 frames)

Unlock: Hidden in full game (Faza 1), must be found via exploration quest


👻 SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

Otac (Dad)

  • Longboard enthusiast
  • Appears in warm memory flashbacks
  • Ghost/spirit form in later phases
  • Cyan ghost sprite

Mati (Mom)

  • Caring mother
  • Appears in family memories
  • Magenta ghost sprite
  • Fought alongside dad

Zombies (3 Types)

Green Zombie (Standard)

  • White eyes
  • Slow movement
  • Low threat

Strong Zombie (Aggressive)

  • Red eyes
  • Fast movement
  • High damage

Weak Zombie (Shambling)

  • White eyes
  • Very slow
  • Low HP, deteriorated

🎮 4. GAMEPLAY FEATURES

Core Gameplay Loop

Farm Crops → Sell for Money → Buy Better Tools → Explore Further
    ↓
Find Memories → Age Up → Unlock Abilities → Progress Story
    ↓
Build Resort → Attract NPCs → Get Quests → Find Ana

Farming System

Demo Crops (6 types):

  1. Wheat - Basic staple crop
  2. Carrot - Fast growing vegetable
  3. Tomato - Medium value crop
  4. Potato - Storage crop
  5. Corn - Tall crop
  6. 🌿 Cannabis - HIGH VALUE! (Starting capital strategy)

Full Game: 80 total crop types

Growth Stages:

  • Seed packet
  • Sprout (Stage 1)
  • Young plant (Stage 2)
  • Growing (Stage 3)
  • Ready to harvest (Stage 4)
  • Harvested bundle

Exploration & Biomes

Demo/Trial:

  • Your farm only (limited area)
  • Exploration locked

Faza 1 (4 Biomes):

  1. Grassland - Starting area, safe
  2. Forest - Dense trees, mushrooms
  3. Desert - Cacti, oasis, heat
  4. Swamp - Mud, reeds, toxic gas

Faza 2 (18 Total Biomes):

  • Tundra/Snow
  • Volcanic
  • Mountain
  • Beach/Coast
  • Underwater (Cenotes)
  • Loch Ness
  • Amazon Rainforest
  • Egyptian Desert
  • Dino Valley
  • Atlantis
  • Catacombs
  • Chernobyl Zone
  • Witch Forest
  • Mythical Highlands
  • Endless Forest
  • Pacific Islands

Combat System

Weapons (3 Tiers in Faza 1):

  • Wooden: Sword, Dagger, Spear, Bow
  • Stone: Sword, Dagger, Spear, Bow
  • Iron: Sword, Dagger, Spear, Bow

Full Game: 6 material tiers (Wood → Diamond)

Combat Features:

  • Real-time action combat
  • Dodge/roll mechanics
  • Stamina management
  • Critical hits
  • Combo system

Building System

Demo:

  • ⚠️ Small resort only (limited)

Faza 1:

  • Farm buildings (7 types)
  • Production buildings (blacksmith, carpenter)
  • Storage buildings

Faza 2:

  • Town buildings (243 total)
  • Decorative structures
  • Biome-specific buildings

Longboard Movement

Special Mechanic:

  • Faster travel than walking
  • Learned from dad (emotional connection)
  • Tricks possible (future feature?)
  • Cats run away when you ride it!
  • Xbox left stick control

Companion System

Gronk (Orc Mentor)

  • Unlock: First 20 buyers only! 🏆
  • Abilities: Vape shield, speed boost, tribal knowledge
  • Progression: Levels 1-10 with vape usage
  • Xbox Button: X (activate vape shield)

Susi (Rottweiler)

  • Unlock: Hidden quest in Faza 1
  • Abilities: Memory tracking, loyal follower, bark alerts
  • AI: Follows Kai, responds to whistle
  • Xbox Button: Y (whistle to Susi)

📈 5. GAME PROGRESSION

Aging System

Unique Feature: Kai ages visually based on memories found!

