Play, learn and empathise: New video game redefines the neurodiverse narrative.
Life (Re)Sounding is a short (around 15-20 minute) game/interactive 5 track music album created using Unreal 5 and the Meta Midi Tool kit. It is designed to raise awareness of neurodiversity by encouraging players to engage with slices of life of a neurodivergent person thrust into a world that was built for neurotypical people.
“Distracts others, has trouble paying attention and finds it difficult to follow instructions” – these are just some common observations parents, teachers and workplaces often make about people who are neurodivergent.
University of South Australia researcher Dr Susannah Emery wants to challenge these views around neurodevelopmental differences such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and dyslexia and help people understand neurodiversity from the inside.
Dr Emery, Lecturer of Game Design and Digital Media at UniSA, is leading the development of a short video game designed to explore living as someone who is neurodivergent in a world that’s designed for neurotypical people.
The game – Life Resounding – takes players into the mind of someone who is neurodivergent, challenging them to carry out everyday tasks such as concentrate in the classroom or work in an open plan office.
The game then ‘hijacks’ the player’s ability to stay focused by forcing them to gaze out the window or grow agitated when rubbish that should be in the bin keeps appearing on the floor.
Dr Emery, Life Resounding’s game and environment designer, says the game provides an understanding of neurodiversity from the perspective of people who experience different ways of interacting with the world.
Life Resounding was built in Unreal Engine, a computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games. It has just been released and is available to download online.
The project has been assisted by Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS) and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body. It also received funding support from UniSA Creative and the Creative People, Products and Places Research Centre (CP3).
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD LIFE (RE)SOUNDING
View some footage of the game:
For more information, enquiries or to download the game please visit the Like Glass Games website
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: Like Glass Games
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