This is the document of the completed development process of Rotating Mountain, a Tibetan culture-oriented adventure game. The developer, Leonhart Yan, an NYU Interactive Media Arts bachelor, made this game as a graduate application project. Here, I have the full development process. I want anyone interested in this game or Tibetan culture to notice it.
Rotating Mountain, refers to Kora (Tibetan: སྐོར་ར), “a transliteration of a Tibetan word that means ‘circumambulation’ or ‘revolution’” (Wikipedia). In Tibetan Buddhist or Bon traditions, it is a pilgrimage to eliminate bad karma and accumulate blessings through the ritual of rotating holy objects and sites Tibetans walk around many sites, including great mountains, lakes, stupas, temples, etc. This game only focuses on Kora toward the great mountains. Although the mountain in the game is not designated, the inspiration is my experience in Mount Kailash.
Me, in front of Mt Kailash, shot in Tibet, China.
Mt Kailash is located in the western part of the Tibetan Plateau, between China, India, and Nepal. The peak is estimated at 6,638m. It is the holy mountain that shares admiration of four ancient religions-Benzism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism-and is the most important sacred mountain in Tibet. In Bon Tradition, Mt Kailash is regarded as the center of the cosmos. Hindus believe that the mountain was the abode of the main god Shiva, who lived here with his wife Parvati, and their children. Jainism believes that its first ancestor, Lakshmana, attained enlightenment after many years of asceticism on the Ashtapad mountain in front of Mt Kailash. Buddhism believes that Mt Kailash is the “Sumeru Mountain”, which symbolizes the center of the universe. Mt Kailash has many legends, its shape resembles a pyramid, and the Egyptian pyramid and the Mayan pyramid are equal in distance. These legends add a lot of mysterious color to Mt Kailash. The sacred and inviolable spiritual value of Mt Kailash in people's hearts, resulting in the peak has remained unclimbed, uncontaminated, pure, and flawless appearance.
Mt Kailash, shot by me in Tibet, China.
Out of devout faith and the purpose of cleansing sins and accumulating blessings, there are many believers of the above religions who come from all directions to perform pilgrimage and rotate the mountain without any difficulty. As a result, the peak of Mt Kailash is full of pilgrims all year round.
Pilgrims who believe in reincarnation see rotating around Mount Kailash as experiencing the process from this life to the next, expecting to wash away the sins of this life and accumulate blessings for a better afterlife. Rotating around Mt Kailash in a circle can wash away the sins of a lifetime; turning ten rounds can be in the 500 rounds from the pain of hell; turn a hundred rounds of people will be able to ascend to heaven to become a Buddha. Shakyamuni was born in the Tibetan calendar year of the horse. Rotating Mt Kailash in that year can increase a round of twelve times the merit, equivalent to thirteen rounds of the regular year. Devotees even take 15 days to turn around the mountain by knocking their heads in a long way, to benefit all beings more.
Banner Square, start of the route, shot by me in Tibet, China.
In June 2023, I have been to Tibet and spent 2 days on the route to rotate around Mount Kailash. It was truly an unparalleled and unprecedented experience and a test of my physical strength and willpower. Based on this impressive experience, I got the idea to make a game out of it.
The mountain-rotating route of Mt Kailash is extremely difficult. According to the website China Highlight, there is a typical Mt Kailash Trek Plan:
Mount Kailash Treks: Yatra/Kora Trip Guide (chinahighlights.com)
Mt Kailash Trek Plan
Day 1: Darchen to Dirapuk Monastery— 24 km (15 miles)
This part is relatively easy with gentle slopes. The altitude increases from 4,675 to 5,080 meters (15,338–16,666 feet).
Day 2: Dirapuk Monastery to Dzultrituk Monasteryvia Dolma La Pass — 24 km
This is the most difficult part of the kora. There are no paved roads, just chaotic rocky paths.
The 6 kilometers (4 miles) of the path that climbs over the Dolma La Pass is called the "deadly 6 kilometers" because the altitude increases sharply to 5,648 meters(18,530 feet).
After the hardest 6 kilometers is a flat river valley. Have some rest at the campsite, then go onto Dzultrituk Monastery and rest overnight. If you still have the energy to go further, you can complete the kora by going on to Darchen on day 2.
Day 3: Dzultrituk Monastery to Darchen— 10 km (6 miles)
It contains high-altitude climbing and trekking. The highest altitude there is 18,530 feet. The high altitude stress phenomenon is widespread over there. Although the spots along the way have multiple supply centers selling foods and drinks or providing overnight stays, this trek route is still torture for most people living in low-altitude regions. Two sectors of the route have no supply stations and are impossible for vehicles to pass, which means that the fatality of emergency is pretty high: no ambulances, no responders. The reason is that the terrain over there is simply too steep, including cliffs that slope close to 90 degrees, as well as inclement natural weather that makes it impossible for vehicles to pass through. There was also icy water mixed with mud, big rocks on the road, and snow two meters deep that you could sink into if you weren't careful. And when I walked the entire distance, such a grueling process brought with it a very great sense of accomplishment.
Gameplay