Elegy for a Dead World – Making Players Speakers for the Dead

An elegy is, basically, a very sad poem.

An elegy is, basically, a very sad poem. More often than not, elegies are written for funerals (hence the similarity to “eulogy”). In Elegy for a Dead World , you, the player, are writing several elegies. Portals have opened to three different worlds, each containing deceased alien civilizations. Due to an accident, your entire expedition has perished, with the exception of yourself. But when you get in touch with your superiors, they tell you that your orders have not changed. You must explore these worlds, and record their histories.

Elegy for a Dead World is a strange idea because there is no one narrative. Instead of telling players the story, Dejobaan Games is giving the players the ability to tell everyone the story of their worlds. As you walk through the three planets — each of which is inspired by different Romantic-era writers (Shelley, Byron, and Keats) — you will be prompted to describe the world and its civilization based solely on what you observe and invent. Those who are intimidated by the thought of on-the-spot invention don’t have to worry — Dejobaan thought of you too. Writing prompts will help guide your elegy, allowing you to write what you’d like while giving you a loose framework. Then, once you have built the story to your satisfaction, you can share it with others, and read others’ interpretations of the alien worlds.

Elegy for a Dead World is currently seeking $48,000 USD through Kickstarter to finish the game. Those interested in it can support it here, and those interested in reading more about it can do so either on the Kickstarter page or on the game’s website. The game is planned for release on Windows, Mac, and Linux next year.