Interview: ‘The creative process is to broaden your awareness of how people interpret what you re making’
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
Double Fine never intended for Psychonauts to make a statement on mental health. But, nevertheless, the action platformer is considered by many to be one of the more positive visual representations of mental health issues in gaming media. Whether it’s sweeping away your mental cobwebs, laying down your emotional baggage or simply getting into the head of someone who seems - on the surface - to be simply a ‘bad’ person, Psychonauts is the ultimate lesson in the importance of mental wellness and empathy.
Twitch has become an important mental health space for streamers even in places where mental health is not the main focus. But licensed professionals are creating their own niche areas on the platform.
Psychonauts 2 director Tim Schafer on tackling mental health issues through gaming
For Mental Health Awareness Month, the legendary game designer explains how his team has doubled down on approaching important subject matter in the highly-anticipated sequel You may not have known it, but May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
As its name suggests, the initiative is an annual tradition aimed at bringing together communities, schools, workplaces and more to promote and protect people’s mental wellbeing. This endeavour has been made all the more crucial after over a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 40 percent of Canadians alone reporting worsened mental health during this time.