We would like to highlight one of the key sessions from last year's devcom Developer Conference (#ddc2023), which addresses a topic that is also important to the Global Game Jam community: A talk by Twisted Ramble "The Emotional Journey of Games (Development) - About Mole Rats, Depression & the Road to Release". In this session, aimed at beginners, industry experts delved into the critical intersection of game development and mental wellbeing. As gamemakers, we often find ourselves in high-pressure environments where we race against the clock to create something amazing. This session highlighted practical strategies to maintain mental wellbeing in the intense, creative and often stressful world of game development. Whether you're a seasoned jammer or a newbie, these insights hopefully help you balance your passion with the important need for self-care.
"If you're a game developer looking to create a colorful, light-hearted game about a dark topic, like mental illness, this talk is for you. Verena and I shine a light on our process, from mechanics to art, with our game "Duru - About Mole Rats and Depression" as an example.
If you are part of a small team or plan on founding your own indie game studio, this talk is also for you. Stress will be around the corner at some point and we share our experiences dealing with it. Having "Emergency Protocols" might not feel neccessary when you're at the beginning of your indie developer journey but having them might be just the thing preventing you needing them. We share ours in this talk as an inspiration to create your own."
– Kerstin & Verena, Twisted Ramble Games
About the Session
Games are an emotional journey – and their development is as well. Kerstin and Verena from Twisted Ramble Games will talk about both in regard to their studios debut game „Duru – About Mole Rats and Depression“. Duru is a colorful 2D Puzzle Platformer about a dark topic. How do you approach the development of such a game? How do you ensure you don’t make mistakes and deal sensibly with this kind of topic? How do you create an art style and mechanics that fit the theme? Kerstin and Verena will share their method and give insight on Duru's development process. They will also talk about the state of their own mental health during this time, especially the months leading up to the game’s release, and what helped them during that time. This talk is about mole rats, depression, game development and handling the stress of being a tiny game studio.
About Twisted Ramble Games
Twisted Ramble Games is a two-women, Berlin-based indie game studio focused on creating colorful games about dark topics. "Duru - About Mole Rats and Depression" is their debut title and is, as the name suggests, a game about mental illness, its stigmas and how to help those struggling with it.
Watch The Emotional Journey of Games on Youtube here.
