About Tightrope
About Tightrope
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Tightrope is a Narrative-Driven game, created in partnership with the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) as part of my "dedicated games" college module.
The purpose of this project was to provide this not-for-profit organization with an interactive, thought-provoking game that could be used as a tool to raise awareness about the current healthcare system for transgender people in Ireland.
Team Size: 4
Primary Roles: Gameplay Designer, Writer, Project Manager
Tools Used: Unity, GitHub, Visual Studio - C#, Jira, Google Docs, Yarnspinner
Timeline: September 2024 - December 2024
Notable Achievements:
Gained experience creating games for a professional client.
Selected to be part of Issue #70 of Indiepocalypse
(a monthly, curated anthology of digital games)
Concept and Ideation
Concept and Ideation
Creating and Pitching a Concept
Creating and Pitching a Concept
I first reached out to TENI and arranged a pitch session for my team.
Ahead of this, I researched their advocacy work and identified their call for a full reform of transgender healthcare in Ireland as the central theme for our concept.
To ensure alignment with TENI’s outreach goals:
The game was designed to be highly accessible for non-gamers.
Gameplay relies on simple controls: left-click or click-and-drag.
This project was also optimized for low-end devices to maximize reach.
The core message is conveyed to players through visual and narrative comparison of the current healthcare system, and the reform that TENI advocates for.
Excerpt Slide - Concept Pitch Deck
Excerpt Slide - Concept Pitch Deck
Systems Design
Systems Design
Dialogue Concept Art
Dialogue Concept Art
Gameplay Concept Art
Gameplay Concept Art
The systems design in tightrope is focused on Accessibility and Message Delivery.
Players move at their own pace through the dialogue, and the short, structured chapters let them see different perspectives in a way that respects their time.
We also added an optional dyslexia-friendly font to the game settings.
How Progression Works:
How Progression Works:
Each chapter serves as a comparison between the current system, and the reformed system that TENI propose.
Players complete each chapter by reading dialogue and solving short mini-games.
There are three mini-games and three dialogue sections to complete in each chapter.
How Interaction Works:
How Interaction Works:
Players left click to advance the dialogue at their own pace.
During Mini-games, the player must left-click & drag to solve simple puzzles.
Plucking only weeds out of a garden
Carving the correct cuts of meat for customers
Chiseling a sculpture out of marble
The Results:
The Results:
This design was largely a success, and early players said the story resonated with them. Feedback on the playable build told us that we were conveying the central message well and players could relate to the characters.
Keeping the gameplay relatively simple gave me the space to focus on the writing, while the rest of the team pushed ahead with assets and in-engine development.
Narrative Design
Narrative Design
Narrative Structure
Narrative Structure
Each Chapter:
Focuses on one character experiencing a psychiatric led assessment.
Highlights the negative impact of the current system in place.
Alternates dialogue with mini-games reflecting the character’s inner feelings.
Ends with an alternative conversation showing TENI’s proposed consent-led approach.
Contains a dedicated section advocating for reform of the system and a call to action.
My Approach to Writing Dialogue
My Approach to Writing Dialogue
I designed the characters and dialogue with authenticity in mind.
I researched the Irish healthcare system and drew inspiration from the real world experiences of others.
I used our artist's concept sketches to help me shape each character's personality.
I tried to give each character a distinct voice, to keep the dialogue varied and interesting.
I went through several iterations for each chapter, relying on feedback from my team, TENI, and playtesters.
A key challenge I faced was keeping dialogue short enough to avoid player fatigue while still capturing the nuance of the subject matter.
I had never written character dialogue before, so I needed to do a lot of research to depict the characters’ journeys in a way that did them justice.
Character One
Character One
Name:
Roisin (Young Adult)
Personality:
Introverted, soft-spoken, shy.
Summary:
Roisin visits the Gender Clinic for the first time to request gender-affirming care.
Her experience highlights the discomfort and invasive nature of psychiatric-led assessments, showing players the barriers young adults face when seeking support.
Character Two
Character Two
Name:
Daithi (Middle-Aged)
Personality:
Candid, Wary, Pragmatic.
Summary:
Daithi returns to the clinic after deciding to medically transition.
The psychiatric-led assessment pressures them to answer questions related to gender norms around motherhood and fertility. This chapter demonstrates how the system enforces rigid gender expectations and complicates access to care.
Character Three
Character Three
Name:
Fiadh
Personality:
Weary, Compassionate, Hesitant
Summary:
This chapter follows a character attending the Gender GP without spousal support, only to be denied care due to a perceived lack of a “support system.” Players see how assumptions about family and transition impact access, and how difficult decisions around children and personal agency can be.
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