My Future Self is a series of interactive experiences developed with the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for a National Institutes of Health funded intervention focused on at-risk youth and family planning.

Project Overview

My Future Self is an educational Android game designed to help players navigate interpersonal communication and prepare for healthcare visits related to family planning and contraception. The game immerses players in two core experiences:

1. Navigating Conflict: Players practice using different communication styles (passive, assertive, and aggressive) during a challenging conversation with a partner.
2. Healthcare Preparation: Players answer questions about family planning and contraception, receiving guidance on contraceptive options and advice based on clinician recommendations. At the end of the session, players are provided with takeaways to help them in future discussions with healthcare providers.

Players chose their characters at the start of the game

Reflection component

The game also incorporates a reflection component where players analyze their communication choices and outcomes, encouraging deeper learning and self-awareness.

Game Flow

1. Avatar Creation

   Players create avatars representing themselves and a current or fictional partner.

2. Communication Styles & Reflection

   Players engage in a conversation, selecting a communication style (passive, assertive, or aggressive). After each interaction, they reflect on the results, and repeat the conversation with the remaining styles to explore different approaches.

3. Family Planning & Healthcare Guidance

   Players answer questions related to family planning and are guided through contraceptive options, following the advice a healthcare provider might give.

4. Takeaways

   At the end of the session, players receive a list of actionable next steps to help them communicate more effectively with healthcare providers.

My Contributions

1. Collaboration with Research Team

   I worked closely with the research team to understand their findings and designed the game in accordance with the research on the effectiveness of the healthcare intervention. This involved ensuring that the game accurately reflected the real-world situations young people might face when navigating difficult conversations or visiting healthcare providers for family planning.

2. Playtesting & Feedback

   I facilitated and attended playtesting sessions with youth participants previously involved in the healthcare intervention. These sessions were crucial for gathering feedback on the gameplay experience, ensuring the content was relevant, engaging, and appropriately sensitive to the players' needs. The feedback directly informed design iterations.

3. Lead Programmer & Designer

   • Programmed the character creator and level loading systems, ensuring smooth transitions between game sections.
   • Designed the 2D animation pipeline and optimized the game for Android devices.
   • Guided the voiceover production process, including hiring a third-party team, casting voice actors, and managing recording sessions.
   • Ensured language and privacy sensitivity in all aspects of game development, working closely with both the production and research teams to meet compliance requirements.

4. Production Management

   I set up a workflow system using Notion to manage tasks, timelines, assets, and ideas. This allowed the team to collaborate efficiently, track progress, and ensure alignment with hospital guidelines and project goals.