A
Imprint
Name
Matthew Peter Kalter
Education degree
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Design
Institute
Design and Visual Interaction
Program
Visual Game and Media Design
Year
2025
A game about memory, identity, and the longing to belong. Wander through liminal spaces where interaction uncovers echoes of forgotten moments and traces of those who came before. With each step between isolation and connection, you're invited to reflect on what defines and bounds us – and to shape your own meaning.
Based on personal experiences, Imprint is my attempt to abstract memory into a symbolic narrative that others can interpret in their own way. The player is guided linearly through a series of scenes, where emphasis is placed on transitions—some gradual, others abrupt. Players initially have limited agency, performing monotonous, repetitive actions. As the game progresses, they are offered choices which add layers of personal interpretation, while unfolding a predetermined sequence of events. Environmental design, mechanics, composition, and tone continually shift, reflecting the character’s emotional journey.
Imprint currently features two playable scenes, with a planned scope of four and the intention of creating a looping narrative structure.
Preproduction included the use of diagrams to plot out the game's visual narrative arch, as well as the expected emotional engagement of players throughout each scene:
Characters began as 2D concept art and were later modelled, rigged and animated in Blender. Their noisy transparent surface was achieved using Unity's shadergraph:
Mechanics, composition, and tone were all designed to correlate with Imprint's emotional narrative arch and the themes of each scene: starting with minimal agency, monotony, and suspense, and continuing with sentimental reflection and fleeting choices.
