IS71073B: Interactive Narrative and Digital Storytelling (2020–21)
itch.io link:
YouTube link:
# STORY OVERVIEW
“I WANT TO HAVE A CHILD” is based on a virtual store ”selling children’s genes and surrogacy” as the background. The protagonist Joanna is an inferior person. She believes that her unhappy life is related to her gender, race, character, and intelligence. So, she came to the “CHILD MARKET” to buy a perfect child in her heart.
All of this unhappy life has come from Joanna’s cannot accept herself. She does not accept her race and genes. Her ideal child is her ideal self. She is aware of the unequal treatment that women experience in society, but she is also the perpetrator, and she treats surrogates as a commodity. In many instances, she thinks she is a consumer, but in fact, she is also a commodity, she sells her time to get money.
# PROTOTYPE
# What went wrong?
- Newbies’ constraints
Joanna needs to spend her time to earn money to buy a perfect child. In the original prototype, I hope to set up some game mechanisms, such as gold rush, through games to get the corresponding money. But since it was the first time I used Unity to make a game, it was difficult for me to make a complete set of game mechanics in such a short time. I tried but unfortunately gave up. I choose the “point and click” learning method instead. Although it is suitable for the theme of this game. But I still think it can be better. In the later stage, I will improve this game mechanism.
- Less Gameplay
If this game is judged only based on its interactivity and fun, I think it is a failed game. “I want to have a child” is more narrative.
There’s plenty of opportunity for self-doubt: Is this a game?
“I want to have a child” is different from normal games. It doesn’t have characters moving, it’s breaking through. It’s just telling stories.
This game pays more attention to plot expression. Every player is Joanna. [Enter the store — communicate with Dr. Elif — Find a job — Get money — Choose genes — Buy a child — Wait for the child to be born — Be told that the child is dead].
Players should reflect on this set of plots: Am I also like Joanna?
# what went well?
- Linear narrative method:
Set up 3 fixed scenes to guide the timeline — child market, lobar market, and hospital. Joanna needs to make money in the lobar market — -go to the child market to buy children and surrogate — — wait for the birth in the hospital.
- The surprise ending
While Joanna is waiting for her perfect child born. You can hear real children crying. Suddenly there was silence, and a few seconds later Joanna was told that the perfect child had died. My friend asked me: You are too cruel, why don’t you set up a happy ending?
This is the only way to arouse you and Joanna’s reflection: Human commoditization. Joanna sells her time to get money. In the end, she didn’t get her ideal child. You also sell time while playing the game, and the game is over when the game is over.
We are commodities.
- Role resonance:
Every one of us is Joanna, some people feel inferior, some people don’t recognize themselves, some people think they are buyers, and some women know the importance of feminism but still exploit women… Joanna The above reflects the entire society.
You should think: Which Joanna are you?
# Critical thinking
The source of inspiration for this game is very complicated. It comes from social news reports and a movie-<soul>. I liked the animation. The story was unique compared to Disney movies since it is about the afterlife and they took a different perspective for life and death, nurture vs. nature. Probably we all ask this question what is our purpose in life, it’s interesting that this movie covered it and that once someone finds their purpose know their purpose there is a motivation to live. It’s not just about self-acceptance but also motivation:
Why do we live? What do I want to do with my life? What are my strengths? you can easily find yourself questioning these.
I hope when you play my game will reflect on this question.
# visual and environment storytelling
- The fairy-tale setting tells dark stories
I use a lot of character illustrations and background illustrations as the scenes, hoping to create a relaxed and happy atmosphere. If you just click on this game, you can feel that this is a relaxing game. Instead, I want to express a sad story.
In real life, organ gene trafficking is a dark market, and the surrogacy market is illegal in China. Racial discrimination is sad. It’s painful not to recognize yourself.
#Reference list:
[1]Berman, Margit I., Stephanie N. Morton, and Mark T. Hegel. “Uncontrolled Pilot Study of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Health at Every Size Intervention for Obese, Depressed Women: Accept Yourself!” Psychotherapy 53.4 (2016): 462–67. Web.
[2]Wiens, John A, Dale D Goble, and J Michael Scott. “Birds: Time to Accept Conservation Triage.” Nature 488.7411 (2012): 281. Web.
[3] Millie, J. “Surrogacy.” International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 102.3 (2008): 312–13. Web.
[4] Richardson, Janice. The Classic Social Contractarians Critical Perspectives from Contemporary Feminist Philosophy and Law. Farnham: Ashgate, 2009. Print.
[5] Duncan, Lauren E, Randi L Garcia, and Ilana Teitelman. “Assessing Politicized Gender Identity: Validating the Feminist Consciousness Scale for Men and Women.” The Journal of Social Psychology Ahead-of-print.Ahead-of-print (2020): 1–23. Web.
