Autistic gamer explains why new VR game allows them to be completely themselves
A new virtual reality (VR) game is helping to create new spaces for autistic gamers, allowing players to be themselves in a world that doesn't often cater to neurodiverse individuals.
Launched earlier this year, BLINNK and the Vacuum of Space is said to be "an immersive cosmic adventure where every level has been designed to allow autistic players to be themselves."
Described as having been "made for autistic people with autistic people", BLINNK is the brainchild of Changingday, a Glasgow-based virtual reality company that aims to give autistic people greater confidence while gaming.
Changingday was founded some six years ago by husband and wife team, Alison Lang, CEO, and Nick Lang, creative director, whose 27-year-old daughter is autistic.
Alison and Nick were inspired by their own experiences of raising an autistic daughter (Youtube/Changingday)Speaking with the Mirror, Alison clarified that she isn't a gamer herself, but understands from personal experience how the world generally isn't built to suit autistic people.
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Alison, whose daughter was found to have autism at the age of two, explained: "There's just so little out there. Nothing is designed specifically with an autistic audience in mind.
"Wherever they go, whatever they do. Airports, any kind of transportation, venues, nothing has really taken them into account. Supermarkets probably break that a little bit, and have done in recent times where they've had an hour where autistic people can go shopping, where the lighting is reduced and the noise is reduced.
"That's fantastic, because it really works for those who find everyday life so overstimulating that they don't take part, and they don't feel included."
Autistic people ave been involved with the making of this game from the 'ground up' (Youtube/Changingday)When it came to creating BLINNK, Alison and Nick wanted to ensure autistic people felt included from the get-go. In order to do so, they brought a number of autistic people into the organisation, working with them to create the game from the "ground up".
Alison was keen to emphasise that this is most definitely a game, not a form of therapy, in which players carry out a number of fun challenges at the Space Station Norpopolis, accompanied by "loveable robot" sidekick BLINNK.
Unlike the majority of games, however, BLINNK doesn't have any fail states or "game over" screens, and gamers have access to various customisation features to ensure the sound, colours, and visuals feel right for them.
Customisation features help gamers tailor sound and visuals to fit their preferences (Youtube/Changingday)Detailing why exactly they decided to leave out any "game over" screens, Alison explained that came from Nick meeting an autistic man who worked for Disney at a VR convention right before the pandemic.
This man had a terrible fear of heights, and found himself getting stuck in one particular game where he was unable to get across a bridge, where there was no other way to get through and carry on with the game.
Alison continued: "It kind of struck us that it puts people off, it puts autistic people off if they think right at the start 'I'm not going to be able to play this game, it's not for me'. But we've made it so you can move around the game in different areas, at different times.
"You can come in and out. If you're overstimulated within any part of the game, which you shouldn't be but obviously there are different triggers for each person, they have a smartwatch that they can tap and immediately go to a safe, comfortable, relaxing area of the game."
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There are no fail screens in the game, which Hamish finds far more encouraging (Changing Day)The Mirror also spoke with Hamish McKeeve, a casual gamer who is currently studying Scottish history at the University of Stirling. When he first heard about the concept of BLINNK, Hamish, who has known about his autism since the age of seven, thought it was a "really good idea".
Although Hamish, 27, has played PC games for several years, this was his first time trying VR gaming, and his experience overall was a positive one.
Praising it as "addictive", Hamish said: "It's good, I'm thinking of getting into it more. A friend at my student accommodation has a VR headset so I might ask after that!"
Reflecting on how the game differed from ones he's played in the past, Hamish praised BLINNK as being "more involved", with much more "interactive involvement" on offer.
Hamish, who believes it's cool to be different, also agreed that the "means of involvement and expression" offered by the game does indeed allow autistic people to be themselves while playing.
This was Hamish's first experience with VR gaming - and he's keen to try again (Changing Day)
The characters and storyline also left Hamish impressed (Changing Day)The lack of fail states in the game appealed to Hamish, as did the emphasis on catering to the many varied strengths of autistic people.
Speculating that this might lead to less "rage quitting", Hamish added: "There's no way to say 'oh you've failed' or 'game over', it's good for the encouragement!"
Hamish found the overall story to be "very good", and remarked that he would indeed play it again if he could "get his hands on it".
The quirky robot named BLINNK, designed to appeal to autistic gamers, also proved to be quite a hit, with Hamish chuckling that he found him to be "quite the character!"
He continued: "It's almost a kind of chilling out, relaxing medium, and it's got it all there I think."
BLINNK and the Vacuum of Space is available to buy now via SteamVR and Green Man Gaming.
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