Renan Lima
Level Design
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Emotion-Centric Design: An Innovative Approach to Video Game
Development
I have always been interested in this new
approach to games, called Experimental
Design, in which developers focus on
relationship between a boy and his dog.
thinking outside of the box and exploring
The project was very challenging, as
I found emotion-centric design a very
players and game characters took a long
games in different ways. As part of that,
fascinating idea—using specific emotions
as the basis for making a game, pushing
the boundaries of the medium, and
delivering meaningful experiences that
appeal to a wider audience across gender
and age. For these reasons, I decided to
explore this approach in my thesis project,
investigating the emotions of guilt and
sadness from a gameplay perspective.
Over approximately seven months, from
October 2015 to April 2016, I worked on
this project, from research to crafting.
I built a quest for The Elder Scrolls
V: Skyrim, focusing on the theme of
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companionship and sacrifice, based on the
LEVEL DESIGN
building emotional attachment between
time and depended on many different
components working well together. I
could only see solid results towards
the end. In addition, although Skyrim
offered me many resources to work
with, it also imposed several developing
limitations, which I had to work diligently
to overcome. I am very proud to have
tackled these challenges. I learned a
lot about players’ engagement and
attachment, as well as the importance
of elements like sounds and music in
evoking emotion. I feel I have built a solid
foundation for projects that are to come.