9 Age Stages:

Progress Age Sprite Description
0-10% 14 kai_age14 Confused teen, starting point
10-25% 16 kai_age16 Young survivor
25-35% 20 kai_age20 Young adult, more confident
35-50% 25 kai_age25 Experienced survivor
50-60% 30 kai_age30 Hardened adult
60-75% 40 kai_age40 Weathered veteran
75-90% 50 kai_age50 Wise elder
90-100% 60 kai_age60 Ancient survivor

Trigger: Finding Ana's memories (diary entries, items, locations)

Visual Changes:

  • Facial hair growth
  • Gray hair appearance
  • Battle scars
  • Weathered clothing
  • Posture changes

Cutscene: Mirror reflection when aging up


Memory Collection

100 Total Memories to Find:

Types:

  1. Diary Entries (20) - Ana's journal pages
  2. Photos (15) - Family moments
  3. Objects (30) - Personal items (toys, gifts)
  4. Locations (20) - Visiting childhood places triggers flashback
  5. NPCs (15) - People who knew the family

Rewards:

  • Story progression
  • Aging triggers
  • Ability unlocks
  • Emotional cutscenes

Quest System

Main Quest: "Find Ana"

  • 100+ story quests
  • Spans all 3 acts
  • Multiple endings

Side Quests:

  • NPC requests
  • Companion quests (Gronk exclusive!)
  • Exploration challenges
  • Farming challenges

Economy System

Starting Capital Strategy:

Demo Trial Mode:

  • Starter chest includes: 3-5x Cannabis seeds 🌿
  • Cannabis sells for 50-100 coins per harvest
  • Fastest path to wealth in demo!

Economic Loop:

  1. Plant cannabis (demo starting seeds)
  2. Wait 3-4 in-game days
  3. Harvest → Sell to town vendor
  4. Reinvest in more seeds
  5. By full game unlock: You're rich! 💰

Progression:

Cannabis Farmer → Buy Better Tools → Explore More → Find Ana Faster

🎮 6. DEMO VS FULL GAME

DEMO / TRIAL MODE (Free, Unlimited)

What's Included:

  • Full intro sequence (60s epic!)
  • Your farm (limited area)
  • 2 demo crops (Wheat + Carrot)
  • Basic survival mechanics
  • Small resort building
  • Wooden tools ONLY (Tier 1)
  • Starter chest:
    • 2x Wheat seeds
    • 2x Carrot seeds
    • Wooden tools (hoe, watering can, axe, pickaxe)
    • Sleeping bag
    • Food (bread + apple)
    • Torch
    • 💰 3-5x Cannabis seeds (ECONOMY STARTER!)
  • Can sell to 1 vendor in town

What's Locked:

  • Exploration beyond farm (fog of war)
  • Other biomes (see them, can't access)
  • NPCs & quests (grayed out)
  • Enemies & combat (no spawning)
  • Tool upgrades (stuck at wooden)
  • Full building system
  • Gronk companion (unless first 20!)
  • Susi companion
  • Multiplayer co-op

Goal: Hook players with farming, tease locked content!


FAZA 1 / ALPHA 1 (Paid - First 10 Hours)

🔓 Unlocks:

  • Full map exploration
  • 4 biomes (Grassland, Forest, Desert, Swamp)
  • 80 crops (all varieties!)
  • Tool progression (Wood → Stone → Iron → Diamond)
  • Combat system (zombies + creatures)
  • Ana search questline (main story)
  • NPCs & side quests
  • Building expansion (full system)
  • Susi companion (found via quest)
  • Gronk (if first 20 buyers!)

🏆 First 20 Buyers Bonus:

  • Gronk unlocked IMMEDIATELY
  • Exclusive Gronk questline
  • "Founder" badge in menu
  • Name in game credits
  • Special vape cosmetics

FAZA 2 / ALPHA 2 (Paid - 50+ Hours)

🌍 Massive Expansion:

  • All 18 biomes (including mythical locations!)
  • 99 creatures fully animated
  • 243 buildings (town expansion)
  • Complete tool/weapon tiers (all materials)
  • Multiplayer co-op mode
  • Full Ana storyline resolution
  • Advanced crafting system
  • Endgame boss fights
  • Multiple endings

7. SPECIAL FEATURES

🏆 FIRST 20 BUYERS - GRONK EXCLUSIVE

How It Works:

At Purchase:

  1. Game checks purchase order number (worldwide)

  2. If order ≤ 20:

    • Gronk unlocks IMMEDIATELY after intro
    • Exclusive questline activates
    • "Founder" badge appears in menu
    • Player name added to credits
    • Special vape cosmetics unlocked
  3. If order > 20:

    • Gronk stays locked
    • Shown as silhouette/shadow in world
    • Message: "EXCLUSIVE - First 20 Supporters Only"

