| On the Shoulders of Giants is a generational adventure game set in a fictional world where humans are beginning colonization efforts on Mars. Rather than play as a single character, the player controls each individual character in a succession that comprises multiple generations of a bloodline. With a limited amount of time in each character's life, the goal of the player changes from accomplishing personal objectives in the short-term to preparing future generations for their own successes. The decisions of each lifetime act as the foundation for the play environment of future generations. Using death as a core play mechanic, On the Shoulders of Giants offers an unusual perspective by addressing concepts of multi-generational problems, player death, player birth, and the influence of genetics and the environment on the success of the individual.Keywords. Death, birth, family, generations, genetics, bloodlines, lineage, time, ancestors, descendants, civilization, environment, generativity. |
