Games students work on live brief with charity Safe In Our World

Safe In Our World is a mental health charity focused on the video games industry. Their main goal is to create and foster worldwide mental health awareness within the sector, eliminating stigmas and enabling it as a topic of discussion. They harness the creativity and invention of the games industry to engender positive dialogue about mental health issues.

Steven Coltart, course leader for BA (Hons) Games Art and Design and BSc (Hons) Games Development, set up the project with Safe In Our World exclusively for Norwich students. The brief challenged students to create either concept art or a short game inspired by Steven’s piece of music With Nature. The track was originally composed as a response to walks in nature, and their power to improve and maintain mental health. Students were asked to focus on the positivity, beauty and emotional power of nature.

Below is a short selection of the students’ responses to the brief. Safe In Our World have curated a full showcase of work on their website.

Oli Paul – BSc (Hons) Games Development

Dog Walking Simulator – Made in Unreal Engine

Salene Tarling – BA (Hons) Games Art and Design

Concept Art – ‘The story behind the scene is that the two characters have returned from a perilous quest, a final battle, and as they reach the outskirts of their home city, it snows for the first time since everything has ended. They take a moment to sit in the flower field and appreciate.’

Megan McCarthy – BA (Hons) Games Art and Design

Concept Art – ‘The track felt a lot like the ocean to me at first. The overwhelming impression I had was of harmony and reclamation. My images are snapshots of an Island cut off from the rest of the world. There is evidence of humanity, but the structures have been reintegrated into the rock, sand and forest.’