Aventura · 2020
Interactive Empathy
"Interactive Empathy" is an experimental title born from a one-week workshop in Zagreb, Croatia, under the project "Interactive Empathy - Citizenship & Storytelling in Video Games." Created by artists using Gamechuck’s "Interactive Comics Editor," the game blends horror and narrative through an interactive comic format. Players navigate a chilling scenario in a slaughterhouse, interacting with five distinct characters: a trapped girl, a suicidal clown, a pig, a butcher, and an AI. To free the girl, empathy must be built with each character, shifting perspectives to transform objects into subjects. The game explores moral choices and philosophical themes, drawing from Heidi Maibom’s empathy theory. It was showcased at the Institut français de Zagreb in November 2020. Available in English, French, and German, "Interactive Empathy" challenges players to confront emotional and ethical dilemmas. Art and story by Andrea Pleša and Matija Vigato. This innovative project highlights the power of games to foster empathy and storytelling. It invites players to reflect.