The Social Model
This was a game I decided to do as a final project for my gender studies class. The game took about a month to conceptualize and develop to its current state. I wanted to represent the social model for disability which frames disability only as being disabled by social constructs in this case the lack of elevators for one in a wheelchair.
This game was my first solo attempt at tackling a sensitive issue through a game. I wanted the user to feel a responsibility to ensuring accessibility in the world by forcing them to think about a scenario where they themselves would be in need of it. I remember a specific moment where I hurt my ankle and was using crutches to walk around and found out many of the places I frequent do not have easy elevator access. It was a humbling experience to understand what other less fortunate people may deal with regularly.
Programming details
The game was coded in GML, Game Makers custom scripting language. All of the movement and platforming logic was done in this scripting language as well as the logic that determined if a particular level was completable in a wheelchair for the second half of the game.
The game is a simple Platformer, collect coins and get to the end.
Halfway through the game the player gets put into a wheelchair and must complete the same levels but this time in a wheelchair. If the player did not flip the “Accessibility Switches” on their first play through they are greeted with a message that the game is impossible and they must restart.