Welcome to the Secret Art Department – so secret, that not even Mr. Barnsworth knows its existence!
• It’s intended positive impact
My Dep aims at making players feel more confident in their artistic skills. By exploring and generally having fun with them, by the end of the Dep players will be more than proud of what they can do.
• A plot in few words
The main characters are two ninja brothers, Kuro and Koru of the Clan of the 99 Arts. They really believe that art is important for a sock’s life, but it looks like their colleagues don’t agree with them, since their Department is going to disappear! Later they are joined by Mint, a sock working for Socks Resources.
• The 6 Episodes
(1) You are introduced to Kuro and Koru, the two ninja brothers leading the Secret Art Department, although your first encounter is not so nice – you end up being mistaken for an intruder and hit in the head -. After having apologized, they explain that their Dep follows the philosophy of their Clan: art is too important not be shared with the rest of the world, since it can make people happy. That’s why you are swiftly recruited as a novice in order to help them! Plus, hints are given about the Department being in danger.
(2) Kuro and Koru officially recognize you as an honourable member of the Clan of the 99 Arts. Now they can tell you that their Dep and their future is at stake, because some socks think that they are being unproductive. That’s why they have decided to go on a mission, and of course you’ll have to go with them. They want to decorate the office of Mint, a sock working in Socks Resources. Unfortunately, Mint finds them and they run away yelling like madmen;) Kuro thinks that they’ve been dishonored and is so desperate that Koru asks for your help.
(3) Thanks to you completing your mission, now Kuro feels better – until Mint videophones them (she recognized them because she was the one who had made their interview for Socks Inc.). Mint wants to help them and suggests they try making something new, experiment a bit, so that the other socks could actually see that they are working. Kuro is so moved by her kindness that he immediately makes her a member of the Clan as a Master of origami (even if Mint is not so happy about having two jobs 
(4) Mint videophones again to tell you that Mr. Barnsworth was pleased with their experiments, but this may not be enough. Again Kuro is demoralized, but Mint gets angry and tell them they must fight to prove that art is indeed important for a sock’s life. All together, you come up with the idea of making video tutorials of your arts on the Internet, where they’ll be accessible to all socks.
(5) Kuro is really satisfied because the art videos have received a lot of positive comments, but looks like Koru got you into a big mess! He has invited ALL your viewers for a meeting at Socks, Inc. (argh!) At first Kuro is horrified, but then he thinks that at least he has to try and save everything and turns the meeting in an…art exhibition! (the exhibition is not seen, the episode ends with him making the decision)
(6) Phew! Good news: the Department is safe! Mint videophones to tell that at first Mr. Barnsworth was annoyed at seeing all those socks in his factory, but in the end he really loved the whole thing. Not only the Dep will receive new funding, but he wants Kuro and Koru to hold an art exhibition every year! It is therefore with great joy that they thank you and give you the tile of High Master of the 99 Arts.
(Even if Kuro is worried about the Secret Art Department being not so secret anymore;)
• The 5 Missions
(1) Take a photo or a video of you sock’s Art.
You have to show them your Art, what you are good at. It can be anything!
(2) Take a photo or a video of your sock giving Art – secretly!
You have to use your Art to make a gift for somebody and give it to him/her – but nobody has to see you;)
(3) Take a video of your sock making crazy Art!
You have to experiment and do something new with what you can already do. For example, painting using chopsticks (!), or dancing with a soccer ball.
(4) Take a video of your sock teaching its Art
You have to make a video tutorial. That’s it:)
(5) Take a photo or a video of your sock displaying art in a public place.
Do not tell me I have to explain this oneXD
Through these missions, the player starts by acknowledging that he has some artistic skills – some good artistic skills! Secretly giving his art to somebody will let them experience the feeling of sharing it with other people, but without making them uncomfortable. Then, by experimenting with it, he will explore the boundaries of his skills and generally having fun with it – confidence points! The video tutorial will again let him share his art with others, but in a more open way. These missions should make the player feel ready for finally showing what he can do to the rest of the world, something that he wouldn’t have probably done at the beginning of the Department because of lack of confidence:)
• The Pilot Video
You can find it here:)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=N007EM5E
I would love to know your opinions!
