Beaufort video game featuring Gullah-based boo hag to be presented at national convention
What is coming to get us?
In Montana, it's aliens.
For Coloradans, it's the Overlook Hotel.
But in South Carolina, it's the boo hag.
As he was preparing to move to the Lowcountry a few years ago, Brian Canada, associate professor of computational science at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, came across a satirical map of supernatural fears from each state.
Most listed were generic or based on a famous book or movie. But Canada was intrigued about South Carolina's "boo hag" superstition, which comes from Gullah folklore.
"Many books have been written about hags and haints and Lowcountry voodoo," Canada said. "I would (spend) hours pouring over old Gullah stories.
"There's a lot of stories out there," he continued, "some of them written in the original Gullah language."
Although versions of the story differ, most say the boo hag sheds her skin nightly and wanders the town, getting into homes through cracks in the windows or doors before draining a sleeping person's life force to the point of paralysis or even death.
After researching the myth, Canada decided to use his background in programming to create an original video game called Bugs 'n Boo Hags.
As part of Canada's Java programming course at USCB, students create their own versions of other video games.
"As I had my students work on different projects throughout the years, I thought it might be cool for me to try to develop my own game," Canada said.
Bugs 'n Boo Hags centers around the boo hag folklore, with in-game references to Beaufort people, places and objects.
Canada teamed up with Candace Brasseur, a USCB faculty member with a background in screenwriting, to fine-tune the game's narrative. Canada's sister, Amy, composed the score.
The retro-style game features homes designed by Allison Ramsey Architects, Kazoobie Kazoos, fire ants, palmetto bugs, Spanish moss -- even Mayor Billy Keyserling.
Players act in the role of Sheriff McCleary -- based on former Beaufort County Sheriff Ed McTeer, also a witch doctor -- who is asked by a pixelated version of Keyserling to ward off the boo hag with mojo bags, corn brooms, salt shakers and "haint blue paint."
"Part of the mythology is that painting windows and doors blue will keep the boo hag out because (she) thinks it's water and she can't cross water," Canada said.
Other elements used in the game include a broom, which legend says would help keep the boo hag at bay.
"The boo hag is quantitatively-inclined and is obsessed with counting things, so she takes the broom and counts the straws," Canada said.
Bugs 'n Boo Hags has been accepted to this year's Penny Arcade Expo South convention, which is Jan. 29 to 31 in San Antonio. PAX South, in its second year, is part of a series of gaming festivals throughout the country that features forums, game-playing and exhibitor booths from independent and major developers.
Canada was also selected to be part of this year's PAX Rising, which showcases up-and-coming independent game designers. As part of PAX Rising, Canada will be interviewed on Twitch, a popular video platform and community for gamers.
Canada and Brasseur will receive user feedback about the game and make adjustments accordingly at PAX South. Eventually, Canada plans on expanding Bugs 'n Boo Hags and is now applying for grants to help fund a larger game.
"I thought of this as a virtual tourism thing," Canada said. "Can we use video games as an excuse to recreate the environment of Beaufort?"
The expanded game, which would likely take years to develop, could have players interacting with Beaufort's landscape or include mini-documentaries about Gullah folklore or South Carolina -- a concept Canada and Brasseur called tangential learning.
But Canada doesn't want to market Bugs 'n Boo Hags as an educational game, which he said can sometimes be "very heavy-handed."
"If you're going to make a video game, make it a good experience," Canada said. "Don't force the education upon (the user). Make a good, entertaining game first and then inspire someone to want to go read about (the culture)."
Follow reporter Ashley Fahey on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Ashley.
More related content:
- Shaking off the spirit: Passing baby over coffin a Gullah tradition that endures, January 22, 2016
- Broken spell: Medicinal remedies still a part of Lowcountry life, January 22, 2016
This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Beaufort video game featuring Gullah-based boo hag to be presented at national convention."