Hello frends. 

This is a devlog about conducting research for a meaningful game about FAKE NEWS, a topic that nobody talks about for a reason. This will be the first of many deep dives into the psyche of a game developer, my process, and my results. Good and bad. To start us of, lets begin with a friendly introduction.

Who: Me. My name is Lucas.

What: An unreleased (and possibly never released) project titled "The Puddle Jumpers Gazette". 

Where: In my imagination

When: Every waking moment of my life.

Why: For funsies!

How: Computer magic

On the first day, he defined the scope of the project (Matthew 31:14)

Having been heavily exposed to the rampant spread of fake news but knowing virtually nothing about it, I began the day by delving into the concept itself as well as its impact on society. I went on twitter (I'm not calling it "X") and did my own little experiment. Every pieces of news I came across, I fact checked. After a few hours, I had noticed that most of the information I absorbed were just straight up LIES. Whether intentional or not, the digital space was infected with CAP. This, however, I already knew. With the research objective of understanding the distribution of fake news, societal consequences, and strategies to combat it, I set off to learn more... tomorrow.

On the second day, he found some sources (Matthew 31:15-16)

I went on the search for reputable academic sources. Yale, Oxford, the Sheridan Library (That last one feels out of place), these three prominent resources introduced me to a world of information. Primarily, "Network Propaganda" by Hal Roberts, Robert Faris, and Yochai Benkler,  "The Misinformation Age" by Cailin O'Connor, James Owen Weatherall, and "Information Disorder" by Claire Wardle and PhD Hossein Derakhshan.

On the third day, he did an In-Depth Analysis (Kien 31:17-18)

On day three, I dived into "Network Propaganda" and explored the influence of media on shaping opinions as well as the need for media literacy among the public. I was able to come out of this with some insight on how extreme news sources mess with the publics mojo. This was able to later inform one of the main pillars of my game being the chain reaction of negative vibes. 

On the fourth day, he slept (Lucas 31:18-19)

This is an honest devlog

On the fifth day, he grinded (Isaac 31:20-24)

My goal for today was to do a deep dive on both "The Misinformation Age" as well as "Information Disorder". In the morning I explored the biases, social dynamics, and behaviors of people and media contributing to misinformation. I specifically learned more about the psychological aspects it. (TL:DR - So this caveman once told this other caveman that there was a big boar across the river, but there was not actually a big boar across the river and he only said that so the other would try and cross the river and would die, reducing competition) After a hearty lunch, I focused on examining the multifaceted challenge of fake news and the need for intervention from big media. Relatively the same information as "Network Propaganda" but focusing more on the social media aspect of combating it. Specifically using algorithms to detect and eliminate it.

On the sixth day, he brainstormed (Joey 31:24-29)

I thought real hard about what I gathered and how I could create an interesting game. The research had to inform the games narrative and mechanics if I wanted to succeed in my goal of making a meaningful and educational experience. I identified potential gameplay elements and eventually decided on combining two of the most important elements. The dissemination and the societal effect. I also wanted to incorporate an educational element but didn't want it to take away from the intended emotional response I was looking for from the players. (dread)

On the eighth day (I took a break), the rubber hit the road (JP 31:30 - 31)

Armed with a solid foundation of research, insights, and other synonyms, I was ready to turn this idea into tangible game elements. I began to focus on designing interactive mechanics that engaged the players in the lifecycle of fake news, emphasizing the miserable and unending battle against it in hopes of entertaining and teachings. 

To close off this devlog, I would like to say that researching things is wildly difficult, especially when the topic you're researching is so vast. Having to sift through years of culminated effort from very smart people makes your brain turn to mush, but in the end, I find myself excited to move forward with the possible development of the game.

If you read this far, thanks. It is 4:11 AM and I am going to take a power nap.