Heart-Shaped Glasses is an experimental text-based interactive journey through an abusive relationship. The game is played using a custom mouse that emits an electrical shock when the player chooses certain dialogue answers that trigger a violent outburst in their abusive partner, making emotional pain into something tangible that is able to be felt by the player. The game creates a state of tension in the player making them think about their words in order to avoid the shock and the abuse hurled at them by their partner.
The player interacts with a virtual desktop by clicking on folders to open pictures and text files, and by selecting from three dialogue options with their partner on the other end. Different dialogue options will trigger different reactions from the person on the other end, and they may cause and outburst of emotional pain, which will be accompanied by a physical reaction from the player to the shock the custom device will emit.
The game makes use of physical stimuli as a way to shape an emotional interactive experience, and as a way to metaphorical create a materialization of emotional pain.
Project type Second year collaborative project (BA)
Production year 2017
Platform PC
Genre Experimental game; Text-based visual novel
Genre Experimental game; Text-based visual novel
Tagline Put your glasses on, “Love” will start in a few seconds
Team
Anna-Lena Richter – Game Design, Writing, Project Lead
Diana Alves – Programming, Electronics
Diana Alves – Programming, Electronics
Elena-Adelina Popa – Game Art, Sound
Evelina Bieliakaite – Game Art
Patricia Cotrim – Design, Writing
Pegah Amirahmadi – Game Art
Pegah Amirahmadi – Game Art
