Local Goods
The Problem
I am addressing consumerism (on an individual level) and its relationship with environmental destruction. People often dismiss the idea that they, one person, could have a positive influence on climate change or are completely unaware of the destruction of consumerism because it has been hidden so well from us. If individuals aren't encouraging larger corporations to pursue environmentally friendly methods by 'voting' for sustainable goods, who then is fueling the fire for them to do so? If individuals aren't expressing their values in eco-friendly alternatives, why would politicians adopt this as their one of their stances? Individuals have the influence to create the changes the world needs, but there is currently a plague of complacency and feelings of powerlessness that is encouraging our current path of destructive habits.
Our Proposal
I am creating a character customization game that points directly at how our personal choices as consumers impact the environment. In the game, the player may choose from various outfits, electronics and personal items to dress their character up with. The player can browse through the merchandise of various shops; a super store, an eco-friendly store, and a thrift store; in addition to selecting a meal and mode of transport for their character. When the player is done selecting items for their character, they are prompted to reveal 'their creation' which will actually be an image of the environment that has been generated based off of their choices. Selections that model someone unaware or apathetic about their environmental footprint such as new items from the super store, new electronics, and a lunch based off the classic American diet will generate a dying environment. Conversely, those who carefully select sustainable solutions for their character, like used electronics, thrifted clothes, and choose a plant-based diet would instead generate a more luscious environment. Different combinations of selections will affect the final image differently to encourage players to thoroughly think about their choices and what part of the environment they may be effecting.
We Assume that...
I'm assuming players would select similar items to their 'real life' selections.
I'm assuming players have minimal knowledge of the link between consumer choices and climate change.
I'm assuming generalized impacts of items rather than specifics.
I'm assuming player's can generalize what they experience in games to the real world.
Constraints to Overcome
My game addresses the lack of immediate feedback of consumerism; customers are hidden from the destruction required to make the goods we need. This lack of feedback is prevalent in games, where the environment's purpose is to supply the player with anything they may need with an unlimited supply. My game will serve as a reminder that our choices do in fact have a larger impact beyond ourselves.
Current Work
-Art production -Minor animations -Sound implementation -UI/UX design -Develop script