The aim of Game Not Included is to practice self-exploration and expression using world building. Through the creation of characters, places, artifacts, and all the minute details that bring a story to life, we want you to become acquainted with, and see strength in, your emotional landscape and inner world. But where does this idea come from? How did this journey of Game Not Included begin?
Let’s back up for a sec. Game Not Included didn’t start as a curriculum. It began as a world of its own, in the mind of an artist (that’s me). I’m Ashley, and it was through creating and exploring my own world that I learned how powerful concept art can be as a tool of expressing things that words can’t fully capture. This world is called Lizard City.
Lizard City is a multimedia retro-style adventure. I started working on this project in my free time to build my portfolio and technical skills as an artist. I chose a setting I loved to keep me motivated; 3D platformer/adventure games, and I used this setting as a testing ground to design characters, levels, mechanics… anything I wanted to see come to life in this world. Over time, a collection of sketches and diagrams, plotlines and screenshots grew around me. I became familiar enough with this world I created that I could talk about it passionately with friends and family, or anyone who would listen to me. As the world grew, so did my understanding of its inner-workings.
But it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that I understood
the power a world like this can have.
In December of 2019 I had just moved into an apartment by myself following the end of a long-term relationship. I was excited to settle into this new chapter of my life; to make friends, explore new interests, and work on myself. Importantly, I was still healing. I had trauma, like so many (maybe all?) of us do. I was in therapy and learning to manage symptoms of PTSD.
Then came the roaring dumpster fire of 2020 and suddenly living alone (with my dog) in an apartment became a serious challenge. The deep emotions, hyper-vigilance, and looping thoughts of dread and fear I had come to associate with trauma were amplified now by constant uncertainty and suffocating isolation. It was during this time that Lizard City became not just a place to practice my artistic abilities, but a way to explore and communicate emotions.
