As a developer at ORE System, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to lead the development of ‘With Them: Frontlines’. It has been an incredible journey, and being part of such an impactful project has been truly inspiring. The game is set to raise awareness about veteran mental health and reduce the high suicide rate among veterans of the video game generation. In this article, I will share my experience and the innovative solutions we implemented to promote veteran mental health in the game.
My Journey to Leading the Development of ‘With Them: Frontlines’
My journey with the project began with a conversation about the need for change in the video game industry. Our team members, all game developers and veterans, were passionate about creating a video game that could be used to benefit veterans. We wanted to create a game that was both fun and educational, and that could help veterans feel more comfortable about sharing their experiences.
As lead developer, I was responsible for coordinating the development team and ensuring that the game was developed according to the specifications outlined by the project manager. My role involved developing the game mechanics, designing levels, and implementing the game’s features. I worked closely with the veterans on the team to ensure that the game accurately represented their experiences.
Innovative Solutions to Promote Veteran Mental Health in ‘With Them: Frontlines’
We knew that we wanted to create a game that was both fun and educational, but we also wanted to promote veteran mental health. To achieve this, we implemented several innovative solutions in the game.
One of the main features of the game is the ability to sync with an application that connects to wearables and smartphones to collect data to share with healthcare providers. This facilitates a more direct discussion between patient and provider, and can be used as part of the initial screening process to establish baselines for treated patients.
Another important feature of the game is its multiplayer first-person shooter portion, which provides a gameplay experience similar to Call of Duty (CoD) but features real military veterans as playable characters. The game also features integrated monetization, which supports the further development and support for veteran charities.
Finally, the single-player campaign provides a first-person experience of what a real military veteran experienced in their own words. Through storytelling and first-hand accounts by real military veterans, a fully immersive game environment, and storyline is created. This integrates audio, video, and represented gameplay to recreate the event for the player.
Developing ‘With Them: Frontlines’ has been an incredible journey, and I am proud to have been part of such an impactful project. Our team was committed to creating a game that could help veterans feel more comfortable about sharing their experiences and promote veteran mental health. We hope that our innovative solutions will inspire other developers to create similar games that can benefit veterans and make a positive impact on the world.