Game Design

Headspace

Encouraging Empathy for Individuals with Mental Illness Through Gameplay

Headspace uses a run-and-jump style video game to place the player in the headspace of a person dealing with mental illness. Each short level in the game is based on a description of a different mental illness taken from a book of short, first-person narratives.

The graphics and animation sprite sheets were created in Adobe Illustrator. The game was built in Unity 2D using C#. All audio was edited using Audacity.

The simple menu page provided a blank slate for the users to begin their experience with each level.

The simple menu page provided a blank slate for the users to begin their experience with each level.

The "Depression" level consisted mostly of a long set of repetitive jumps, mimicking how depression can make everyday tasks feel repetitive and endless.

The "Depression" level consisted mostly of a long set of repetitive jumps, mimicking how depression can make everyday tasks feel repetitive and endless.

The Schizophrenia level challenged players perceptions of reality. Many platforms appeared solid, but players would fall through them, while "real" platforms would only flash into view occasionally.

The Schizophrenia level challenged players perceptions of reality. Many platforms appeared solid, but players would fall through them, while "real" platforms would only flash into view occasionally.

In the PTSD level users are dropped from a calm area into a stress-inducing level where they must overcome a plethora of obstacles and enemies to return to a "safe space".

In the PTSD level users are dropped from a calm area into a stress-inducing level where they must overcome a plethora of obstacles and enemies to return to a "safe space".

Enemies in the game do no physical damage, but cause emotional distress by playing an audio clip of a micro-aggression often aimed an an individuals with that level's mental illness.

Enemies in the game do no physical damage, but cause emotional distress by playing an audio clip of a micro-aggression often aimed an an individuals with that level's mental illness.

Each level ends with a the quote that level design was based on (from a book of personal narratives) and a statistic about the mental illness pictured.

Each level ends with a the quote that level design was based on (from a book of personal narratives) and a statistic about the mental illness pictured.

Depression

This video is a screen recording of the Depression level start to finish.

While the game contained both ambient audio and sound effects, the recording does not contain audio.

Walk Cycles

The Player

The walk cycle for the player-character is short and they move slowly, slogging through the levels. The hunched shoulder and arms kept close to the body indicate the character’s insecurity.

The Enemies

By contrast, the walk cycle of the enemy sprites is powerful and confident, with straight posture and long strides. The enemies were also often twice to three times the size of the player.