What is Fair Play?
In Fair Play, players take the perspective of Jamal Davis, a Black graduate student, on his way to becoming a professor. As Jamal, players must address implicit bias, explore surroundings, and build Jamal's network to prove his full potential. The game provides ample opportunity for players to experience implicit biases, particularly in encounters with other characters, as they navigate the world of academia.
What is Fair Play?
What Are Implicit Biases?
Implicit biases are unconscious assumptions based on group stereotypes. Research has found that taking the perspective of an individual from a stigmatized group can reduce one's implicit bias. It is through social interactions with other characters, that Fair Play simulates real-life bias encounters to raise awareness about people's implicit biases.
Am I Implicitly Biased?
Unfortunately, we all are biased to some degree, and these biases stem from stereotypes learned in our culture. These biases, whether consciously endorsed or not, have a cumulative effect and contribute to the lack of diversity in academia. Fair Play draws from research in the field of game studies and implicit bias to create an immersive experience where players can see the impact of implicit bias, in an academic setting, first hand. What implicit biases do people have? How do they affect one's academic career? If a person exhibits a racial bias, do I address it or ignore it? These are the kinds of questions at the heart of Fair Play.
Content of the Game
Throughout the game there are instances that exemplify several kinds of racial biases (e.g. microaggressions, color blind racial attitudes), to which the player is given a list of responses. The player must identify the biases while trying to improve relationships with the game's characters to succeed in his academic career.
In-Game Screenshots
