Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean.
My Contributions
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean.
Webflow
Web Designer
Apr 2015 — Mar 2016
Early Stage Demo
Game Overview
Project background
In the context of the rising prevalence of anxiety disorders in urban populations, where up to one-third of individuals experience such conditions in their lifetime, there is an urgent need for innovative and accessible treatment methods. Traditional interventions like pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, despite their effectiveness, reach only a fraction of those in need. This gap in treatment accessibility underscores the potential of leveraging emerging technologies. The game, set in an urban environment transformed by players into serene green spaces, aligns with recent findings advocating for the use of immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), in therapeutic contexts. By offering a VR experience focused on relaxation and mindfulness, the game aims to provide a user-friendly and engaging tool to aid in managing anxiety and stress. This initiative represents a step towards integrating digital therapeutic tools with traditional treatment methods, aiming to make mental health support more accessible and effective for the vast urban population grappling with anxiety disorders.
High-level concept
Conceptual Collage
Game Name: Urban Rhapsody
Target Audience:
University students
Professionals
Virtual Reality Enthusiasts
Individuals with Mild to Moderate Anxiety
Individuals with an Interest in Wellness and Mindfulness
Individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Game Description:
Theoretical Support
In an era where urban density and daily pressures can limit exposure to natural environments, this game offers an interactive escape, merging the tranquility of nature with the familiarity of cityscapes. Players navigate the urban streets, stumbling upon exquisite paintings that serve as portals to a serene, utopian realm. In this alternative space, they gather a variety of plants and flowers. Once collected, these botanical elements can be transported back to the urban setting. The primary objective is to cultivate these plants within the city, transforming stark urban areas into soothing, verdant retreats. Through this process, players actively participate in reimagining and reshaping their urban surroundings into a sanctuary of peace and beauty.
Gameplay
Game Mechanics
Exploration:
City Exploration: Players navigate the virtual city, identifying and interacting with various environmental elements.
Portal Discovery: Players search for and discover paintings, which act as portals to the natural realms.
Natural Realm Exploration: Within these realms, players explore diverse landscapes, each offering different plant species to collect.
Collection:
Harvesting Plants: In the natural realms, players can collect plants.
Cultivation:
Planting: Back in the city, players plant the collected flora in predetermined locations (players need to explore the city to find out where to plant).
Growth Management: Players must tend to their plants (watering .etc).
Game Structure
Core Loop
Overview of Players' Exploration Routines
General Gameplay
Start in the Urban Environment: Players begin in the city with the goal to find portal paintings and collect plant species.
Discover and Enter Portals: Exploration leads to finding portals, and players enter them to access natural realms.
Collect Plants in Natural Realms: Players engage with the environment to collect plants.
Return and Cultivate: With their collected plants, players return to the urban environment to plant and tend to their green spaces.
Expansion: Successfully cultivated areas attract more wildlife and unlock more natural realms.
Participant Test & Validation Experiment
Theoretical support
Participant Test Result: GSR Data
Synchronized In Game GSR Feedback
Participant Test Result: Cultivation Outcome
Further Experiment Plan for Next Step Iteration
Technical details
Expected Technologies
Plant Growth Simulation
AI and NPC Behaviors （Butterfly react to the environmental changes）
Physics and Interaction System: Unity’s collision detection and physics to handle interactions, force applications for actions like cutting.
Inventory and Collection System: Development of an inventory management system that tracks player collections, with UI elements designed for easy navigation checks.
Engine: Unity
Target platforms: Meta Quest
Reference
The mental health of PhD researchers demands urgent attention, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03489-1
Depression Among Demographics and Professions, https://www.mentalhelp.net/depression-among-demographics-and-professions/#:~:text=The%20five%20industries%20most%20affected,and%20personal%20services%20(14.3%25).
Virtual Reality for Anxiety Reduction Demonstrated by Quantitative EEG, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01280/full
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