americanmcgee
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The Choir of The Mind
🕑 Added 2020-09-06 00:48:04 +0000 UTCDear Insane Children,
Our back and forth on the recent discussions around Self Murder led to a thought last night. I quickly sent it off to Alex and we'll continue to develop the idea but I thought I'd share with you quickly because I think you'll appreciate it...
!!!SPOILER WARNINGS!!!
Here's the note I sent Alex:
Alex,
hit me last night...
the opening scene where Alice attempts "self murder" can contain a background of voices overlaying the scene... telling her why she should/n't kill herself. these can be echoes of her own voice, of the voices of her family, nurses, children from the asylum, etc. but it'll be a confusing array of reasons why she deserves to die, doesn't deserve to die, etc.
AND... we rip some of the lines directly from all the comments we've collected on Patreon. so these are literally the voices of the Insane Children sitting on her shoulders trying to convince her one way or another.
contained in there can be lots of the strong reasoning and concerns - albeit in small snippets - for and against the notion.
at the end of the scene, she'll silence the voices with a resounding "enough!" as the closes the flue on the stove and awaits her fate... which then leads to the transition into wonderland.
when in wonderland I was thinking we could find that there's a sort of illegal message system in place that allows the subconscious (or elements of Alice's psyche trapped within the snowglobe) to communicate to the higher-level aspects of her mind. these voices we heard are a part of this system.
restoring function to or getting messages through this system can be one of young alice's goals. it's how she establishes communication with adult alice.
also thinking on the chess realm... since they are locked in rules and prescribed rules, it would make sense that they give alice knowledge of "rules" while also sending her to find the "new rule" which will help to solve the overall challenge. it would make sense that, since they are all about "rules" they would have simulated to all the possible ways young alice might save the day... and found that it's impossible unless she finds a "new rule" to change how the game is played. more on that later.
We'll see where this takes us... but I like the idea that we represent the ongoing struggle in Alice's mind around this topic. And how she makes a final and decisive move to end the confusion and pain once and for all.
It's Sunday morning here and I've got warehouse/packing duties to attend to but thought I would share that quickly while it was fresh in my mind.
From Shanghai with Packing Tape,
-American
Comments
Love this idea! Like SuperShadow said, if you do go through with the plan of Alice hearing voices (including words directly from the Insane Children), it would be wicked cool to have an opportunity/forum for all of us Insane Children to leave a for/against suicide comment for Alice for you and the team to use, whether it's all of them, or if you just select from them. I do really, really love this idea though, of Alice hearing different people's voices, from the Insane Children, but also, like you said, from family and others that she has encountered through her life.
This would be really cool!
Stephanie Groth
Would it be possible to leave it to the imagination of the player to have the suicide attempt seem like it cold have all been a dream and child Alice puts it together somehow?
Lady L
Not everyone thinks in words though! Kind of a side note, but some don't have a distinct internal voice and think more in concepts or images or whatnot. Really fascinating stuff.
Sarah McKeegan
Love the idea! I think we all have our own voices always talking to us.. some of us just hide it better than others.
SuperShadow767
Should there be a forum to open up for the Insane Children to leave comments as to why Alice should/shouldn’t commit suicide? Or would that just be in the comment section of the last post?
I think that’s a great idea that does well in connecting child and adult Alice, adding an understandable and meaningful goal (to both Alices and the player as well as the narrative) and is a very fun and unique way of involving the Insane Children! 💚
I have schizoaffective disorder and this sort of thing really happens. In March I was sectioned when my voices got this overwhelming. Its worth having a read and talking with people with psychosis. I think you could really add alot to this scene :)
Rob Burch
I love this idea.
YAAASSS QWEEEENNN
I think it's a great idea
I feel like this would be a great way show Alice's struggles and triumphs if the voices were presented throughout the game. It would give some sort of incentive for Alice (the player) to move forward through the journey to save herself and wonderland once again. I love the idea of using our comments as well and will make for a more immersive experience for those of us who have been a part of the creation process.
Closing it would stop the smoke from going up, so it would backup into the room.
RedBreloom
I feel like this is a good road to take towards this. Though I need to ask the question for clarity's sake because I don't know entirely: Would closing the flue stop/lessen the smoke buildup or would it worsen/trap it. Because of how it's worded I can't tell which side Alice is leaning towards here. Cool art by the way.
This is an interesting concept, Young Alice hearing these voices as sort of encouragement or incentive to keep going?
Lucky Dragon ‘She.They’
Oh wait, I do have one thing to add actually. Rather than have these voices in the opening, because I don’t think they are needed there. It might actually be a tad on the nose. I was more thinking that they could be heard throughout the game at various points.
Lucky Dragon ‘She.They’
I like this idea. I don’t have much to add actually. This would would be an interesting way to keep our focus on what the goal is, and it’s a good way to represent the struggle that many of us go through. I approve.
Wendy Jaa
I think it would be cool to see Alice try to function through these voices, as that's how it really feels sometimes- trying to quiet the voices in your head so you can be a functioning adult human, but failing. I don't know about the communication thing between child Alice and adult Alice.
I dig the comments of the children bit. And while suicide IS a touchy subject, so is rape and mental health in general. But I think the smoke and fire is good. Thematically it’s cyclical and seems kinda in character for Alice, both in terms of the irony of it all and the survivors guilt. smothered in smoke and fire is no way to treat a curious soul.
I think that is a good idea. It takes into account what a lot of the objections have been. The people that have been against it will need to weigh in but I think this helps to address some of their concerns. I've been supportive of both of the intro ideas, letter opener and flame, so hearing from the others will be far more productive. Just wanted to say I like the idea. Also, ripping some of the lines from peoples objections and putting them in the game would also be a nice tip of the hat to those people.