Visual Cues:

  • Locked Gronk appears as shadow
  • Quest markers grayed out
  • "Support Early for Exclusive Access" message

Purchase Platforms:

  • Steam (timestamp check)
  • Itch.io (order verification)
  • GOG (manual verification)

Why This Works:

  • Creates urgency ("Only 20 worldwide!")
  • Rewards true early supporters
  • Doesn't lock critical content (Gronk is bonus)
  • Exclusive questline adds value

📺 STREAMER PROGRAM

Streamer Access Keys:

Benefits:

  • Free full game license
  • Early access to updates
  • Custom streamer badge in-game
  • 10x Gronk gift codes (for giveaways?)
  • Watermark: "STREAMER PREVIEW"

Key Validation:

  • STREAMER_PREVIEW_2026
  • CONTENT_CREATOR_EARLY

Goal: Get streamers to cover game pre-launch


👴 AGING SYSTEM (Visual Progression)

Concept: Mental time passage visualized through physical aging

How It Works:

  • Each Ana memory found = Kai ages slightly
  • At certain thresholds (10%, 25%, 50%, etc.), trigger aging cutscene
  • Sprite automatically switches to older version
  • Cutscene shows mirror reflection transformation

Psychological Meaning:

  • Amnesia = stuck in mental loop
  • Memories = moving forward in time
  • Aging = accepting trauma
  • Final age (60) = peace/resolution

Implementation:

  • Save file tracks: age_level (1-9), current_age (14-60), age_sprite (sprite key)
  • Auto-check after each memory found
  • Event trigger: kai-aging with old/new age data

🌿 CANNABIS ECONOMY STRATEGY

Why Cannabis in Demo?

Economic Design:

  1. High Value: 50-100 coins per harvest
  2. Fast Growth: 3-4 in-game days
  3. Starting Capital: 3-5 seeds in chest
  4. Demo Loop: Farm → Sell → Reinvest → Get Rich
  5. Unlock Advantage: All money carries over!

Player Strategy:

Day 1: Plant 5 cannabis seeds
Day 4: Harvest → Sell for ~500 coins
Day 4: Buy 10 more seeds
Day 8: Harvest → Sell for ~1000 coins
...
By unlock: 5,000+ coins saved!

Marketing Hook: "Farm weed in the demo, unlock rich in the full game!"

Why It Works:

  • Gives trial players clear goal
  • Creates investment in demo
  • Smooth transition to full game
  • Edgy/memorable marketing

🎮 GAMEPAD SUPPORT (Xbox/PlayStation)

Full Controller Integration:

Controls:

  • Left Stick: Longboard movement
  • Right Stick: Camera (future)
  • A Button: Interact
  • B Button: Menu/Cancel
  • X Button: Gronk Vape Shield
  • Y Button: Whistle to Susi
  • LB/RB: Tool/Weapon switch
  • Start: Pause menu

Haptic Feedback:

  • Light rumble: Collision with obstacles
  • Heavy rumble: Zombie appears nearby
  • Medium rumble: Vape shield activated
  • Pulse rumble: Memory found

Auto-Detect:

  • Connects automatically when controller plugged in
  • Shows button prompts (Xbox/PS icons)
  • Works alongside keyboard/mouse

🌆 LIVING NOIR CITY

Atmospheric World:

Stray Animals:

  • 3-5 cats spawn randomly

    • Sit and clean themselves
    • Wander aimlessly
    • RUN AWAY when Kai rides longboard nearby!
    • Meow sounds (spatial audio)
  • 2-3 dogs in shadows

    • Bark randomly every 8-15 seconds
    • Semi-transparent (lurking)
    • "WOOF!" text indicator

Ambient Sounds:

  • City ambient loop (constant low hum)
  • Wind rustling (varies intensity)
  • Distant sirens (random)
  • Metal clangs (crafting areas)
  • Glass breaking (abandoned buildings)
  • Crow caws (morning)

Environmental Effects:

  • Floating dust particles
  • Paper/trash blowing across screen
  • Flickering streetlights
  • Vignette edge darkening
  • Film grain overlay (optional)

Result: City "breathes" even when Kai stands still


🛠️ 8. TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

Game Engine

  • Engine: Phaser 3
  • Language: JavaScript (ES6)
  • Platform: Web + Electron (desktop app)
  • Resolution: 1280x720 (16:9), scales up/down
  • Rendering: Canvas + WebGL

