Exploring Mental Turmoil and Existential Depths: Crafting an Interactive Narrative Game

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Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Perustieteiden korkeakoulu | Master's thesis

Authors

Date

2024-08-19

Department

Major/Subject

Game Design and Production

Mcode

SCI3046

Degree programme

Master’s Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences

Language

en

Pages

30

Series

Abstract

While there are games on the market that address mental illness, there is a paucity of autobiographical games that depict individual experiences of mental illness. Moreover, there is a lack of games that integrate artistic expression with philosophical themes. In addition, the narratives and character designs of existing games frequently perpetuate negative views and prejudices about mental illness. As someone who has experienced mental distress, developing games that reveal the complexity of mental health can provide a reference point for understanding minority groups while promoting understanding and empathy for mental illness. The research methodology of this thesis is as follows: First, the literature review explores the relationship between existential philosophy, metaphor, and mental illness. It then examines how modern games use metaphor as a creative tool to explain mental phenomena and influence player empathy. Finally, the paper applies the results of these literature reviews to the development of an interactive narrative game that addresses philosophical exploration and mental health issues. The game uses text-based games as a creative tool for self-expression and aims to increase people's awareness and empathy for mental health. By developing a game project, the paper offers a way of using games to explore complex philosophical ideas in a more accessible and interactive way, with the potential to reach a broader audience and stimulate thought and discussion about human well-being.

Description

Supervisor

Hämäläinen, Perttu

Thesis advisor

Hämäläinen, Perttu

Keywords

textbBased game design, mental health, existential philosophy, autobiographical game

Other note

Citation

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202408255711

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[dipl] Perustieteiden korkeakoulu / SCI