FMK student impresses in Warsaw: Her play Strawberry Milk raises the topic of mental health
She got valuable advice from top gaming experts. People from the prominent studio CD Projekt Red also appeared at the festival.
Digital Game Theory student at FMK, Katarína Grúliková, took part in the prestigious international Student Games Awards competition in Warsaw last weekend. Her game Strawberry Milk, which deals with the difficult topics of schizophrenia and depression, was played by several dozen visitors. She also received feedback from well-known practitioners.
A horror experience with a profound message
In the play Strawberry Milk, we follow the story of a girl who suffers from schizophrenia and depression while going through a difficult time in her life. "Depression, anxiety, loneliness and schizophrenia only make her situation worse. Gamers, as observers of her story, have an opportunity to save her. It's up to them how they act," Katarína describes her work.
"The play is meant to be relevant to people facing similar problems. It's meant to make them feel like they're not alone in it or find a way of peace in it. It is a horror experience. Depression and other mental disorders are nothing pleasant and it's important to know how people around them may feel," Katarína added. You can check out her game on the game's official website.
Networking with the game's top players
On Friday, a gala event was held with only selected representatives from different studios and universities. "On Saturday, there was afestival where I spent the whole day letting people play my game, listening to their opinions and getting to know other students and creators," said Katarína.
People had the opportunity to play her game and share their opinions. Various workshops and lectures were also held during the festival. "In the afternoon, we had presentations, but they turned into talks. In the evening, there was an award ceremony," she added. She had entered the competition herself. In her own words, she wanted to try her luck.
The main sponsors from the game studios were 11 Bit Studios, Activision - Elsewhere Entertainment, Fool's Theory and Larian Studios. The event was also attended by people who worked or still work for CD Projekt Red - one of the most important game development studios in Poland, behind games such as Cyberpunk 2077 or the Witcher series.
"I talked to people like Artur Ganszyniec, Paweł Miechowski and Jakub Bukała. I met a lot of people from the industry who were extremely nice and helpful," she said.
Photo source: Katarína Grúliková