Save/Load System

Features:

  • Auto-save every 5 minutes
  • Manual save at bed/checkpoints
  • Export/import save files (backup)
  • LocalStorage persistence
  • Steam Cloud (when integrated)

Save Data Structure:

{
  player: { position, age, inventory, stats },
  progress: { memories, quests, npcs_met },
  companions: { gronk, susi },
  farm: { crops, buildings, animals },
  economy: { money, cannabis_capital },
  playtime: seconds
}

Systems Implemented (Jan 10, 2026)

1. GamepadController.js

  • Xbox/PS controller support
  • Button mapping
  • Haptic feedback
  • Auto-detection

2. VIPManager.js

  • First 20 buyers check
  • Founder badge system
  • Streamer keys
  • Purchase verification

3. GronkStats.js

  • Level 1-10 progression
  • XP from vape usage
  • Stat scaling
  • LocalStorage save

4. SusiCompanion.js

  • Follow AI logic
  • Memory tracking
  • Whistle response
  • Bark animations

5. SaveLoadSystem.js

  • Complete save structure
  • Auto-save timer
  • Aging engine
  • Export/import

6. NoirCitySystem.js

  • Stray animal spawning
  • Ambient sound system
  • Environmental effects
  • Atmospheric particles

Total: 1,830 lines of production-ready code!


Audio System

Music (12 Tracks):

  • Ana Theme (3.1MB)
  • Combat Theme (13MB)
  • Farm Ambient (2.8MB)
  • Forest Ambient (290KB)
  • Main Theme (3.3MB)
  • Night Theme (11MB)
  • Raid Warning (13MB)
  • Town Theme (6.4MB)
  • Victory Theme (5.3MB)
  • Wilderness Theme (3.6MB)

Voiceover (53 Files):

English (21 files):

  • Kai: en-US-ChristopherNeural (natural teen)
  • Ana: en-US-AriaNeural (expressive)
  • Gronk: en-GB-RyanNeural (deep UK)

Slovenian (21 files):

  • Full intro voiced in both languages

System Features:

  • BiomeMusicSystem (cross-fade between biomes)
  • AudioTriggerSystem (spatial audio)
  • Voice + subtitle sync

🎨 9. ASSETS & CONTENT

Art Style: Style 32 Dark-Chibi Noir

Inspired By: Cult of the Lamb

Key Characteristics:

  • Thick 5px black outlines
  • Smooth vector art (NO pixelation!)
  • Chibi proportions (big heads, small bodies)
  • Muted saturated colors
  • Dark fantasy + Cute blend
  • Transparent backgrounds

Color Palette:

  • Grassland: #5C8A5C (grass), #8B6F47 (dirt)
  • Characters: Vibrant punk colors
  • UI: Dark browns/oranges (Cult of Lamb style)

Asset Count (Current)

PNG Files: 1,165 Total

Breakdown:

Character Sprites:

  • Kai: 21 frames (idle, walk, dig, swing) + 12 farming
  • Ana: 10 frames + 4 memory
  • Gronk: 10 frames
  • Susi: 19 frames (idle, run, bark, sit, sleep, jump)

Enemies:

  • Zombies: 45 frames (3 types × 15 each)
  • Creature references: 99 images

Biomes:

  • Grassland: 100% complete (tiles, props, trees, flowers)
  • Others: Reference images only

Crops:

  • Demo crops: 6 complete (30 sprites)
  • Full game: 80 crop folders (references)

UI:

  • Health/stamina: 5 elements
  • Inventory: 3 elements
  • Buttons: 4 states
  • Icons: 7 types
  • Dialogue: 3 elements
  • XP bar, weather, tooltips: 8 elements

Intro:

  • 20 Polaroid shots

Animation Frames

Complete: 34/34 (100%)

Category Frames Status
Susi 7
Kai Farming 12
Ana Memory 4
Crop Wilting 3
UI Polish 8

All references ready for Tiled integration!


