Short talks and poster presentations at the doctoral consortium at the IEEE CoG 2025
In Lisboa, Portugal, 26-29th August, 2025
Author: Kseniia Harshina
Title: Developing a Video Game for Empathy and Empowerment in the Context of Forced Migration Experiences
Abstract: This dissertation explores how video games can be designed to foster empathy and empowerment in the context of forced migration. While existing games often focus on raising awareness, they frequently exclude displaced individuals from the design process. To address this, the project proposes a participatory, AI-assisted storytelling system that allows people with lived migration experience to co-create and replay interactive scenes based on personal memories.
The research follows a three-phase structure: data collection through surveys and a participatory game jam; iterative development of an interview-to-game prototype using a locally run large language model (LLM); and a mixed-methods evaluation. The system includes an interview-based chatbot interface, automatic scene generation, and post-game reflection tools. The evaluation examines the system’s emotional, psychological, and representational impact across three player groups: scene authors (migrant participants), other displaced individuals, and players without migration experience.
The project contributes to generative AI research, HCI, and game studies by combining participatory design, storytelling, and technical implementation. It offers both a theoretical framework and a functional prototype to inform future practices in socially responsive game design.
