Game Diary: Depression Quest
Developed By: Zoe Quinn & Patrick Lindsey Platform: Web Browser Played: September 26, 2016. http://www.depressionquest.com/dqfinal.html
Explanation
Depression Quest is a text adventure based on the developers’ personal experiences with depression. It is created using a string of web-pages that are all interconnected through links. The game frequently has multiple options to choose from, and the choices you make affect the course of the game (as well as the ending). The game also tracks the player’s in-game mental state, whether or not they are taking medication, and whether or not they are seeing a therapist. Depending on these factors, certain options become available or unavailable.
Verbs
Essentially, the only verb Depression Quest has is the act of making choices. While you also technically read and click on the text for said decisions, these are so intertwined with the decision making process that I would consider them to be the same thing in this context.
Dynamics
Since player choice affects the overall course of the game, each play through could be completely different. Since the game is an interconnected series of web pages (rather than a flash game or the like), you can easily go back to previous parts of the story to see how alternate choices would have played out. There isn’t just a “good” path and a “bad” path. There are several different ways players can deal with situations in the game, and not all of them can be classified under those two categories.
Additional Notes
The background is dark and cloudy, which adds to the theme of the game.
The top of the page displays a picture that represents what is currently going on, but adds a grainy moving filter over it to make it look bland and unhappy.
The section of the page that tracks your statistics seems like an awkward location for it, and I had initially mistaken them as links to another page. However, they also had a GIF behind the text that gave the appearance of TV static, further adding to the overall depressing look of the game.
Before the game even starts, it directs players who think they might be suicidal to a suicide prevention hotline. It also helps those who are depressed see the benefits of therapy and antidepressants.
The credits state that there was supposed to be music, but I never encountered it while playing.
Before the game begins, the creators discuss the making of the game: http://www.depressionquest.com/dqfinal.html#
Similar Games
Thematically - Loneliness (the other game I decided to discuss)
Choose Your Own Adventures - Heavy Rain
Text Adventures - Zork
Design Ideas
I actually have a choose your own text-adventure game that I created for a previous class, and using web-pages that are interconnected through links seems like a fantastic way to implement those types of games onto my portfolio.
Additionally, I have also personally had struggles with depression and anxiety in my own life, and being able to relate to this game is inspiring. The fact that games games can be used to raise awareness and understanding of such topics means that I can create games regarding the lessons I have learned in my life in the hopes of teaching others how to overcome similar obstacles to the ones that I have faced.
