Fighting The Stigma

ABOUT THE GAME

Fighting The Stigma is a game developed by our team, Proxy-Mate, as students at Abertay University. It was conceptualized and prototyped for the third game jam of our DES402 module.

The Brief

The objective of this game jam was to design a game that addresses the challenging issue of stigma surrounding the decision to remain childfree. We were given creative freedom in how we approached the project, provided the core message of the brief was communicated effectively.

Development Process

Because the topic is highly sensitive, we placed a strong emphasis on research throughout the development process. Our goal was to ensure that every design decision reflected the insights we uncovered.

During our research into being childfree, we found that women are the group most commonly subjected to stigma. As our team lacked strong female representation, we decided to individually research different aspects of the topic before developing the game concept. Through this research and multiple iterations of ideas, Fighting The Stigma was formed.

Gameplay

The player takes on the role of a woman visualizing her inner thoughts. Within her mind, she stands before a mirror and confronts a monster that represents the guilt and societal stigma tied to her decision to be childfree in her thirties.

To overcome this manifestation, the player must choose the correct responses to challenge the monster’s accusations while preventing these negative thoughts from affecting the character’s mental health.