Columbia game design students produce mental health video game
Columbia game design students produce mental health video game
Columbia game design students produce mental health video game
By Connor Dore
May 8, 2024
Summary
"The Other Side" is a video game developed by Columbia University game design students, focusing on themes of depression and anxiety, drawn from their personal experiences. Players engage in dialogues with in-game characters and combat symbolic enemies like "fear" and "anger," mirroring internal emotional struggles. Lead designer Joshua Chaffée aimed to create empathy for mental health issues, emphasizing the universal nature of such challenges. The project, part of a senior capstone class, received funding from the Solutions Journalism Network and involved collaboration across disciplines under Associate Professor Bill Guschwan. Scheduled for release at Manifest, the game combines platforming with strategic battles to simulate emotional conflict.
Reference
Dore, C. (2024, May 8). Columbia game design students produce mental health video game. Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://columbiachronicle.com/columbia-game-design-students-produce-mental-health-video-game