To start things off i have come up with a couple of different game ideas based upon both current world issues and the human experience. Here are the game summaries and why i think they are an important issue / challenge that needs to be addressed.
Shifting Labels
Shifting Labels is a game that sets out to address the gender stereotypes and inequality that women and men face. I wanted to address the human experience of helplessness and after speaking to victims of these inequalities and stereotypes this is was the lingering feeling they felt and continue to feel. Here are my rough notes when brainstorming this idea:
Why Address Gender Discrimination, why do different genders go through life so differently?
- Whys is things as small as going to the gym, on a run more dangerous for women?
- Could be a platformer with the game mechanic being “switch” being able to change between gender/s at any time whilst progressing.
- Each gender has pros/ cons with the interaction through the game
- The win condition being to complete the level without either side falling behind
Doctor Water
Doctor Water is a game that is set out to tackle to the issue of water scarcity and use human experience of hopefulness as an anchor for the game. The idea came to me when i was reading over some of my old work that i did for an environmental science module about environmental sustainability. I came to the realisation everything from the start of life to things such as sports water is essential for all of this. Places around the earth are seeing major water scarcity issues and the effects range from increased water bills all the way to eco-systems dying. Here was my first initial thoughts of how i could turn this into a game:
Behind many other issues in the world such as food shortages, eco-systems. Water scarcity is behind them all, with a lack of water these issues get worse but with sufficient water these issues disappear:
- Would be a platformer so the player has to go through different enemies and situations
- Main mechanic would be shoot with water being the ammunition
- The water level are limited and can only be restocked in certain areas
- The game world would be set in places where water scarcity is seeing the most impact in life ie forests, deserts and river dependent communities such as Eastern Asia
Cobalt Adventures
One of the biggest breaches to human rights and environmental ecosystems, cobalt mining is one of the worst on going issues 3rd world countries, predominantly in Africa, are facing right now.
- Would be an adventure game where the player has to progress in the mining life
- Main mechanic would be mining with the currency being in cobalt henceforth the more you obtain the more opportunity to upgrades and new areas
- In these different areas and throughout the storyline / narrative the aim is to show what is happening in real life and the player realises their character is actually a child
- Through progressing they start to get health effects making their progress slow down. If they don’t complete certain areas in good timings and with good mining practices they will fail
Sensational Shot
Moving away from the more serious and intense topics i thought i would think of a game that focuses more on the essential experience of a sport. One of my favourite sports at the moment is golf, and i cant think of a better sport to capture the essential experience. In this game idea i would capture the emotions of hitting a golf ball from the feelings of feeling rewarded vs feeling frustrated. Off of my own experience i think this could be accomplished through focusing on the human senses. here was a little brainstorming i did whilst at a coffee shop.
