I’m Fine is a VR Suicide Awareness Experience Coming From VoidVR
After the release of virtual reality (VR) shooter Hit the Hive last year, indie developer VoidVR (not to be confused with The VOID) has taken a very different approach for its next VR project I’m Fine. Less of a videogame and more of an experience, I’m Fine tackles the difficult topic of suicide.
I’m Fine is a VR suicide awareness experience whose purpose is: “to communicate two types of data, emotional data and statistical data in an attempt to raise awareness for the subject while presenting it in a new light,” VoidVR explains. “Emotional data includes what it is like to have suicidal thoughts, feelings and be in a situation similar to that of a potential suicide attempt; the statistical data explores the facts of suicide worldwide so that people can be properly educated on the subject.”
Suicide and the effects that can lead up to it such as depression aren’t always widely discussed, with it being seen as a taboo subject by society as a whole. Yet suicide rates can be high in one country and none existent in another, and usually only get media attention when it’s someone famous. It can affect anyone, with I’m Fine’s emotional data there to help viewers better understand what a sufferer may be going through, while statistical data is used to reinforce the emotional data.
VoidVR makes it clear that: “I’m Fine is not a game and it has no entertainment value. It is an educational piece of work, designed to do good in the world.”
As such, I’m Fine will be released on Itch.Io supporting HTC Vive and Oculus Rift completely free on the 1st July 2019. “Donations will however be open for those that want to help the cause and all donations will be forwarded to various Suicide and Depression related charities around the world,” VoidVR adds.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of I’m Fine, reporting back with the latest updates.
https://www.vrfocus.com/2019/03/im-fine-is-a-vr-suicide-awareness-experience-coming-from-voidvr/