Presentation Type
Creative Process Analysis
Release Option
Event
Description
This presentation will explore my creative process behind Dopamine Killer, a Twine game I created for Dr. Lisa Dusenberry’s Digital Storytelling class. My goal for this game was to create a murder mystery game that allows players to explore the dangers of the alt-right pipeline and experience the effects racial bias can have on decision-making. I will discuss how I designed the narrative, characters, gameplay, and mechanics to support this goal. For Leon, the insecure yet inquisitive college freshman main character, I researched common characteristics of people that the alt-right attempts to manipulate. His character weaknesses and susceptibility to bias make him vulnerable to alt-right manipulation. For Tucker Golden, the antagonist/manipulative serial killer who works for the police, I researched how the alt-right attempts to radicalize others. These alt-right rhetorical and ideological principles drive his relationship with Leon and how he tries to point Leon in the wrong direction. For secondary characters, I researched the culture of minorities and how alt-righters portray them in a negative light. It is the player’s job to make choices, see through the lies, and figure out the truth. The presentation will discuss the game mechanics created to support the message. For example, I used player choices to track Leon’s implicit bias. If players make too many choices based on implicit bias, Leon will think more like an alt-righter, and the choices necessary to find the true killer will become unavailable.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Lisa Dusenberry
Department of Primary Presenter's Major
Department of Writing & Linguistics
Primary Presenter's Major(s)
Writing & Linguistics
Location
Virtual Symposium
Symposium Year
2021
The Dopamine Killer
Virtual Symposium
