How Can a Video Game Help Cope with Grief?

TL;DR

A video game can facilitate coping with grief by allowing players to engage with emotional narratives and reflect on their own experiences. 'That Dragon, Cancer' is designed as an interactive tribute to a child lost to cancer, exploring themes of love, loss, and vulnerability. The game offers a unique medium for understanding and processing grief while maintaining a sense of hope.

Transcript

Two months ago, my kids and I huddled around a cell phone watching the live stream of the Game Awards, one of the video game industry's biggest nights. They announced the nominees for the Game for Impact, an award that's given to a thought-provoking video game with a profound prosocial message or meaning. They opened the envelope and they read the ... Read More

Key Insights

• 💔 The impact of winning an award may not be as significant as the personal hardships and challenges we face in life. The big accomplishments may fade, but the moments of struggle leave a lasting impact on who we are.
• 💓 Love and vulnerability go hand in hand when caring for a dying child. Pushing past self-preservation and fully embracing love can be transformative, shaping our perspectives and priorities.
• 🎮 "That Dragon, Cancer" is a video game that allows players to witness the life of Joel, a child with terminal cancer. The game uses metaphors and collapses choices to convey the inevitability and powerlessness in the face of the disease.
• 🥰 Moments of hardship can lead to unexpected passions and new possibilities. Creating a video game became a way to share Joel's story and convey emotions while using a different form of artistic expression.
• 🎗️ Sharing the story of terminal cancer through a video game may seem unconventional, but for parents of children with cancer, turning their experiences into games helps maintain a sense of playfulness and joy amidst difficult times.
• 💔 Playing "That Dragon, Cancer" requires emotional investment, as it's a story that will break hearts. But through the process of breaking, hearts can also heal and grow with deeper compassion and a desire to connect with others.
• 🌟 The Game for Impact Award represents not only the impact that Joel's life had on his immediate family but also the impact it has had on strangers who have been touched by his story through the video game.
• 💔 The hardest moments in life have the power to change us more than any achievement or dream ever could. Tragedy, as well as resilience and love in the face of adversity, shape our hearts and perspectives.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can you explain what the Game for Impact award is and why it is significant?

The Game for Impact award is given to a video game that has a thought-provoking message or meaning. It is significant because it recognizes games that have a profound impact on players and society by addressing important social issues and sparking discussions.

Q: How did winning the Game for Impact award affect the speaker's life?

Winning the award did not have a huge impact on the speaker's life. While it was initially thought that winning such an award would have a significant effect, the speaker found that the big nights and accomplishments fade over time. Instead, the speaker mentions that the hardest moments in life have had a lasting impact on who they are and what they do.

Q: How did the speaker's experience with their son's illness inspire the video game "That Dragon, Cancer"?

The speaker's experience with their son's illness inspired the creation of the video game "That Dragon, Cancer." They started telling their children a bedtime story about a brave knight named Joel who fought a dragon called cancer. As their son Joel responded better than expected to treatment, they started living their lives as if Joel could live, and this led to the development of the video game which tells the story of Joel's life and the emotions and experiences the family went through.

Q: What approach did the developers take when designing "That Dragon, Cancer"?

The developers of "That Dragon, Cancer" took a unique approach to game design. Instead of offering players branching narratives where their decisions change the outcome of the game, they collapsed the choices onto the player. This means that the player discovers that there is nothing they can do to change the outcome for Joel, creating a sense of helplessness and empathy for what the family experienced.

Q: How did the speaker's experience with their son's illness change their perspective on life?

The speaker's experience with their son's illness and eventual passing changed their perspective on life in multiple ways. They learned to love their dying child with their whole hearts, pushing past self-preservation. This intense vulnerability and the lesson of living like Joel could live changed the speaker more than any award ever could. They also developed a deeper compassion and a desire to help others by sitting with them in their pain and sharing their stories.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker's video game, "That Dragon, Cancer," won an award for impact, but she realizes that personal achievements and accolades fade over time.

• The speaker's son was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumor, leading her to tell her other children a bedtime story about a brave knight named Joel.

• Inspired by their experience with Joel's illness, the speaker and her husband created a video game that explores the emotional landscape of Joel's life and the struggle with terminal cancer.