A few months ago, a developer I’d worked with in the past announced that they were working on a new video game that was inspired (at least partially) by Vampire survivors). I felt inspired to write up a quick story pitch for this new game. I wasn’t counting on them using it and treated it like a fun exercise.
The pitch won’t be used, which means that I get to share it with you, today. Of course, I’m removing and changing a few details to remove traces of the original project (no NDA was signed) because I feel as though they’re taking the game in an awesome direction and I don’t want to detract from that.
I am not married to this pitch, so feel free to use it! If you do, just be sure to credit me or let me know.
Story idea
This document is a story pitch for ABCDEFG. The point of the ‘story’ is a single intro cut-scene that ties the game into the rest of the franchise.
All of the dialogue is written in the same style as the original game, and the below cutscene follows a similar structure. Everything is set on a single black screen and reuses the sprites from the first game to minimize development time.
Plot
The game takes place during the events of the first ABCDEFG. While making his way through the dungeon, the Elf falls through a pit and wakes up in the dark room. He is surrounded by the rest of the ABCDEFG 1 characters who have befallen the same fate.
Intro script
INT. A DARK ROOM.
THE ELF IS LYING ON HIS BACK WITH HIS EYES CLOSED. THE WARRIOR, WIZARD, VALKYRIE, AND BARBARIAN ARE STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN AND LOOKING AT THE ELF.
THE ELF OPENS HIS EYES, BLINKS TWICE, AND STANDS UP.
ELF
Oh, hey, it’s you guys.
THE OTHER CHARACTERS TURN TO FACE HIM. THE ELF LOOKS SCREEN LEFT AND THEN RIGHT.
ELF
So, like, I think I fell down a hole and woke up here… BUT Where is here?
THE WARRIOR SHRUGS.
WARRIOR
No clue where we are. The same thing happened to us.
THE WIZARD RAISES A HAND
WIZARD
I think we’re in a dark room!
WARRIOR
Sigh…Yes, but WHERE is the dark room?
VALKYRIE
I need to use the bathroom. I’m gonna go in the corner, so don’t look.
THE ELF THROWS A KNIFE.
ELF
Aaah!
IT NARROWLY MISSES OTHER CHARACTERS.
VALKYRIE
Okay, I’ll hold it!
WIZARD
Hey! That almost hit my beautiful face!
ELF
Sorry about that! I don’t know what happened. My arm just threw the knife all of a sudden.
SEVERAL MONSTERS ENTER FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN
THE ELF RUNS TO JOIN HIS COMPANIONS AS THE MONSTERS MOVE INTO FRAME.
BAT
Raarw! I’m a bat!
GHOST
Boo! Booo! Boooo!
THE BARBARIAN INVOLUNTARILY THROWS A MACE AND IT KILLS THE BAT
BARBARIAN
Whoa! I did it as well!
GHOST
You guys just killed Bill! Boo! Come on other monsters, let’s get them!
THE MONSTERS HEAD TOWARDS THE HEROES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN.
THE BARBARIAN THROWS ANOTHER MACE THAT KILLS THE GHOST. ALL OF THE MONSTERS STOP.
WARRIOR
Well, I guess we know what to do with these new powers.
ELF
Let’s find a way out of here. Everyone, run!
WIZARD
Hey, I see the dungeon! And treasure!
ALL OF THE CHARACTERS AND MONSTERS EXIT SCREEN RIGHT.