Play Your Role

Play Your Role is a two-player collaboration game that lets players play different social roles in a gaming environment. In Play Your Role, players will control their characters and interact with others to complete different tasks by understanding and exploring their social identities.

Project Video

Abstract

Play Your Role is a two-player collaboration game that lets players play different social roles in a gaming environment. In Play Your Role, players will control their characters and interact with others to complete different tasks by understanding and exploring their social identities. In today's world, with the rapid development of the internet and various social media platforms, the perception of social roles is becoming more dynamic. Social roles are no longer seen as fixed or isolated, but as interactive and adaptable within a changing society. Nowadays, nearly all multiplayer cooperative role-playing games are entirely entertainment-oriented. What past games have not focused on or explored in enough depth, however, is the social identities itself, which I would like to study. Play Your Role explores how understanding and cooperation between different social roles can reduce conflict and promote mutual respect. This project consists of seven levels and each level has a different key theme which symbolizes the relationship between the two social identities. Players’ objectives and ways of interacting with other players vary depending on the key theme. Drawing inspiration from several renowned two-player games and 2D puzzle-solving games, I crafted levels that are consistent and engaging for players. I intentionally chose a cartoon aesthetic style and used consistent cute non-human figures to raise empathy for the characters and also prevent players from any potential misunderstanding of my concept. The goal of this project is to cultivate a deeper understanding and mutual respect among diverse social roles. By engaging players in scenarios that require cooperation and role-based problem-solving, Play Your Role aims to bridge gaps in social understanding and reduce conflicts. This project not only entertains but also educates, aligning with the broader trend of using interactive media as a tool for social awareness and harmony. Moving forward, this project aspires to further investigate the intricate connections between social roles and identity, expanding its scope to include more complex relationships and advanced levels. This ongoing development will continue to contribute to the conversation on how interactive media can be leveraged to foster a more respectful and inclusive society.

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