A Storytelling Game to Foster Empathy and Connect Emotionally with Breast Cancer Journeys

This work presents a storytelling prototype game to foster empathy and connect people emotionally with breast cancer journeys based on true real-world stories. We planned each event to introduce different character's possible choices, including personal conflicts and doubts. This way, the players can have a chance to experience the increasing sadness, desperation, etc., in the patient character. Along with the narrative, we included 3D body and facial animations to help build empathy and provide a more engaging game experience. Although characters in 3D feel alive, their animations require much more attention to anatomical modeling, rigging, rendering, and camera control. We conducted playtesting sessions. The results showed that the breast cancer theme, animations, and the original game's story pleased and provoked an emotional and empathetic response in the players.