Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10609/150801
Title: | Representation of mental illness in story-driven games: using minigames as a vehicle for story in adventure games |
Author: | Banderas Rovira, Salvador |
Tutor: | Pons López, Joan Josep |
Others: | Arnedo-Moreno, Joan |
Abstract: | Despite increasing awareness and inclusion efforts, video games often fail to provide empathetic and accurate depictions of mental health issues. By prioritizing certain conditions over others, they even contribute to their invisibility, hindering the overcome of stigma. This issue is exacerbated by the frequent separation between mechanics and theme, resulting in a self-defeating diminishment of player understanding. Based on the premise that video games can influence perceptions and foster empathy through interactive storytelling, this project aimed to enhance the representation of mental illness by seamlessly integrating these portrayals into the game's narrative and mechanics. The goal was to develop a story-driven adventure game that accurately portrayed dementia, using minigames as narrative devices while avoiding harmful stereotypes. An extensive literature review was conducted on the disconnect between mechanics and theme, minigames, and the portrayal of mental illness in video games to identify prevailing issues. This was followed by an analysis of case studies, examining games that have depicted mental illness to understand their strengths and weaknesses. The prototype underwent two stages of testing: an initial focus group for qualitative feedback on core mechanics and narrative integration and a final survey to evaluate the game's overall effectiveness and impact. Results demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of using interactive storytelling to address complex social issues in video games. Ultimately, the project's outcomes aim to inspire a more inclusive and responsible game development community, where games serve as powerful tools for social change and education. |
Keywords: | story-driven games adventure games minigames representation mental illness dementia |
Document type: | info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis |
Issue Date: | 16-Jun-2024 |
Publication license: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/ |
Appears in Collections: | Bachelor thesis, research projects, etc. |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
sbanderasFMDP0624report.pdf | Report of FMDP | 9,47 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Share:
This item is licensed under aCreative Commons License