Dev Log 1 - Conducting Research for Game Design

Over the past two weeks, I conducted research exploring the topic of teenage addiction to social media. The subject I chose to investigate was the dangers of social media use among teenagers, which encompass both their mental and physical health.

In my research, I discovered that 90% of teenagers around the world use or have used social media software, and 70% of them are addicted to it. Through video materials and survey interviews, I found that most young people are ensnared in a positive correlation with negative feedback on social media, creating a vicious cycle. They seek satisfaction in social media, yet it is filled with a substantial amount of uncertified negative information, which can lead to inaccurate perceptions, both mentally and physically, among immature teenagers.

Based on this research, I propose a game concept with gameplay centered around teen development and resource management. Players will navigate the daily lives of teenagers, with the goal of adhering to set limits on social media usage. As they spend more time on social media, the player's anxiety levels and study attentiveness will be affected. To restore these affected values, players will need to allocate time to complete undecided actions, such as reading. Occasionally, emergencies may arise during social media use, such as encountering hurtful comments from other users, which can also impact the player's mental health and lead to a harmful influence on their physical health.

In the game, players will need to balance various numerical values associated with teenagers to foster positive growth. An imbalance, resulting from too many poor choices and a lack of equilibrium, will lead to a range of negative outcomes. I aim to convey the dangers of unrestricted social media use for immature teenagers through artistically presented negative endings, ensuring they leave a lasting impression. The specific content and numerical system will be further developed.