♦ Rising River First-person Version Download

♦ Rising River VR: Build File & Playthrough Video Download

First-Person Perspective Version Trailer

Inspiration and Concept

The game integrates Jungian shadow theory and the VIA Character Strengths framework to create a novel approach to therapeutic self-analysis. It began with a fundamental question: Can gaming and virtual reality democratize the therapeutic benefits of Jungian shadow work, making them accessible to a broader audience?

At its core, Jung's theory of the shadow posits that within each person exists a subconscious aspect of the self that remains neglected, suppressed, and poorly understood. Traditional shadow work facilitates an encounter between an individual and their inner shadow. To translate this concept into an interactive experience, we designed a process of self-reflection to bring the shadow into view. This required careful exploration of players' fears, motivations, desires, and memories.

We realized that such exploration needed a foundation in a broader understanding of self-perception, both positive and negative. The VIA 24 Character Strengths framework provided a comprehensive taxonomy of character traits for players to assess as relative strengths or weaknesses. Our key insight was that the traits players identify as lesser strengths during gameplay could reveal areas of insecurity or overlooked aspects of the self.

To enhance this exploration, we leveraged generative AI to craft a personalized narrative journey in a virtual cave. The system dynamically generates content based on the player's responses, enabling a deeper engagement with their shadow self. With my background in filmmaking, I view narrative as a powerful tool for organizing memories and psychological structures. Research shows that storytelling helps people find meaning, construct identity, and cope with trauma, making it a vital component of this interactive experience.

Technical Information

Platform: Unreal Engine 5

• GPT API Integration: Generates dynamic questions and content using OpenAI's GPT, particularly for questions 5-7 and the shadow self revelation in the final scene outside the cave.

• Prompt Engineering: Prompt design to help GPT understand player questions and frame responses in a coherent, meaningful direction.

• Real-Time Speech-to-Text: Captures player responses and converts them into text for prompt processing.

• Text-to-Speech: Converts GPT-generated responses into natural-sounding AI voices.