Hire Up

Research output: Chapter/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

Hire Up is a video game designed to foster positive intergroup perceptions toward immigrants. The game seeks to highlight the importance of treating everyone with respect and equality, regardless of their cultural background. The game is set in a fictional food establishment where players assume the role of the owner, who manages day-to-day operations of various food stalls. The goal of the game is to make sufficient profits to sustain the business. One major task is the hiring and management of human resources. Players are presented with the background of workers during the hiring phase, which includes their age, gender, race, and nationality. Players click on the workers’ avatars to interact and know their thoughts and emotions as the game progresses. The main narrative of the game involves scenarios that require moral decision-making as well as casual conversations between players and the workers’ avatars. For example, players have to decide between acknowledging a customer’s distasteful comments toward their worker or defending their worker at the expense of losing in-game credits. Dialogues are triggered by workers or customers. At the end of each dialogue, a non-player character “friend” appears and asks players about their thoughts about the situation to prompt players to reflect upon the issues. Players are presented with the consequences of their choices, which reflect their workers’ state of psychological well-being at the end of the game.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication50 Games to Use for Inclusion, Equity, and Justice
EditorsKaren Schrier, Rachel Kowert, Diana Leonard, Tarja Porkka-Kontturi
Pages91-96
Volume4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jan 2024

Publication series

SeriesLearning, Education, & Games Learning, Education, & Games
Volume4

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