Authors

Hunter Smith

Senior Project Advisor

Melissa Osborne

Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Fall 2023

Keywords

Representation, Games, Video Games, Pronouns

Abstract

By the Campfire is a video game designed with accurate and thorough representation in mind from the start of development. Its purpose is to showcase the ways in which the player character in a video game can accurately represent anyone who plays it, and that the non-player characters in a video game can be generated in a way that diverse groups can be represented without harmfully misrepresenting them. This project includes a document that explains the process by which this game was created and why certain choices were made when implementing the games systems. The document details a survey that was conducted among college students that provided additional insight as to how representation in video games can be done well or poorly, as well as ideas that could be applied to By the Campfire. The document concludes with thoughts on how this can be expanded upon and applied by the industry and other game developers, as well as a download to play the game. The game features a robust character creation menu as well as randomly generated NPCs that can be interacted with in a game space.

Department

Sociology

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Video games; Video games--Social aspects; Video games--Design; Minorities in art; Cultural pluralism in art

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

Share

COinS