Glass Ceiling Games – embodied feminist storytelling through game mechanics

Story Research Group
Glass Ceiling
 
Glass Ceiling Games is a feminist punk augmented reality game informed by the lived experience of women and diverse genders. Its central research question is how game mechanics can be used as a narrative method to express experiences of sexism and misogyny. 
 
The game's comic and cartoon neon aesthetic represents a fantasy alternate reality where players can triumph over catcalls, stereotypes, unsolicited pix, emotional labour, unequal childcare and mansplaining. Playing on the idea of an Olympic Games for anti-sexism, Glass Ceiling Games puts you in the embodied perspective of a person experiencing sexism and misogyny and offers you superpowers to overcome it.
It emerged from Dr Hannah Wood’s South West Creative Technology Network (SWCTN) Immersion Fellowship where she was investigating untold stories in games and immersive experiences and using music and mechanics as narrative devices. She commercialised her research by developing the game through her creative studio Story Juice.
 
Project objectives:
  • To explore how lived experiences of sexism and misogyny can be told through comedic and subversive game mechanics.
  • To use augmented reality and a first-person player perspective to engage new audiences in the problem. 
  • To integrate music and game mechanics for storytelling effects. 
  • To test if playing the game has any impact on attitudes towards sexism and misogyny. 
 

It is a brilliant example of how nuanced research into game mechanics, affect and immersive experience can be mobilised into a product that is unique, meaningful and really good fun.

 Jo Lansdowne, Executive Producer Watershed and SWCTN

Story Juice is contributing to changing the narrative for women and girls in games, through representation and the processes of making. The game is funny and empowering. A rare and timely power-fantasy game for those societally disempowered.

Katie Keeler, Executive Producer of Kaleider, partner on SWCTN