Monico Luis

Hello!

My name is Monico. I grew up in Waipahu, near the Waipio area, and have been living here ever since. Throughout my childhood, I started to fall in love with video games. I was always fascinated with the worlds that were being created and the stories that were being told. Later, I attended Pearl City High School where I decided that video games was something that I wanted to pursue in life. Originally, I attended UH Manoa, but realized that I felt more at place with UH West Oahu and their Creative Media program. If I were an artist’s tool, I think that I would be a canvas pencil roll. Ranging from pencils to paint brushes, a pencil roll can hold a plethora of tools with each having a different purpose. I’d like to believe that I, like a pencil roll, carry a wide range of skills and ideas that aid me in my creative endeavors.

Research Topic: Cultural Representation in Video Games

Research Question: How do video games portray cultural identities, and what impact does this representation have on the player's perception of diverse cultures?

Abstract:

This project examined the critical issues of authentic cultural representation in video games, focusing on the portrayal of ethnic identities and its impact on player perceptions of culture. Video games have become a dominant medium in storytelling, facilitating the sharing and representation of ethnic heritage. Yet, the industry still struggles with stereotypical or superficial portrayals. Through analyzing industry demographics, video game titles, and existing studies, the research explores the current state of representation in video games with an emphasis on Filipino identity. It finds that video games can foster empathy and cultural awareness through authentic representation, and discusses the challenges that face these portrayals. Furthermore, it highlights the need for diversity within the industry and considers how developers can authentically represent people of diverse cultures in games.

Capstone Project: Video Game

Project Title: Agawid

Capstone Proposal:

CREATIVE PROCESS:

The concept of creativity has come a long way. The Old Greeks would call those creative forces muses, other religions referred to them as God. Today people still mostly treat creativity as an aha moment outside the area of influence. However, just by looking at the creative process one can tell, that creativity and creative work is more than just that one "Aha-Moment" (insight). It is clear that generating ideas demands planning and preparation, identifying something of interest like a problem, an opportunity or a challenge, doing research. This then leads to thinking of a solution, allowing time to incubate and iterations before arriving at something “complete.” Students learn that hard work is what makes their ideas come to life and sticktuiveness is what helps them get better.

DELIVERABLE:

For his senior capstone, Monico Luis created an original video game rooted in Filipino themes, drawing directly from his research on authentic cultural representation in the gaming industry. His study emphasized how superficial or stereotypical portrayals can distort player perceptions, while thoughtful, culturally grounded design can foster empathy, awareness, and pride. Building on these findings, Monico developed a game world inspired by Filipino heritage, values, and visual motifs, using the creative process to explore what meaningful representation can look like in practice. Through this project, he not only applied his research but also contributed to the ongoing conversation around diversity in games and the importance of seeing one’s culture reflected with depth and respect.

Go and check it out!

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