CHORUS — Village Veil MVP Scope

Design by Max · Feb 22 2026 · Based on Gin's Feb 22 Feedback

TL;DR

Core village-builder + Flappy Bird night mode. Player is a charity worker (NOT god) who cleans up environment while villagers build their own homes. One village location (TBD from options), realistic malaria education, cause points translate directly to nets funded.

1. CORE LOOP

Day Phase (Village Building)

• Player role: Charity worker — not god
• Actions: Clean up stagnant water (mosquito breeding sites), drain pools, clear debris, plant trees
• Villager role: Build their own homes, tend crops, raise families
• Player's house: Small house in village for continuous storyline (unlockable, personal anchor)

Night Phase (Flappy Bird Style)

• Gameplay: Tap to smack mosquitoes before they reach the families
• Adrenaline: Fast-paced, get-in-the-zone mechanics
• Stakes: If player doesn't smack enough mosquitos, the player character gets sick (malaria)
• Sickness mechanic: Player sickness = reduced abilities next day, must rest/ recuperate

Cause Points System

What are cause points? Direct translation of gameplay effort → real-world impact

How earned: | Action | Cause Points | |---|---| | Drain 1 stagnant water source | 1 point | | Clear debris from village | 1 point | | Plant 1 tree | 1 point | | Smack 10 mosquitoes (night) | 1 point | | Complete daily challenge | 5 points | | Streak bonus (7-day) | +50% points |

What do points translate to? - 100 points = 1 net funded (at $2.50/net) - Milestone rewards at each net - Real-time impact counter tied to AMF

2. WELCOME MESSAGE

First launch:

"Welcome to [Village Name] village. These families need your help preventing malaria."

Follow-up (tutorial):

"Malaria kills a child every minute. But it's preventable. Your job: clean up places where mosquitoes breed, and protect families at night. Let's get started."

3. VILLAGE LOCATION

Pick ONE country that AMF/SMC services:

| Country | Why | Cultural Notes | |---|---|---| | Kenya | AMF active, English-speaking, strong SMC program | Be respectful of Maasai + local communities; avoid stereotypes | | Nigeria | Highest malaria burden, AMF active | Large population = huge potential impact; be mindful of portrayal | | Ghana | AMF active, English-speaking, strong SMC | More moderate portrayal; good for global audience | | Uganda | High malaria prevalence, AMF active | Similar to Kenya; research local building styles |

Recommendation: Kenya — most accessible for global audience, English-speaking, strong AMF presence, culturally rich but not oversimplified.

Realism rules: - Village buildings reflect local architecture (consult reference images) - Crops/vegetation match local agriculture - Clothing, colors, textures are authentic - Villager names from local naming traditions

4. EDUCATIONAL CONTENT (REAL INFO)

Malaria Facts (integrated naturally into gameplay)

| Fact | How Presented | |---|---| | Mosquitos breed in stagnant water | Tutorial: "Drain this puddle — it's a mosquito nursery" | | Mosquitos come out at night | Night mode unlock: "Mosquitoes hunt after dark" | | SMC provides preventive medicine, NOT treatment | Daytime action: "Distribute SMC pills" (prevents, doesn't cure) | | Nets go over BEDS, | Item description not houses: "Bed net — hangs over sleeping areas" | | One net protects ~2 people for ~3 years | Impact counter: "This net will protect 2 people for 3 years" |

Educational Pop-ups (subtle, not preachy)

• First time draining water: "Fun fact: mosquitoes breed in any standing water — even a bottle cap"
• First night mode: "Mosquitoes are most active at night — that's why sleeping under a net is so important"
• First SMC distribution: "SMC (Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention) is medicine that prevents malaria — it doesn't treat it"

5. REALISM RULES — EDUTAINMENT NOT APPROPRIATION

DO: - Research actual village layouts, building styles, clothing - Consult with cultural advisors if possible - Show diverse character designs (ages, abilities, roles) - Portray villagers as capable, not helpless - Ground all "impact" claims in real charity data - Show the charity worker as a facilitator, not savior

DON'T: - Use generic "African village" tropes - Oversimplify or exoticize - Make it about "Western savior" - Show inaccurate net usage (nets over houses instead of beds) - Mix up prevention (nets/SMC) with treatment (ACT drugs) - Appropriate cultural elements without research

6. DAYTIME ACTIONS → CHARITABLE IMPACT

Every daytime action connects to real impact:

| Action | Real-World Equivalent | Impact Link | |---|---|---| | Drain stagnant water | Community drainage projects | Reduces mosquito breeding | | Distribute SMC pills | SMC campaigns (WHO-recommended) | Preventive medicine for children | | Build well | Clean water projects | Health + reduced disease | | Plant trees | Reforestation + shade | Natural mosquito deterrent | | Build clinic | Health infrastructure | General healthcare access | | Fund bed net | AMF net distribution | Direct protection |

7. NIGHT MODE — DETAILS

Gameplay

• Flappy Bird clone: tap to "smack" mosquitoes flying toward village
• Difficulty scales: more mosquitoes, faster movement over time
• Visual/audio: buzzing sounds, frantic energy, satisfying "smack" effects

Stakes

• Goal: Protect as many families as possible
• Failure state: If mosquito reaches family → family member gets sick (visual indicator: fever, chills)
• Player gets sick: If player doesn't smack enough → player character gets malaria → next day has reduced abilities (slower movement, can't do night mode until recovered)

Recovery

• Player sickness = "rest" option next day
• Resting = can't do actions, watch ad to "recover faster"
• This creates natural ad engagement while teaching the stakes

8. PLAYER'S HOUSE — STORYLINE ANCHOR

• Small house unlocks at start (or early tutorial)
• Player's home is their "base"
• Persistent: upgrades stay, decorations stay
• Story beats: villagers visit, letters arrive, photo album of village growth
• Emotional anchor: this is YOUR village, YOUR home

9. MVP FEATURE LIST

Must-Have (v1)

• [ ] Day phase: 5 action types (drain water, clear debris, plant, distribute SMC, build)
• [ ] Night phase: Flappy Bird mosquito smacking
• [ ] Player sickness mechanic
• [ ] One village location (Kenya)
• [ ] Welcome message flow
• [ ] Cause points system
• [ ] Net funding tracker (tied to real impact)
• [ ] Player house with basic customization
• [ ] 3–5 named families with daily routines
• [ ] Basic educational pop-ups
• [ ] Rewarded video integration

Nice-to-Have (v1.1+)

• [ ] Global leaderboards
• [ ] Sponsored play mode
• [ ] Seasonal events
• [ ] Multi-village unlock
• [ ] Photo album / story sequences

10. DECISIONS NEEDED

1. Village location: Kenya approved? Or another country?
2. Art style: Pixel art, low-poly, or illustrated?
3. Sickness mechanic: Too dark? Need to soften?
4. Real-time vs. time-gated: Can players play both phases back-to-back, or is there a wait?

Sources: AMF (againstmalaria.com), GiveWell (givewell.org), WHO SMC guidelines, Max research Feb 2026 Confidence: High on game mechanics. Medium on cultural accuracy — recommend cultural review before finalizing.