For this weeks journal, I chose to play Arise: A Simple Story. This game is about the journey through a mans life. Through the man’s life we see his ups and downs, his joys and sorrows. In levels that are of his happier moments, there are brighter colors, the maps have more light, and the overall atmosphere is lighter. In his darker points of life, the maps are darker, have little light, and even include demons.
Looking at our reading from Nissenbaum and Flanagan, I think it’s pretty clear that this game falls into the category that they describe as discovery. In this category, they ask the question, “What larger human themes emerge in the creation of this project?” (Nissenbaum & Flanagan, 183). Looking at Arise, I think being able to journey through this mans life with him and experience the things that he did is a big part of the theme. Being able to see the ups and the downs, the inner demons that he faced, all helped show what life is like. It’s not perfect. It’s not really possible to just be happy all the time. Bad things happen to everyone, that’s just a part of life. It’s up to us to decide how we respond to the things that happen in our life. We can remain bright and work through the dark times, or we can let it consume us. I think being able to experience the mans life really demonstrates this idea.
A game design methodology to incorporate social activist … (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2021, from https://nissenbaum.tech.cornell.edu/papers/A%20Game%20Design%20Methodology%20to%20Incorporate%20Social%20Activist%20Themes.pdf