Throughout phase 1, when interacting with other people regarding my concept, it has been pointed out that my chosen topic and setting is one of a sensitive nature. The Fukushima disaster in 2011 is still considered to be recent and a lot of information is kept from the public. This very much contrasts the first nuclear disaster that has occurred on such a big scale, on the 26th April 1986 (Chernobyl). Chernobyl is now a very public and popular topic of discussion, most recently having a very publicized documentary filmed. Interestingly, the documentary initially did receive a lot of negative feedback, as it was deemed insensitive. However, after there was time to digest, the consensus collectively agrees it is a very good documentary and issues regarding sensitivity have been pushed to one side.

I think exploring Chernobyl, as a possible location to set my game within, would be a safer option. Safer is good for multiple reasons, there is more information about the station which I can use to my benefit (particularly design aspects). However, safer also means I do not challenge things and do not explore other options. Without risks, there are no rewards. I want to try something no has previously tried.

Challenges arise with trying something new. Being still considered “recent” with little public information, means I will have to take more creative liberties. This is not ideal, as I am trying to keep the experience as authentic and accurate as possible. By keeping the experience as close to reality as possible, I feel I can do the story of the Fukushima Daiichi plant more justice. As well as that, a focus on the surrounding environment, how it affected people and the environment. That to me is more important. Educating the player on the severity of it. I do not intend to make a game within the station simply because it is an “interesting and unique” location. I think there is a lot to explore and think about. There are benefits of setting my game in such a location, with the increase in interest surrounding Chernobyl recently, there has been also an increase in “extreme tourism”.

Extreme Tourism, is when people go to locations which have either a lot of danger present, or historically were very dangerous. As our lives become “easier” with more being automated and less danger, there is an increase in curiosity for “real danger” and so there are spikes within extreme tourism and other adventurous activities. I think that people will be curious to see what the Fukushima plant was like, especially after more information being public regarding Chernobyl and it becoming a popular tourism destination. Whilst there is curiosity and interest, I would like to encourage more thought about sources of energy that we use and how it affects the environment. Additionally, due to luxuries and development of gadgets, tools etc that help us in every day to day life, we are becoming less adaptable due to comforts of life. My game will intentionally be uncomfortable; with the aim of forcing adaptability to occur within the environment to complete the win condition (of escaping the collapsing reactor). Keeping it uncomfortable and intense will be a more accurate representation of the real event and therefore do the theme more justice. I would like to honour the 120,000+ people who had to re-locate after the tragic events of 2011. To this day, over 30,000 people have still not been able to move back to their homes and are living elsewhere. If I am able to capture the essence of devastation, whilst forcing adrenaline levels to spike and the stress of being within a simulation of the event, I think that will make my game a success.

Japan has a very different culture when compared with, what I am familiar with. For that reason, this game may still be deemed insensitive and not one that portrays the events in a way they would like me to. I can only access information that is public regarding the explosion and what caused it - so my information is limited and if incorrect, there is no way of me correcting those mistakes. Reaching out to someone who worked at the station, is a possible option, but not guaranteed that they will respond or that they will provide more information. For that reason, again, I will need to take some creative liberties. I aim to keep the game as realistic as possible, engaging all the senses as much as possible, keeping it accurate to a real life experience. In terms of photographs of the environment also, there are limited pictures. There are however many photos of the abandoned buildings nearby which, similar to Pripyat near Chernobyl, show the severity and urgency of evacuation.

Sources:

https://www.bfs.de/EN/topics/ion/accident-management/emergency/fukushima/environmental-consequences.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420918304163