Secret Post in Canton: Recreating Attractions through Cross-Media Design in a Digital Game

In the context of media convergence, video games have emerged as multifaceted products that integrate diverse media experiences. This paper examines the adaptation of the renowned counter-espionage film Secret Post in Canton (1957) into a video game as a case study to explore how cinematic elements can be reimagined within the gaming medium. By designing a low-cost, independent game inspired by the film, the study analyzes its narrative and visual techniques to inform the game’s design framework. Utilizing a lightweight development model, the game is developed as a two-player, split-screen, real-time competitive experience, incorporating core mechanics such as Walking in the Dark, levels that recreate iconic scenes from the film, and ambiguous identity settings—all designed to translate the film’s dramatic tension and aesthetics of surprise into an interactive format. The study argues that cinematic qualities can be effectively adapted across media, and low-cost games possess significant cultural and social value by efficiently reinterpreting these experiences.