Games for Change: FIGHT BACK
Video by Medicinal Media. Edited by Jae Shim.
Medicinal Media will occasionally survey individuals who make media of all kinds about their relationship with art and technology — from early media in childhood to the media they create personally and professionally — and its impact. Our "Media Makers at Games for Change" series continues with the VR self-defense game FIGHT BACK, an interactive experience with hand-tracking enabled, aiming at developing mental skills, confidence, and muscle memory. Created by Céline Tricart (The Sun Ladies, The Key), who asserts that one of the world’s most critical challenges today is gender violence. FIGHT BACK is designed to empower at-risk populations to defend themselves. Along with VR game footage, we see examples of media that have inspired the creators, including clips from the acclaimed documentary Celine produced in Iraq, where she embedded with women soldiers volunteering to fight ISIS. FIGHT BACK was designed at Coven Studios, founded by Céline Tricart and Marie Blondiaux — two renowned pioneers in the new media and virtual reality space. Coven advocates for a more inclusive industry through stories and teams that reflect the diversity of today's world. FIGHT BACK is available free on Meta App Lab. Co-produced by Lucid Dreams Productions, Red Corner, and France Télévision in collaboration with Albyon, Source Sound, and 1518 Studios. With the support of CNC, Procirep, Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
FIGHT BACK, designed at Coven Studios, was created to address gender violence issues. “You play a being of light in a cosmic, celestial world, tasked with liberating sisters from your constellation.”
Celene Tricart, co-founder of Coven Studios, went to Iraq in 2017 and made a documentary about a group of female soldiers who decided to join the army to fight against ISIS. “It was really obvious to me when I met those women how physical empowerment transformed them.”
WATCH THE REST OF THE MEDIA MAKERS@GAMES FOR CHANGE SERIES:Dr. Kris Alexander
Dr. Kris Alexander, professor of video games at Toronto University, was one of the creative minds in the mix this year. He wandered by our camera with a grin so captivating that we couldn’t help but want to chat about what brought him here and what he’s generally up to (turns out to be a lot). Dr. Alexander asserts, “There is not a single job, trade, or discipline that doesn’t, in some way, connect to the video games industry.” He also believes young video game designers can most definitely help save the world.