Bridging the Void

We created a cooperative 2 player game, where one person is “the guide” and the other is “the traveler”. They are separated by a void and foggy mist. Through a series of mini games, the traveler and the guide must communicate to understand each other's situations and confront various emotional obstacles together.

The guide supports the traveler by providing the tools to overcome obstacles. Overcoming obstacles transforms the obstacle into part of a bridge between the traveler and the guide. The obstacles are related to common psychological and psychiatric issues, and the tools provided by the guide will be informed by evidence-based therapeutic techniques. The goal is complete a set number of minigames so the traveler and the guide can cross the bridge and meet!

Our prototype demos one minigame, but we have conceptual designs for three games. One mini game addresses restlessness, a second anxiety, and a third negative self thoughts.

We use biofeedback to influence the game and psycho-physiological self regulation. The prototype mini-game we demo requires the guide to lead the traveler in maintaining a specific rhythm in order to focus, relax, and control their heart rate. The heart rate data will be visually represented by a beating heart floating between the traveler and the guide. Eye blink data will be used to influence the game difficulty, such that increasing focus on the rhythm task will make the task easier. This is intended to encourage and reward calm, focused, goal driven behavior in a potentially stressful situation.

More minigames could be added in the future, along with experimentation with other biofeedback measures.