Self-directed
Connected by Controller
game dev
research
Project overview
3D driving game about the social impact of games
A top-down 3D car game where players collect clues, read research, and answer questions about how games can build community while also carrying risks like toxicity and escapism.
Role
- Game developer
- researcher
- designer
Date
2026
Field
Game
Stack
Unity, C#, 3D gameplay, Research design, Educational game design
30+ players
knowledge fair
question-based levels
Connected by Controller
Context
Presented at a knowledge fair and played by more than 30 attendees.
Games are often treated as either pure entertainment or a problem.
The hard part
Connected by Controller explores both sides: community, loneliness, depression, isolation, toxicity, and detachment from reality.
What it took
- Built a top-down driving loop where players explore, collect clues, and unlock progression.
- Integrated newspapers, articles, and research into the world instead of keeping the learning separate from play.
- Balanced positive themes around connection and community with downsides like toxicity and unhealthy detachment.
Outcome
Presented a playable learning experience at a knowledge fair, where many attendees played through the driving, clue collection, and question-based progression.
