Othello: Through the Eyes of Iago
by Shayne Guiliano · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 07/18/2003 (1:28 pm) · 0 replies
Hey Everyone,
I'm working on an adaption of a Shakespeare play to the interactive CompArt(videogame) medium and wanted to know if anyone is interested in helping out. I've got the opening scene worked out as well as the skeleton for the design and know there's still much to be done, but I thought that this might be a cool project to try and find community involvement with. Obviously, there are no restrictions on copyrights or whatever, so we can go crazy with it. Here's a sample of what I've got so far....
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The opening scene begins in the middle of a battlefield, where you, Iago, are a general leading troops in Othello's army. You are a great warrior and loyal general. In this particular scene, you end up saving Othello's life at some point, and feel great about it as you assume that he will make you his Lieutenant when you return to Venice....
But alas, when you return you discover, to your dismay, that this rich little prick, Cassio, has been chosen above you. This really pisses you off cause Cassio is just a rich pretty boy with a rich education who has never even seen a battlefield before! How ludicris!
Not only that, but Cassio has the ability to garner the attention of the woman you're secretly in love with, Desdemona, who has just married this big black prick of a boss, Othello, who can't even be loyal to those that are loyal to him! (sorry about the racism, but it is relevant to the story and symbolism used Shakespeare)
So, you decide here and now that you will stop at nothing until you have ruined Cassio and ruined the lustful love between Othello and his strumpet of a bride!
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I've got a lot more, but that's the skeleton and I think it's headed in the right direction. I think that the design will probably call for situational drama/action as well as meandering/parrallel plot lines, but the goal would remain the same. Ruin Cassio and ruin Othello's heart like he's ruined yours!
I've got all kinds of ideas about how the concept should proceed from here, but I'll save those for later, though I think the most important thing is to maintain a level of symbolism that does justice to Shakespeare throughout...with things like having the ability to commit suicide at any time in case you realize how evil you've become through your envy...and things like that....
....otherwise feel free to brainstorm, too, as I'm gaining confidence that Othello is perfect for a CompArt production and would like to hear what you guys think...I'll probably be working on the concept for the next six months so if anyone thinks they want to get in on it down the road, that'd be cool, too....
and if you haven't read Othello yet or want to read it again, here it is in it's entirity:
http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/othello/full.html
I'm working on an adaption of a Shakespeare play to the interactive CompArt(videogame) medium and wanted to know if anyone is interested in helping out. I've got the opening scene worked out as well as the skeleton for the design and know there's still much to be done, but I thought that this might be a cool project to try and find community involvement with. Obviously, there are no restrictions on copyrights or whatever, so we can go crazy with it. Here's a sample of what I've got so far....
-----------------
The opening scene begins in the middle of a battlefield, where you, Iago, are a general leading troops in Othello's army. You are a great warrior and loyal general. In this particular scene, you end up saving Othello's life at some point, and feel great about it as you assume that he will make you his Lieutenant when you return to Venice....
But alas, when you return you discover, to your dismay, that this rich little prick, Cassio, has been chosen above you. This really pisses you off cause Cassio is just a rich pretty boy with a rich education who has never even seen a battlefield before! How ludicris!
Not only that, but Cassio has the ability to garner the attention of the woman you're secretly in love with, Desdemona, who has just married this big black prick of a boss, Othello, who can't even be loyal to those that are loyal to him! (sorry about the racism, but it is relevant to the story and symbolism used Shakespeare)
So, you decide here and now that you will stop at nothing until you have ruined Cassio and ruined the lustful love between Othello and his strumpet of a bride!
-----
I've got a lot more, but that's the skeleton and I think it's headed in the right direction. I think that the design will probably call for situational drama/action as well as meandering/parrallel plot lines, but the goal would remain the same. Ruin Cassio and ruin Othello's heart like he's ruined yours!
I've got all kinds of ideas about how the concept should proceed from here, but I'll save those for later, though I think the most important thing is to maintain a level of symbolism that does justice to Shakespeare throughout...with things like having the ability to commit suicide at any time in case you realize how evil you've become through your envy...and things like that....
....otherwise feel free to brainstorm, too, as I'm gaining confidence that Othello is perfect for a CompArt production and would like to hear what you guys think...I'll probably be working on the concept for the next six months so if anyone thinks they want to get in on it down the road, that'd be cool, too....
and if you haven't read Othello yet or want to read it again, here it is in it's entirity:
http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/othello/full.html
