It's a Cold Little World (game)

Two scouts in an post-apocalyptic time try to find their way back to their village, as the world around them has turned to utter cold and mist.

It’s a Cold Little World

“A smaller world, a colder world, a more personal world.”

 

FADE IN:

EXT. FOREST - MISTY DAWN

DAMIEN is walking with MAX through an open and with FOG covered FOREST. Visibility is no more than thirty feet.

MAX

(slightly desperate)

F**k, where’s that checkpoint? Did we miss it?

DAMIEN

(sounding distanced, trying to concentrate)

Not sure.

MAX

S**t, we were so close!

DAMIEN

Give me a minute, let me just get my bearings.

RELEASE INPUT (mouse only)

HINT ON SCREEN: “Move the mouse to look around.”

Damien looks around him, trying to spot a RED BANNER, the common indication for a MERCHANT CHECKPOINT. He focuses his gaze past wintered trees and finally catches a familiar motion to their right " a RED BANNER with faded saturation, tied to a TREE and waving in the icy wind.

FREEZE INPUT

DAMIEN (cont’d)

(points at the checkpoint)

Right there.

MAX

(laughs)

You’re vision keeps surprising me, Dame.

RELEASE INPUT

Damien and Max walk past the CHECKPOINT.

FREEZE INPUT

PAN TO ‘CHECKPOINT’

In the TREE to which the BANNER is attached is carved ‘NE’ " a new direction; to the North-East. Damien grabs his compass.

DAMIEN

(mumbles indistinctly to himself)

North-East…

HINT ON SCREEN: “Press […] to grab or put away your compass.”

RELEASE INPUT

MAX

There should only be three more checkpoints until Pinewood Creek now. Then it’s just meat and beer, for sure. If I wasn’t freezing I’m sure I’d be slobbering. Finally home…

DAMIEN

(calmly)

Be quiet, Max. We aren’t there, yet.

Damien and Max pass the first of the remaining CHECKPOINTS and continue.

FREEZE INPUT

PAN TO ‘CHECKPOINT’

In the TREE is carved ‘NW’ " North-West.

DAMIEN

(mumbles indistinctly to himself)

North-West…

RELEASE INPUT

MAX

(careless)

Is it just me, or is the fog thicker than normal, huh?

DAMIEN

(noticeably irritated)

How’s your short-term memory, Max?

MAX

(confused)

Huh?

DAMIEN

Just shut the f**k up.

Damien and Max reach the second of remaining CHECKPOINTS. FREEZE INPUT

Damien looks around the forest, then notices drops of BLOOD in the SNOW below close to the CHECKPOINT, accompanied by TRACKS of an animal in a hurry. He reaches out for it and touches it.

DAMIEN (cont’d)

And to answer your question. Yes, it is getting worse.

PAN TO ‘CHECKPOINT’

In the TREE is carved ‘N’ " North.

DAMIEN (cont’d)

(mumbles indistinctly to himself)

North…

RELEASE INPUT

Damien and Max approach the third of remaining CHECKPOINTS, but instead of a new direction there’s a spot without bark on the TREE on the place where the direction should be, but they are unaware.

FREEZE INPUT

PAN TO ‘CHECKPOINT’

DAMIEN

(mumbles indistinctly to himself)

That’s inconvenient.

PAN TO ‘MAX’

MAX

This is the last one. We’re home, Damien! I can smell the roasted deer already. Hmm… that scent, that flavor, that-

The sound of a GROWL emerges.

DAMIEN

(whispering)

Shh! Be quiet!

FORCE CROUCHED MODE

HINT ON SCREEN: “Press […] to crouch or stand up.”

Damien orders Max to drop down with a wave of his hand. Max obeys.

DAMIEN (cont’d)

You hear that?

MAX

(whispering scared)

Dame? What is that?

Damien looks frantically around him in the hope he can spot the origin of the sound, but in vain.

DAMIEN

(whispering)

I don’t know.

PAN TO ‘MAX’

DAMIEN (cont’d)

Which direction is the village?

MAX

(whispering scared)

It’s North from us.

DAMIEN

(whispering)

Let’s go. Keep your eyes peeled. Don’t do anything stupid.

Max nods, too scared to talk.

RELEASE INPUT (crouched mode)

They sneak further, aware of the aggressive GROWLS. A big WOLF appears in front of them, grading on a CARCASS of a deer against a big TREE, with his back to the South. They sneak with a bow around it, without making any noise. They sneak out of range of the WOLF.

MAX

(still whispering)

S**t, let’s not do that again, all right?

DAMIEN

(out loud)

Agreed.

Damien and Max approach a CRASH BARRIER which they have to go over in order to proceed.

BUTTON ON SCREEN: “[…]: Climb over the crash barrier.”

Damien and Max jump over a CRASH BARRIER and end up on an ROAD of asphalt.

FREEZE INPUT

PAN TO ‘PINEWOOD CREEK’

DAMIEN

(calmly)

Now, how about that?

MAX

(overcome with happiness)

Home.

DAMIEN

(sighs)

Finally home.

FADE TO BLACK

Author's Note

This a script I wrote for a potential game, as I develop games and have a love for story-based games. It's also my first script I ever wrote. It's the first encounter for the player and is meant as an introduction. I felt it would be a cool thing to post here. Please feel free to review and rate! Thanks.

Reviews

[A Ghost of Myself]

I'm not a screen-Writer, I have read a few in my time, and this seemed like a rather good introduction. You should put up top this is for a game, because as I was reading, I kept thinking it sounded like a game, Mouse, Map markers, hint on screen. I don't really know, how to critique this. As I said I'm not a screen-writer, but I am a gamer (at least when I have time, usually sports or RPG e.g. fallout.) I think you have a good basis, the only problem I could really see is you hinted at danger, but you didn't really introduce a conflict.

MAX through an open and (omit with) FOG covered FOREST.

[Mason Red]

Thanks for the review! That's something I can work with; you're right, I don't introduce conflict while it's probably going to be a large part of it, so basically it should be there. When I find some time I'll get to it. Also, I'll put "Game" in the title for others to know. Thanks! =)

[Workvio]

Me thinks I am out of my element here, honestly so ... You have created an interesting scenario that clearly holds forth the promise of great things to come ... This shared, I know next to nothing about the game world and how games work and function successfully ... My kids? ... Now they could tell you a bit more ... But me, I confess my ignorance ... Yet, in having also read your excellent talent penned to page in your stories, I surmise that if you should pursue this script to completion as a new game to market, you shall no doubt succeed ...