Creating a Fictional Recipe for Hydrogen Sulphide in a Video Game

  • Thread starter Thread starter Harvester_82
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Hydrogen
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the ethical implications and creative considerations of incorporating a fictional recipe for hydrogen sulphide in the video game "The Cat Lady." Game developer Remi seeks alternatives to using pesticide in a lethal chemical combination, aiming for a plausible yet harmless ingredient. Suggestions include using peanut oil derived from an allergy, but the consensus leans towards maintaining the lethal aspect for narrative consistency. The conversation also explores the protagonist's actions, including the use of a gas mask and the potential reactions of the antagonist to the gas.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of game narrative design
  • Familiarity with chemical properties and safety
  • Knowledge of character development and motivation
  • Awareness of ethical storytelling in video games
NEXT STEPS
  • Research ethical implications of depicting violence in video games
  • Explore alternative non-lethal chemical combinations for game design
  • Learn about character motivations in narrative-driven games
  • Investigate the impact of sensory details (like smell) in storytelling
USEFUL FOR

Game developers, narrative designers, and writers interested in ethical storytelling and character-driven narratives in video games.

Harvester_82
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hi, my name is Remi, I'm a game developer from Harvester Games. I have an important question regarding hydrogen sulphide. Do not worry- I am not planning to commit suicide with it, but I need it for a puzzle in my new game, The Cat Lady.

At some point in the game the game's protagonist is required to combine two household chemicals to kill a man who kidnapped her. There is a whole theme in the game regarding famous japanese suicide method and that's why she knows how to make it. From my research I've found that it can be made by combining bleach and pesticide... but I'm not sure it's ethical to give players a recipe for death like that... Is it?... Anyway, I thought I'd swap pesticide for a different ingredient, something that in real life wouldn't kill anyone. But which ingredient could it be, to make it look like a "believable lie"? What I'm after is what Stephen King did with his fictional painkillers that Paul SHeldon was being fed by Ann in Misery. A made up recipe which is harmless, yet not completely out of this world and laughable ( like bleach + strawberry jam for instance... that's just stupid..;))

I'd appreciate suggestions from you guys, since my chemical knowledge is minimal.

Thanks!
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF!

Hi Remi! Welcome to PF! :smile:
Harvester_82 said:
… I thought I'd swap pesticide for a different ingredient, something that in real life wouldn't kill anyone. But which ingredient could it be, to make it look like a "believable lie"?

How about using an allergy?

eg she discovers he is allergic to peanuts, and she manages to make peanut oil from ingredients she finds in the … erm :rolleyes:

ooh, you're the writer! :biggrin:
 
No, I'm afraid it's got to be gas poisoning to fit with the over-arching stryline... She sneaks behind the killer unnoticed and mixes the chemicals... So, I guess if anyone has other ideas?

Allergy is not powerful enough. He might as well die of cold.. ;) But thanks for your input, Tim:)
 
oh, gas!

but then how come she isn't poisoned also? :confused:

(and won't he notice the smell?)​
 
She is wearing a gas mask. As for the smell, I was hoping by the time he'd noticed it would be too late?... Actually, how long does it take to knock someone down with this stuff?
 
She puts on a mask the killer was wearing when he kidnapped her. Here's a reference screenshot:

Uccov.jpg


t9erT.png


But that's irrelevant. What I need to know is 1) What I asked in the first post, 2) What would it look like if she sneaked in behind him in the same room, put on a mask, poured two chemicals into a bucket. I know this gas is colourless and stinks badly. But how would he react? Would he start choking? Rolling on the floor? Have enough time to get to her and attack? If he shot a gun, would the room go on fire?...