Collective Insanity

Alice’s family lived in Oxford (as did the real Alice Liddell whom Lewis Carroll’s Alice was based on) ... this was confirmed in Madness Returns, when the Queen tells Alice “There are no centaurs in Oxford”. I always thought that American had researched the life of the Liddells very thoroughly before creating the first game, as the “Skool” seemed based on a college lecture-hall and the Duchess’s kitchen looked like a photo I’ve seen of a kitchen in Oxford in Carroll’s day, right down to the turtle-shell hanging on the wall! So I never thought of Rutledge’s as being in London, it always seemed likely it was located somewhere in the Oxfordshire countryside. Also I think that mental institutions are usually situated somewhere away from the populated areas, as “normal” folks aren’t generally keen on living too closely to society’s afflicted ...

I never got the vibe that Alice was sent off to an Asylum in the countryside. But maybe it also depends on where in London her family lived? Personally, the "gloomy countryside building" aesthetic has been done a LOT in horror type games, but I think the bustle of being in the city...of the shouts/shots on the street blending in with the cries/screams of the inmates would be much more chaotic. Beautiful piece of art though!

Anna Lepper

I like the third lullaby machine best, but maybe some parts of the tubes can be clear so we see kittens/chicks going through? I also like the idea of the eye being open/on or closed/off itself

I love The asylum building design. Might I make a suggestion? What if the Asylum was white and clean on the inside? There was always something eerie and huge discomfort when everything around you is white and spotless in places such as this. I remember a very simple and cruel torture method called "White torture" in prisons that puts inmates in a completely white room until to go angry or mad.

Saleh Abu-Rashid

I think the asylum could be outside of london and the one in London be a kind of extension due to doctors needing to travel and needing access to more updated supplies and equipment?

I like the idea of melding the two scenes, fits with previously suggested ideas of the sun going down or the rain starting during the scene. It might be a bit blunt but as a visual reinforcement of the emotional moment it could work quite nicely; perhaps some combination of all?

The story outline being released is the moment I've been waiting for; can't wait to sink my teeth into it!

As a London resident...there's plenty of big garden spaces in London. Places like Bethlehem (Bedlam) were old, run down and a tourist attraction by this point, (it later became the location of Moorfields Eye Hospital) but that's the sort of location you'd find a big Victorian building, or west Museum Street area. The existing Victorian buildings are often red-brick, with sandstone bases, or neo-gothic, or with neo-classical elements (St Luke's hospital in Finsbury for example) - funnily enough 'London brick' is the yellow-pink tinged ones. An interesting looking building near where I live on the south side of the river is the old Royal Doulton 'china house' which is red brick gothic, with glazed tile elements, which would have been surrounded by factories in its time, before they moved up North to Staffordshire. but most would have been on the borders, or even outside the city, which are now inside: Hanwell - for lunatic paupers Friern/Colney Hatch - had it's own farm Stone house - again commissioned by London Health, but it's much further east at Dartford, still not inside London The Priory, Roehampton - still in use today. Former private home. Always for the rich.

I really love the asylum! I love the image of Londerland! The circus and courtroom are awesome! Maybe the asylum could be up a hill in London like in a horror movie where the scary house is overlooking the city? The lullaby machine idea is cool but I agree with Celtic kitty that maybe it should be a music box of sorts?

Sarah McKeegan

Love all the work coming through! I see the Asylum as being in London, probably based on A:MR. I've no problem with the image Joey provided being within the city. I'm thinking along the lines of the Dáil, National Gallery and MountJoy prison in Dublin, which are big imposing buildings in a city centre. It's not current London, so a little bit of land wouldn't be out of place. Maybe in daylight it looks almost like a nice hospital, but at night, the real evil is seen as shown by Joey? When I saw the image of Alice giving away her rabbit on IG, she reminded me of a sad clown (black diamond make-up around her eyes, stripped top) so it doesn't quite work for me. I think just those 2 elements need a little rework and it would be fantastic.

While London asylums were often situated on the outskirts of London, such as Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum in Hanwell, and they were often repurposed hospitals, the most significant of them was Bethlem, which was located near where Liverpool Street Station is now, and was exceptionally large, and regal looking, but more hospital-like than stately. The Hanwell Asylum, with its outlying fields and structures, would actually be quite an amazing location, very much in keeping with the original Alice game, but yes, far more country than urban

It seems like most asylums in London were on the city limits so it could really be either more country or more urban. I love the rainy scene but it rwally depends on how you want us to feel at the end of the story. The Londerland scene is hopeful and balanced. The rain scene is heartbreaking leaves more questions. Is Alice going to move on having some closure or is she going to slide back and potentially be commited again? The concept of the lullaby machine is great, I just think it looks too much like the teapot. I always envisioned a music box or a mobile for where the lullaby came from. I love the courtroom SO MUCH! THIShe new talent you aquired is a perfect fit! Thank you for all you do!

Stephanie Groth

I have a suggestion about the scene where Alice gives away her rabbit. I think that maybe we see adult Alice in londerland first. She sees the child and she is holding her rabbit. Then as she kneels down and passes it to the little girl the illusion fades away. She goes from bright sunny londerland and her blue dress to her drab London clothes and its pouring down rain. She dejectedly walks away and we see the little girl watching Alice walk away in amazement. Just my thoughts! I love Adams art for the music machine and the courthouse! So gorgeous!! Also think that the asylum being outside the city of London is perfect! A big looming building of horror built just outside the city works for me. Perhaps there is a hedge maze with a rose Garden. Honestly cant wait to get back into crowd design and add to the story some more!!! Also reading the actual story has been something I've been very excited about! So thats going to be something to look forward too☺