Artistic Statement / Use of Theme
**Afterimage** explores climate change through memory, loss, and our relationship with nature.

Set in a future where much of the natural world has disappeared, the player explores a dreamlike space shaped by fragments of the past. Using a camera-like lens, they uncover plants, ecosystems, stories, and traces of human decisions that have been forgotten.

Our climate message focuses on **preservation and restoration**. By rediscovering what was lost, the player gradually brings life back into the world. The project asks what happens when nature becomes something future generations can only experience through photographs, museums, and memories.

Our call to action is simple: **notice and protect what is still here before it becomes only an afterimage.**

Artistically, we were inspired by photography, museums, dreams, and exploration-focused games that encourage players to observe and interpret the world for themselves.

Development Summary
**Afterimage** began with a much larger scope, including multiple puzzles, item collection, and several interconnected mechanics. During development, I gradually reduced the project to a single core interaction: photography. This helped keep the experience more focused and allowed the mechanic to support both exploration and storytelling.

One surprise was how complex the visual-novel-style narrative became. Text alone was not enough; pacing depended heavily on transitions, visual effects, sound, and music working together.

The most difficult part was finishing the experience. The ending went through several changes, and even in the final version, I feel it remains more abrupt and less clear than I originally intended. Learning what to cut—and when to stop expanding the concept—was one of the biggest challenges.

This was a solo project. I handled design, programming, and level design, while music and 3D art were sourced from asset stores.

Topic Tags
Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Restoration, Environmental Presevation, Human Impact

Sprint Participation
Yes

Game Engine, Platform, Format
Unity Engine, Windows Build

Generative AI Disclosure
No

(optional) Promotional Video
https://youtu.be/JZQaXZnr2Rs