📢 10. MARKETING & LAUNCH

Target Audience

Primary:

  • Stardew Valley fans (farming lovers)
  • The Last of Us fans (emotional storytelling)
  • Indie game enthusiasts
  • Alternative/punk aesthetic lovers
  • Ages 16-35

Secondary:

  • Survival game players
  • Post-apocalyptic genre fans
  • Narrative-driven game seekers

Unique Selling Points (USPs)

  1. Aging Protagonist - Never seen in farming games!
  2. Punk Aesthetic - Unique chibi + dark style
  3. Emotional Story - Twin separation drives everything
  4. First 20 Exclusive - Creates urgency + FOMO
  5. Cannabis Economy - Edgy, memorable, strategic
  6. Living City - Cats run from you! Immersive atmosphere

Marketing Hooks

Taglines:

  • "Farm. Survive. Remember."
  • "Every memory ages you. Every choice matters."
  • "Find your sister before you forget her face."
  • "Grow crops. Find truth. Age gracefully."

GIF-able Moments:

  • Cat running away from longboard
  • Gronk's vape cloud shield
  • Kai aging up (mirror cutscene)
  • Polaroid intro transitions
  • Susi finding memory

Streamable Content:

  • 60s intro (share on TikTok/YouTube Shorts)
  • "Cannabis farming strategy" guides
  • "First 20" countdown timer
  • Aging progression showcase

Launch Strategy

Phase 1: Demo Launch (Free)

  • Release on Steam, Itch.io
  • Unlimited playtime, limited content
  • Cannabis farming hook
  • "First 20" countdown visible

Phase 2: Early Access (Paid - Faza 1)

  • First 20 buyers get Gronk
  • Streamers get free keys
  • Full save carry-over from demo
  • 10-hour gameplay

Phase 3: Full Release (Paid - Faza 2)

  • All 18 biomes
  • Multiplayer co-op
  • Ana storyline resolution
  • 50+ hours content

Platforms

Launch Platforms:

  • Steam (primary)
  • Itch.io (indie audience)
  • GOG (DRM-free)

Future:

  • Epic Games Store
  • Nintendo Switch (port?)
  • Xbox/PlayStation (console port?)

Pricing Strategy

Demo: FREE (unlimited)

Faza 1 (Early Access):

  • $14.99 USD
  • Includes: Demo + 4 biomes + main quest start

Faza 2 (Full Game):

  • $24.99 USD (upgrade from Faza 1: +$10)
  • OR $24.99 USD (full purchase if skipped Faza 1)

Special:

  • First 20 buyers: Same price + Gronk exclusive!
  • Streamers: Free full game

Community Building

Discord Server:

  • Founder role for first 20
  • Streamer role
  • Beta tester channels
  • Fan art showcase

Social Media:

  • Twitter/X: Dev updates, GIFs
  • TikTok: 60s intro clips, gameplay
  • YouTube: Devlogs, trailers
  • Reddit: r/indiegaming, r/StardewValley crosspost

Press Kit:

  • High-res logo
  • Screenshots (all biomes)
  • Character art (Kai, Ana, Gronk, Susi)
  • Intro sequence video
  • Fact sheet
  • Dev contact

📊 CURRENT STATUS

Demo Readiness: 95%

Complete:

  • Intro sequence (60s epic)
  • All character sprites
  • Demo crops (6 types)
  • Grassland tileset (complete)
  • All UI elements
  • Music + voices
  • 6 core systems implemented

In Progress:

  • Tiled map building (next step!)
  • GameScene integration (systems ready)
  • Final playtesting

🎯 Launch Timeline:

  • Next 1-2 days: Build maps in Tiled
  • Next 3-5 days: Final polish + testing
  • Week 2 (Jan 17): Demo launch!

🎉 CONCLUSION

Mrtva Dolina / Death Valley is a unique blend of cozy farming and emotional post-apocalyptic storytelling, featuring:

  • Innovative aging system (visual progression)
  • Punk aesthetic never seen in farming games
  • Emotional twin story that drives player motivation
  • Strategic economy (cannabis farming!)
  • Exclusive content (first 20 buyers)
  • Living world (cats, dogs, atmosphere)

Technical Excellence:

  • 1,165 PNG assets ready
  • 1,830 lines of core systems
  • Full gamepad support
  • Save/load persistence
  • 6 major systems implemented

Ready for launch with compelling hook for trial players and deep content for full game buyers!


🎮 Game Bible v2.0 - Complete!
Updated: January 10, 2026
Developer: David Kotnik
Status: Production-Ready for Demo Launch

📧 Contact: [Your Email]
🌐 Website: [Your Website]
💬 Discord: [Your Discord]