Communication theory: DISCIPLE: MANTIS videogame
DISCIPLE: MANTIS
DISCIPLE: MANTIS is a deconstructed body-horror action game featuring a unique sigil-inscription mechanic capable of destroying, healing, and manipulating time.
«Since the dawn of time there existed Order and Chaos — they named themselves MANTIS and RANA. The moment RANA opened her crimson eye, she came to hate MANTIS. Her maddened gaze fell upon the world of matter, and she beheld everything she swore from that moment on to destroy by studying it. Order created you, DISCIPLE of MANTIS, so that Chaos would not prevail.»
Communication theory in the field of design
Design and art in general are communicational by their design (no pun intended). Through symbols, aesthetics, materiality, communication theory lets us (artists and designers) explain how messages are encoded, transmitted, perceived, and interpreted across different contexts.
Communication theory offers a powerful analytical framework for understanding how design and contemporary art create meaning, influence audiences, and participate in social, cultural, and ideological processes.
Communication theory is a structured, abstract explanation of the communication process, built from a set of interconnected concepts that help us understand how people create meaning through interaction.
Designers and artists embed meaning (encoding), but audiences decode meaning through their own cultural lenses — sometimes very differently. This echoes the problem: encoding ≠ decoding.
This process of sharing meaning through signs and symbols — where meaning is encoded and then decoded — is examined in the field of semiotics.
Generally, semiotics explains how humans make sense of the world by reading and decoding signs — visual, linguistic, auditory, gestural, or material.
So, basically, communication theory provides the framework to help artists and designers craft messages that the audience can understand through images, words, gestures, and sounds, making the experience meaningful and intentional. Semiotics is the cornerstone of the DISCIPLE: MANTIS project, providing a deep understanding of signs, symbols, and meanings that form the foundation of its visual and communicative concept, which will be discussed further.
Presentation for the general audience
«…Its eyes are red. You’ll never want to mess up with that color. But you have to, my Disciple…»
The logo of the videogame
RANA’s realm, the realm of Chaos, is filled with symbols of what it defines as Chaotic, of what it defines as the actors of Concept of Chaos.
One of the game locations «LOCKEDIN LABYRINTH»
Every tiny space within the realm has its own unique concept, ruled by the Disciples of RANA, Chaos scions. And what they do is create, to disrupt, and to destroy.
One of the game bosses «DISCIPLE: RANA — JAIL»
«…When you see the door closed — enter it. When you see the door that opens in front of you — never enter. If you see the red eye, know, that RANA is watching…»
One of the game locations «WEEPING CORRIDOR»
One of the game locations «LOCKEDIN LABYRINTH»
One of the game locations «MANTIS` WOMB»
Eyes are the mirrors to the Soul. Thus, these scarlet eyes are doors to the RANA’s will. Every and each of RANA’s Slaves is possessed by the Chaos. Their lives have been destroyed, their will has been demolished, their minds — crushed, all is left — absurd craziness and torture.
One of the game enemies «LOCKEDIN»
One of the game enemies «DYSMORPH»
One of the game enemies «BAIRN»
«…Your might and strength is in these Literas you can use. Spell Words with them on your enemies, and it will kill them, freeze them, or patch you up…»
Gameplay screenshot
DISCIPLE: MANTIS game itch.io web page
Presentation for a professional audience
Main symbols of the DISCIPLE: MANTIS game are: The Door — symbol of physical transformation of the space, the way to transcend physically; The Red Eye — eye as the symbol of spiritual ascendance, paranormality, knowledge and unique perception, intertwined with the color of red give the feeling of being watched and controlled by the aggressive, powerful and all-knowing being; The Letter with a meaning, but with no transcription — the symbol of esoterical power, etherial meaning and the «Greater Will» behind it, almost godlike power in hands of those who know how to use it, but do not know how to create it themselves, AKA «the black box»;
These symbols are chosen to force the feeling of uncertainty, the feeling of «something greater and beyond understanding», something that nor the player, nor the character can understand.
Main color triad is red, black, white — simple, but effective contrast combination, representing blood, body, and soul, or hardships, cruelty and control.
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Though, in, for example, Asian culture, these colors hold different meanings: white symbolizes death and sorrow, black symbolizes spirituality and nobility, and red stands for success and strength. Anyway, these meanings are still fitting to the theme.
Communication theory as basis for the presentations
Communication theory helps control and guide the experience of the viewer or reader. Following this theory allows us to establish a dark, mystical tone in the presentation’s narrative and direct the reader to pay closer attention to the important aspects of the text.
We use the material from the online-course «Comunication Theory»
Communication Theory: Bridging Academia and Practice // Smart LMS URL: https://edu.hse.ru/course/view.php?id=133853 (дата обращения: 09.12.2025).
We use our own videogame screenshots