That Dragon, Cancer

That Dragon, Cancer is an unusual product released for PC and iOS, implemented as an adventure video game. The title was crowdfunded via Kickstarter, where the developers were able to raise over 100 thousand dollars. The project was developed by Numinous Games, a studio founded by Ryan and Amy Green.

Story

The title tells a story of a family that raises a small boy sick with cancer, who has only a couple of months of life left. That Dragon, Cancer is based on actual events from Ryan and Amy’s life. Twelve months after their son Joel was born he was diagnosed with a brain cancer, which he fought and eventually succumbed to in March 2014. The game is meant to commemorate Joel and the other children who shared his fate. At the same time the developers wanted to give the players an idea of what challenges await parents whose child is terminally ill.

Gameplay

That Dragon, Cancer, released for PC and iOS, does not require much skill or intelligence from the player, as it does not put up any actual gameplay challenges. Instead, the game mechanics are based on taking part in simple activities, such as playing with the child. You experience the game in first-person perspective, while the controls take after point-and-click adventure games. According to the developers, the title is not about solving puzzles, but simply experiencing the moments of hope, joy, or sadness.

Technology

The graphics in PC and iOS release of That Dragon, Cancer are neither of outstanding quality nor were they meant to be. The visuals are very simple, and the characters are intentionally deprived of faces. Together with the emotional soundtrack it builds a fitting atmosphere.

Last updated on 11 January 2016