Inclusive Journeys

#VR Experience #Design Tool #Inclusive Design

Project Overview

Inclusive design has always been one of the principles and standards of design, and its benefits are self-evident: wider audience, fulfillment of more universal demands, warmer experience... However, in the reality of the design process, due to the limited perspective of the designers themselves, inclusiveness may not be carefully considered in design, and may even carry stereotypes.

In order to stimulate more inclusive design, I designed and developed an immersive experience, where players may experience the life in temporary or permanent disability, empathizing with special groups physically and mentally.

Gameplay Flow

On a busy evening, the downtown subway station was coming and going as usual.
We may be familiar with this scene, but today we will be three somewhat special characters who re-enter it from their point of view. Will the simple tasks of reading the signs and placing luggage ever be that easy again?
In addition to this, the train we board today has a few mishaps. A train traveling through a tunnel suddenly stops due to a malfunction and people run in panic. How will you cope with the darkness, the panic and the danger with this body?
Here are five chapters of this experience and the following impacts on characters both physically and mentally.

Energy System

(*Take character Jody as an example)
Energy value is an important element in this game. The value changes based on the player's operation and task completion situation, determining the difficulty and progress of game tasks.

Workflow

Snapshots

Players may choose a unique character with different impairment and emotional status.

There will be significant signs on each key events.

If a NPC is allowed to interact with, there will be a sign on his or her head.

When players collide with NPCs in the scene, some signals will be triggered.

Players need to pick up the suitcase and try to place it to appropriate position.

Players need to move in the train using controllers, avoiding collision with others.

Demo & Test

In the initial version, I have tested the major functions of the game, including movements and hand actions. Players can also interact with NPCs in the scene.
I collected feedbacks from the aspects of immersion, narrative flow and interactive experience for further development. For example, I changed the NPC system to a fixed pattern, where the player doesn't interact directly with them, avoid interrupting the player's immersion experience.