Land of Empathy is an innovative, inclusive video game project developed by Extended Media that aims to foster empathy, collaboration, and understanding among players of diverse sensory abilities. Designed as an interactive, multiplayer experience, the game encourages cooperation between players with different perspectives, including those with visual, auditory, and sensory differences.
As a culturally and socially impactful game, Land of Empathy is part of Extended Media’s mission to push the boundaries of digital storytelling, combining artistic vision with cutting-edge technology to create meaningful interactive experiences.
Inspired by the book ABC Empathy, the game is built using Unreal Engine and integrates advanced accessibility features such as audiodescription, haptic feedback, and visual guidance systems, making it a groundbreaking project in the field of inclusive gaming.
The original book, successfully helping primary-school children in the classroom, consists of 13 dramatised chapters set in a present-day school environment, covering different ways in which othering can occur and exploring approaches to promoting inclusivity. Each chapter contains a story about a group of classmates, introducing a character or characters who are subject to misunderstanding and othering because they stand out, whether because of neurodiversity or physically different abilities.
The project draws inspiration from the twelve stories of the original book, which are set in a primary school. The themes and characters from these stories will be adapted into a medieval fairy-tale world. An outline of the project, along with the source book and its core principles, were presented at the Inclusive Gaming conference held at Jesus College, University of Oxford, on May 1st, 2024.
The ‘Guidelines for policymakers on mental health and well-being in schools,’ developed by a European Commission Expert Group focused on supporting at-risk students and promoting well-being, and announced in July 2024, features “ABC Empatii” project by the Czepczyński Family Foundation. The guidelines’ recommendations were analyzed for alignment with the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and recommendations from international organizations including WHO, OECD, and UNESCO. “ABC Empatii” is recognized as a valuable tool for implementing educational programs. It aims to develop empathy, respect, and understanding for people with disabilities in young children, teaching them appropriate language and fostering the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
For more information about the game project, please visit the website: https://landofempathy.com.