Hi, My name is Brayden Dorado. I was born and raised here on O‘ahu. And I’ve lived in the same house in Mililani for all my life. For High School I attended Mililani High School and graduated in 2019. Then I went on to Leeward Community College to complete an Associates in Information & Computer Science as well as Liberal Arts in 2022. And then transferred to West O‘ahu in Spring 2023. If I was an artist’s tool, I would be a sponge. I try to learn and absorb as much knowledge as I can. Just learning different things at every chance I get.
In recent years, the video game industry has become a leading entertainment sector, but its rapid growth has led to toxic work environments and widespread burnout among developers. This paper defines burnout, examines its causes—such as long hours and poor work conditions—and explores solutions like mental health support and workplace reform. It also highlights how some games use narrative to critique industry practices, culminating in a game project that reflects on burnout within the industry itself.
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.
Brayden turns critique into creativity with his original game simulation tackling burnout in the video game industry. Based on his research into the harsh realities faced by developers—grueling hours, toxic environments, and mental exhaustion—Brayden designed a gameplay experience that mirrors the emotional and physical toll of crunch culture. Drawing inspiration from narrative-driven games that challenge industry norms, his capstone offers both reflection and advocacy through interactive storytelling.
Step into the story: Office Burnout