Project info
- Developer Keelan Harvey
- Showcase year 2025
- Programme Game Design and Production
Synopsis
The crisis of masculinity is not a new concept, but it has gathered more mainstream attention in recent years due to the rise in online masculine self-help influencers. These influencers have become powerful voices within online masculine culture and only present a limited, and often warped, world view. This project hopes to reach young men through video games, an artefact of their popular culture, to provide a different, more exploratory alternative perspective. The Working Man expands on the common mechanics found within the popular first-person shooter genre to create a system that players can explore and use to reflect on what it means to perform masculinity.
What motivated you to develop/create this project?
The direction of online masculine culture concerns me. Some influencers use their platforms to spread hateful rhetoric disguised as self-help for men. I believe this rhetoric creates destructive behaviour within young men, warping their world view, damaging their mental health and the lives of people they interact with. Video games are a big part of young men's culture, and I hope this project will persuade those who play it to be more considerate about the effect their behaviour of masculinity has.
What has been a highlight of your time at Abertay?
The third year professional project was an absolute highlight for me. Working on a game with a wonderful multi-disciplinary team gave me so much joy - something I hope to find more of when I enter the industry.
What are your hopes and future ambitions for after graduation?
I hope to work as part of diverse multi-disciplinary teams of game developers creating culturally impactful projects that push the boundaries of what interactive media can achieve.
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