to Em —

to Em —

A game designed for and gifted to a friend, aiming to tackle feelings of loneliness in a new city. The game encourages the player to:


  1. Explore the city

  2. Strengthen new relationships

  3. Keep in touch with friends at home

  4. Draw connections between people in the new city to people back at home.

A game designed for and gifted to a friend, aiming to tackle feelings of loneliness in a new city. The game encourages the player to:


  1. Explore the city

  2. Strengthen new relationships

  3. Keep in touch with friends at home

  4. Draw connections between people in the new city to people back at home.

Role

Role

UX Designer

Game Designer

UX Designer

Game Designer

UX Designer

Game Designer

Duration

Duration

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

context

Moving to a new place is scary.

Moving to a new place is scary.

My friend is an international student studying in the US for the first time. This was the first time they have been so far from home, without anyone

My friend is an international student studying in the US for the first time. This was the first time they have been so far from home, without anyone

Current coping mechanisms:

Current coping mechanisms:

Distractions

Distractions

Using hobbies like gaming, reading, and watching TV to stop thinking about the problem.

Using hobbies like gaming, reading, and watching TV to stop thinking about the problem.

Calls

Calls

Calling family members and friends back at home to update them, and stay involved in their lives as well.

Calling family members and friends back at home to update them, and stay involved in their lives as well.

These were short term, inconsistent solutions that didn't tackle the root problem.

These were short term, inconsistent solutions that didn't tackle the root problem.

Now Introducing:

Now Introducing:

to Em

to Em

In exactly a year, Pittsburgh becomes a distant memory. Help your future self remember what you did!

In exactly a year, Pittsburgh becomes a distant memory. Help your future self remember what you did!

1)

Separate the decks into traits and activities.

Shuffle both decks.

2)

Draw:

  • 2 cards from the traits deck

  • 1 card from the activities deck

3)

Find a person(s) that fulfills both qualities of the two traits and complete the activity with them.

4)

Record this memory in any form.

5)

Allow the other person to draw 2 new traits cards and 1 new activity card.

Plan the next activity with the new set of people.

6)

Send the memory to someone with the same traits you drew earlier from:

  • Back home if you completed the activity with someone in Pittsburgh

  • Pittsburgh if you completed the activity with someone from back home

designer's notes

key design
decisions

key design decisions

Replayable. Having the other player draw the next traits and activity continues the core game loop.

Replayable. Having the other player draw the next traits and activity continues the core game loop.

Enjoyable. The activities were balanced between exploring the city and relaxing indoor activities to match my player's preferences.

Enjoyable. The activities were balanced between exploring the city and relaxing indoor activities to match my player's preferences.

Connection. Allowing the player to simultaneously build connections in the new city while maintaining them back at home.

Connection. Allowing the player to simultaneously build connections in the new city while maintaining them back at home.