Video game launched to study the effects of self-isolation during a pandemic

Would you let your children play in the park? How to stay focused during a distance learning course

training?Who are you going to call to pass the time during self-isolation? People around the world are grappling with these questions and more as social distancing and isolation have become key strategies to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic.

For CDH Scientist and UNIL Gamelab ResearcherYannick Rocha, an expert in game research and digital humanities, the narrative video game seemed like a natural medium to explore these issues.

Video games can convey information as well asemotions. The idea behind this game is to be a testament to a period in history that impacted us all. It is important to me to document and keep a record of these experiences.

Yannick Roche, expert in game studies and digital humanities

Since August 20th , Roche and a team of employees fromthe world of games, programming and graphic design released “Quatre apparts et un confinement” (Four Condos and a Containment, Four apartments and their containment). This is an interactive game where you can choose your own adventure story, showing the lives of four fictitious neighbors in the same house.

Scenes from the game "Quatre apparts et un confinement" © Mathias HangartnerScenes from the game "Quatre apparts et un confinement" © Mathias Hangartner

The French-language game was developed in June and July2020 thanks to the (socially distanced) collaboration of IMI Director Munir Cricane, Le Temps journalist Paul Ronghi, graphic designer Mathias Hungertner, EPFL student Andrew Dobis and UNIL student Saara Jones. It is available on the Le Temps website and mobile app.

Users can navigate digitalapartments, visiting each character and briefly participating in his life: in their decisions, worries, desires or disappointments. Some events may seem familiar to users, while some provide a window into how others might feel during forced self-isolation.

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