A Second Face

Lore & Background

The game was scripted in Adventure Game Studio, with puzzles invented during the scripting process. Le Woltaire improvised much of this, starting with some backgrounds and characters until he got ideas for the plot and puzzles. Main cut-scenes were written to model the basic plot structure, and then the game was developed non-linearly. Character design began with a charcoal sketch, then colored with watercolors. These were scanned and reduced in size to make the characters more detailed. Locations were sketched, then used as a background reference for 3D-CAD models, which were digitally edited to match the tone and style of the characters. Characters and locations were hand animated with photo editing software, limited to six frames. Le Woltaire was influenced by a city map of ancient Babylonia for the design of the City of Ugeltz.

Reader's Guide

A Second Face stands as a notable example of independent game development in the late 2000s, particularly within the freeware adventure game community. Its development process, which mixed drawing, CAD-modeling, dramaturgy, and scripting in a non-linear fashion, reflects a highly personal and improvisational approach. The game's narrative, set on a tide-locked planet with two opposing civilizations and a quest for a new energy source, combines multiple genres—fantasy, science-fiction, and cyberpunk—with philosophical overtones of Enlightenment thought. The game received 15 nominations for the 2008 AGS Awards and won three: Best Game Created with AGS, Best Original Story, and Best Backgrounds. Its verb coin interface and inventory-based action system follow the tradition of classic point-and-click games, while a characteristic text box allows open dialogues by entering single words. The game's legacy is tied to its recognition within the AGS community and its status as a freeware title that explores complex themes through a distinctive visual and narrative style.

Did You Know?

• A Second Face was created by German developer Jospin Le Woltaire and released as freeware in 2008.
• The game's dark society depends on a substance called Margin, which serves as both energy source and currency.
• Character design began with charcoal sketches, then watercolors, and was later reduced in size for detail.
• The game won three 2008 AGS Awards: Best Game Created with AGS, Best Original Story, and Best Backgrounds.