I'm a budding Flash developer who has been looking for a good project to work on, but I'm at a loss as to what would be a good game idea that would work towards the purpose of the contest, and be realistically achievable.

HanClinto

JorgieX

sorry to get so heart-felt on here, i just couldn't help myself.

zanzibarlegend

It breaks the "games must be fun" rule, but still, its very interesting.

brent_w

Interstella5555

(1) First, thank you! I can't tell you how refreshing it is to read these comments regarding the contest. Teen Dating Violence has historically not been discussed much and I'm genuinely pleased to see the gaming community not only embrace this cause but also have such an intelligent discourse - and this applies regardless of whether I agree with your POV or not!

(2) When I initially started tossing around the idea of this contest one of the first thoughts I had - and this was echoed by several others - was that I did not want to see entries that were gratuitously violent.

So... no "vigilante" games where the purpose is to round up as many abusers as possible w/ bonus points for creative torture techniques. No playing as the abusee and turning the tables on your abuser w/ bonus points for CTT. And absolutely no playing as an abuser à la the guro genre.

(3) Does this make the contest more difficult? Certainly! But I have faith in the creative-types out there and believe that many will see this as a true challenge - worthy not only for the theme represented but also proof-positive that video games are capable of playing other roles than as entertainer.

Thanks again,

Drew Crecente
Director, Jennifer Ann's Group
[www.JenniferAnn.org]

Drew Crecente

It would have to be a game which is, essentially, not meant to be played. Something like PuyoPuyo or maybe a cutesy kind of animal crossing thing, and the game basically is designed around some simple reward system. You complete levels/simple puzzles/tasks and get rewards in the typical vein, but then, at random points, this obnoxious in-game entity insults and degrades your character, and takes away your stuff. This entity would also have to be the agent that typically rewards you. Your job, then, is to play this annoying game until you get completely fed up and quit. At which point the game says 'congratulations! You decided to end an obnoxious experience which was wasting your time and making you feel bad, now see if you can apply this to anything else in your life...'

deathbunny

Nobody takes anything away from that cheesy feelgood 'lets learn to make the right decisions!' crap.

Do you actually think 'DARE' ever kept any kids off drugs?

The drivers ed folks have it right ... have you ever seen the railroad crossing video ... ?

The one I'm referring to doesn't skirt the issue and bathe the kids in pretentious preaching ... It gets right to the point and shows the kids the real reason you don't try to beat the train ... because you don't want to be a fleshy red streak down the train tracks amidst a pile of twisted metal.

brent_w

It could focus on the precautions that a smart teenager takes over the course of a date to ensure her safety. It could present a variety of dating scenarios and identify which ones are likely to be safe and which are potentially dangerous.

It could also take the position of a typical teenage boy and show what choices demonstrate respect, courtesy and thoughtfulness--and which are likely to result in a definite second date.

I should look around and see if I have any of my old flash/shockwave/director programs...

dd-toronto

Censoring the use of violence, it seems, further stigmatizes the topic and re-enforces the taboo. If we aren't even comfortable enough to address the issue head-on within a virtual environment how can we possibily hope to deal with it in real life?

LOL @ Snaphaunce!

cybereality

I doubt anyone wants to create some sort of violent game.

But the inability to portray or allude to the violent themes inherent to the subject mater strongly hinders the game maker's ability to properly portray the unpleasant and yet very real gravity of the situation.

brent_w

To wit: "How effectively does the game educate about Teen Dating Violence without using Violence in the game itself?" (From site).

kelptocratic

Moonshadow101

jordo37

sisedi

They've essentially taken a very dark, violent, and unpleasant subject matter, and yet ... for the sake of being PC ... you must make a game which is none of these things.

Frankly, I'm going to assume that no less than half the games are either - only loosely related to the subject matter, wind up in with excessively metaphorical presentation more reminiscent of a drug trip than teen dating violence ...

:-\

It all seems rather unfortunate to me.

brent_w

In other news: the words "violence" and "game" in the same post have no doubt caused JT to perk up like a curious muskrat.

Klaymen

but themes or content to create a game based on being violent, and raising awareness of violence is two comepletely different things and that i think is what the rules mean.

but i will let crecente explain more if he needs to on this since its his contest and knows what is and isnt allowed

Dakobah

ninjafetus

ninjafetus

KM91

ninjafetus

To prevent violence, the threat of violence needs to exist. Is the threat of violence a violent theme? I'd say yes.

The best violence prevention is situational awareness and avoidance of compromising situations. However, if worse comes to worst, rudimentary self defense abilities (to facilitate an escape) are a real and important asset. You cannot give a complete picture of the content without referring to some sort of violence.

ninjafetus

dont be a ick

dont make a game where you object is to beat or kill.

make a happy game yet send message that this is not ok, if i had the skills id know what to create.

Dakobah

Create a game about dinosaurs.

Rules
1. Your game cannot include dinosaurs.
2. Your game cannot include references to dinosaurs.
3. Make sure it's about dinosaurs!

Snaphaunce

brent_w

Brian Crecente

It's about violence awareness right?

sisedi

I'm interested in seeing the entries... it's a challenge, that's for sure.

MisterSleep

ZombiePuppy

TheDollHouse

ZombiePuppy

Brian Crecente

Northernsky

LittlestLamshi

kelptocratic

"your BF or GF is beating you, you?"
-A) Leave the D-bag.
-B) Take the abuse, you know he loves you.
-C) Make a scene, act helpless, remember you can't change it...
-D) I want sex, i don't care, i want it...

If A
Problem solved
If B
Consult a psychologist
If C
Consult a psychologist
If D
Dont forget a condom, oh and then choose A when satisfied.

LittlestLamshi