This week we again had a paper playtest and a digital playtest. Our goals were to try and narrow down which story we are going with and to see how we can make the interactions more meaningful.
Story/Paper playtest
Playtesters were asked to listen to four stories and give their feedback. We tried to ask for it in an indirect way by saying “what would her friend say to her”.
The stories are at the end of this post.
We had 3 playtesters in total. They all supported the character’s right to have an abortion but each one reacted to the characters differently. One playtester supported the more determined and strong characters and judge those who were more of a victim (16yr forced into having sex). Another playtester didn’t see a reason for an abortion once the characters had a job and were in a relationship with the baby’s father. However, no one stated that abortion is wrong.
We also noticed that the male playtesters assumed abortion is dangerous. We don’t know if that is something that our target audience, doctors, would assume as well if they didn’t take family planning training.
Conclusion
It wasn’t clear in all of the cases that the woman wanted the abortion.
Many asked about contraception and suggested they use a better one next time. Contraception was not mentioned in the stories at all.
In addition, more interaction with the doctor was needed.
Next step
After making all those stories include the same types of details (interaction with doctors, don’t want to be pregnant, contraception fail) we will send them out as a survey to choose our final one.
Digital playtest
In VR, players can interact with two objects that react differently.
- They can click on either Teddy bear of dairy.
- Teddy bear: will come closer to the player, the background is blurred.
- Dairy: will stay on the table, the background is blurred.
- Players need to interact with the object for the second time.
- Teddy: turn it around to see a note (using the tracker)
- Diary: flip the pages (using the clicker)
- An animation and sound will start.
We noticed that players didn’t understand what they needed to do in order to start the animation and usually did it by accident.
Conclusion
A much simpler interaction is needed than trying to rotate the bear.
It needs to be clear why the animation started.
Next step
Changing the interaction so it is “two clicks” – one click to interact with the object, another click on a specific thing in the object, to trigger the animation.
For next week:
We will iterate on those two and make a final decision regarding story and interactions.
The four stories:
Story no.1
My mom never talked to me about contraceptives besides – don’t have sex. We were living in a small trailer. My mom was working two jobs, and I was waitressing. She had me at 17, and our situation was not ideal. I was determined to do better. I found a scholarship for low-income families, for nursing school and I was doing my best to keep my grades up.
I met a guy while I was working. He was older and cooler. We went out for a couple of dates and he seemed like a real gentleman. I promised my mom I wouldn’t have sex before I was married but he kept pressuring me. One night he brought it up again. I liked him a lot and was afraid he will leave me. I asked if we needed a condom and he said not to worry. When I found out I was pregnant. He told me it was my problem. That it couldn’t be his and stopped replying to my texts.
I saw girls from my school get pregnant and drop out. I didn’t want that. I knew I wouldn’t be able to go to school and take care of a baby and I didn’t know how or where to raise it. Our trailer was too small for us already and we were barely getting by.
I couldn’t tell my mom. She was so proud of me for keeping my grades up and I didn’t know how to tell her that I screwed up. She wanted me to have a better future than the one she had and I wanted that too. A chance to go to college, to get a better job, to support me and maybe help my mom. I didn’t want to condemn my child to grow up in the same conditions I did, and what if they also end up the same way?
On the day of my abortion, a friend drove me to the clinic. She promised she wouldn’t tell anyone. I was pretty early on so the procedure wasn’t that long. But, after a few days, I started bleeding real bad. I didn’t know what to do so I went to the ER. They asked me questions and after a while, I got the courage to say that I had an abortion and that this wasn’t a bad period. The doctor was angry with me for not telling him. But I could see the change in attitude. At first, it felt like there was a genuine worry. I was alone, 16, bleeding and scared. But now, they just seemed annoyed with me. I don’t blame them. It’s something that I did to myself.
Story no.2
My ex and I had a very dysfunctional relationship. He was cold, manipulative and emotionally abusive and for some reason, even though I should know better, it worked on me. My parents had a similar relationship. My dad would talk down on my mom, she would just stay quiet and try to do the right thing, act the right way, so he might finally say that she is worth his affection. When I left for college she asked for a divorce. That is when I realized that it’s time for me to do the same. To get out before it’s too late.
He called me one night after we broke up. For some reason, I picked up and he was nice and sweet. Everything I wanted while we were together. We hooked up and a day later he was back to his old self. I told myself I would never fall into that trap again. But I had bigger problems. My period was late. I was on the pill but wasn’t taking it regularly since we broke up. I bought a test and it confirmed what I was afraid of: I was pregnant. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want my friends to know because they would berate me for meeting him in the first place and I didn’t want to tell him. I was done with that relationship and was scared he would sweet talk me into something I didn’t want or make me feel even worse.
I wanted kids, but not with someone who would mistreat them and their mom. Even though I usually dated “bad” guys like him, at least for once, I knew that I can’t do that anymore. I was proud of myself for making that decision of getting myself out of a situation where I wouldn’t have control over my life.
Story no.3:
I went to college for architecture. I read the Fountainhead for a school project and since then I was mesmerized with the idea of creating great pieces of art, astonishing buildings, that respect both man and nature. I knew I wasn’t going to get my dream job right away but I thought that I would enjoy any job as long as it was in the same field. That was a lie. I was grateful for the opportunity to work for a big firm but I was measuring wall thickness in other people’s designs of grey and soulless office buildings. So I started saving. I calculated how much work and time it would take to become a freelancer and to start my own business. Even if it would be a small one it would still be mine I can design things in a way that I would be proud of. Even if those are just office buildings.
I started dating this guy who thought that my enthusiasm was enchanting. When I found out that I was pregnant, we were still at that stage of getting to know each other. I wasn’t sure what to feel. He was great but I didn’t know if he is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. That would also mean putting my career on hold and I wasn’t sure that I can support a child with my current paycheck. He wasn’t too enthusiastic either. He said it was too soon and he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to be a dad.
I knew my parents were pro-life so adoption was one of the options I was contemplating. But I couldn’t imagine having a baby grow inside of me for 9 months, being congratulated by family and strangers and then not knowing what happens to him or her.
I scheduled an appointment with my gynecologist. When my blood results came back she was all smiles and congratulating. When I told her what I wanted she became cold and distant. She suggested I take time to think about it. I said I already did but she sent me away anyway.
Story no.4:
My husband and I have tiny rituals to keep ourselves sane. We both work in a high-stress environment. He is a lawyer at a big firm and I work in a well-established marketing agency. We are both very ambitious and hard working, so these tiny rituals help keep us sane. Like having coffee together in the morning, or taking a walk every night. We love this alone time that is just to ourselves.
But the stress was wearing us down. We saved up for a couple of years and were going to take around the world trip. See all the places I wanted to see since I was a little girl. We already bought the tickets and had everything planned for the next two years. Then I found out I was pregnant. I never even thought that was a possibility. I had an IUD
All of our friends had kids. We were always the odd couple. The godmothers and godfathers of so many children but none of our own. We got married relatively young and everyone was expecting us to start a family.
On paper, keeping the baby was what everyone would expect us to do. But it wasn’t the right decision for us. My husband and I both knew what we wanted, and what we wanted to do.