Chapter 2: Stranded

You’ve arrived on a mysterious new island. Now, it’s all about gathering that early wood. Chop trees and upgrade your axe to increase your gain. Unlock Peons who passively collect wood for you, and build your first structure.

Design Goals – Stranded Island:

  1. Establish Gameplay Flow
    Introduce the game’s core loop of chopping, upgrading, and building to help players settle into a satisfying rhythm early on.
  2. First Player Choices
    Offer small but meaningful choices—like when to upgrade the axe or unlock Peons—that hint at deeper systems to come.
  3. World Atmosphere & Immersion
    Use the day-night cycle, ambient sounds, and evolving scenery to draw players into the orc island and make it feel alive.
  4. Emotional Bonding Through Humor
    Build a light-hearted connection with the orcs via quirky animations and funny voice lines that spark laughter and affection.

Chapter 1: Into the storm

Once the tutorial is over, you’re called up to the rudder to steer the ship through the storm.
It’s a minigame—repeatable like an endless runner—until you reach a goal score.
A mysterious green eye appears, luring the orcs toward it.
They lose control and end up at…

Design Goals – Storm Minigame:

1. Emotional Shift & Dramatic Hook
Create a sudden shift from calm to chaos to surprise the player and hook them emotionally. This contrast makes the world feel dynamic and alive.

2. Active Engagement Through Control
Introduce dynamic hand-based controls (steering the ship) that build on what the player just learned. This tests their skills in a fun and memorable way without overwhelming them.

3. Establish Threat & Mystery
Foreshadow the danger of the Green Light and introduce it as both an ally and enigma. The player is not told what it is but instinctively follows it.

Chapter 0: Inside the Ship: The Chieftain’s Briefing

Each player starts inside the orc ship. You, as the future chieftain, receive some information about the orcs and the basic interactions within Orcs Up! VR.


Design Goals:

  • Immersion and Role Introduction
    Placing the player into the role of their chieftain in a celebrational and uplifting way.
  • Narrative Context
    Giving narrative context about the character and motivation of the orcs in a calm environment.
  • Teaching Basic Interactions
    Introducing the fundamental mechanics in a seamless manner.