I played A Slower Speed of Light, created by the MIT Game Lab. The game is a first-person walking sim in which players navigate a 3D space while picking up orbs that reduce the speed of light. By doing so, the player gains a better understanding of the physics of light in an incredibly visual and unusually temporal sense. I would say that the game uses three types of fun: sensation, fantasy, and discovery. Normally discovery is used in an exploration sense, but here, I think the learning experience is the discovery.
Neat little fantasy world with interesting orbs
The clear outcome of this game was to educate students on the nature of light in a hands-on environment. The aesthetics are designed to communicate this goal, as the perceived colors change as the speed of light decreases. Other visual distortions and effects are used as well. The fantasy aesthetic with the hooded people and the little huts serve as a nice background, although they don’t seem to serve a concrete purpose in terms of the dynamics of the game.
Color changes moving forward
Color changes moving backward — why does direction make a a difference?
As far as the mechanics go, the player can only move themselves, simply walking over orbs to collect them. This mechanic is very simple, but it highlights the visual effects. I often found myself moving backwards and forwards while I attempted to figure out the physics behind the color changes.
just traveling at the speed of light, don’t mind me
Finally, the dynamics are simple but effective. As the player moves around, the visual effects change. Part of the dynamic is exploring movement as a means of understanding why the colors change. Given that the physics of light are not explained until after you have “won,” it creates a sense of “exploration” as you are playing. It also makes you invested in learning why light works the way it does, which they explain post-game. This feeling of investment is why A Slower Speed of Light stands out as both an intriguing and educational game.
Clicking “What Happened?” takes you to a mini physics lesson!
