GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Independent Games Summit: 'Bird': Developing a Game from Both Sides of a Prison Wall
Spencer Bambrick (Composer/Designer, A Sole Proprietorship)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Summits Pass, Indie Games Summit Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Independent Games
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
This session will be a deep dive into the design, development, and social impact of Bird, an interactive documentary about mass incarceration in the U.S. Bird was developed in collaboration with artist and activist Darrell Fair, who has served thirty years of a fifty year sentence in Stateville
Correctional. Bird features hand-drawn artwork and recorded interviews of Darrell and his family, presented as “artifacts” (or memories) that players interact with. These artifacts pull players into the story of his arrest, coerced confession, his treatment in prison and its impact on his loved ones. Attendees will walk away with an inspirational look at the unique and moving development of Bird, practical advice on developing an experimental game design practice, and an understanding of the power that interactive storytelling has to make a lasting impact on players.
Takeaway
Attendees will walk away with an understanding of methods involved in creating documentary games via a case study of Bird. They will explore the ethical importance of creating space in the game industry for firsthand accounts from marginalized communities, and the techniques that support this powerful approach to game design.
Intended Audience
The intended audience for this talk is anyone interested in indie game development, particularly those looking at new narrative formats or social impact games.