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This is a fun game that focuses on a topic rarely explored in games: sex education and the history of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is one of several games in a series that I have developed, integrating Queer Studies with game-making. The game is a video game that uses innovative mechanisms to capture the complexity of finding love, dealing with loneliness, and avoiding infection from viruses and bacteria.

Despite the serious subject matter, the game maintains a cheerful mood that contrasts with the often somber imagery associated with STIs. This cheerfulness stems from the knowledge that dedicated activists and scientists are working tirelessly to combat these viruses, and that significant progress has been made since the onset of the HIV pandemic in the 1980s.

The game was created using JavaScript, and the process of making the game involved describing it with code. Additionally, the game is part of my effort to create generative-art-based games, with all graphics generated through code and the use of emojis.

The game focuses on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as other common STIs that can interfere with finding love and dealing with loneliness. As a gay man from a younger generation, I made this game to learn more about the history of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which devastated the gay community and others. The game is also infused with my hope that, with the advancement of science, we will one day be able to clear the virus from infected bodies and free people living with the virus from stigmatization.

The game progresses as the years progress. The goal of the game is to live until you are 81 years old, which is the life expectancy in some parts of the world, without succumbing to infection or loneliness.

You can think of the game as swimming in the river of life. You must keep moving while dealing with various obstacles that come your way. As you move towards your destiny, you will encounter people who have already completed their journeys...

The goal of the game is to celebrate the progress we have made so far, highlighting the role of science and activism. Although the game deals with a serious topic, I want players to feel cheerful. We can live fulfilling lives while scientifically combating viruses and bacteria.

Although the HIV/AIDS pandemic has been represented in Queer Cinema, it is rarely represented in games. As a game maker who integrates game-making with Queer Studies, it is time for me to take the history and science of the HIV/AIDS pandemic seriously. This game matters to everyone because avoiding conversations about HIV and taking chances will not protect you from infection. However, having frank conversations about it and taking scientific measures to prevent infection can save you from future suffering. By featuring viruses and bacteria, I want to emphasize that the fight against them should be medical and scientific, rather than against the people who carry them.

I created this game because HIV and other STIs frustrate me in my journey of finding love and dealing with loneliness. The HIV pandemic is very personal to me, and getting tested for HIV is likely a common experience for gay men, like myself.

Fantastic STIs 18 to 81 (2022) is a game about sex education, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and other STIs, which are topics rarely discussed in games. I created this game because HIV and other STIs have devastated the gay community and beyond since their onset in the 1980s, and have frustrated me in my journey of finding love and dealing with loneliness. The goal of the game is to celebrate the progress we have made so far, highlighting the role of science and activism. Although the game deals with a serious topic, I want players to feel cheerful while playing it. I hope that with the advancement of science, we will one day be able to clear the virus from infected bodies and free people living with the virus from stigmatization.

Free again is where a cat-faced snake takes on the role of a storyteller. Snake seems like an unlikely candidate to undertake a mission to discuss the human sexuality spectrum in relation to the definition of a manly man and the four stages of a young man's life. The basic game mechanic is similar to the classic Snake game; however, it’s also completely transformed and expanded. The cat-faced snake is fast. It can hit itself or the wall and die. Now, the food comes in five different colors and has two shapes carved inside. An abundance of food is scattered around the scene. Unlike the traditional Snake game, the goal is to survive longer; the goal of the Sexuality Spectrum Snake is to collect a specific amount of each type of food. The level's meaning determines the exact amount needed for each category. Sometimes, food is the snake’s enemy because eating too much of a particular type might force the snake to vomit it up.

Thanks for the kind words!

I'm looking forward to seeing more interesting videos from you!

It's a well-made game. I feel like I had a long journey after finishing the game. It's a usual story.

thank you for playing and liking!

Hey! I want to leave a comment again. It's a lovely game. Your game from rainbowjam2017 was one of the most memorable games for me.

imaginative! cute! a seaside kindergarten! simply wonderful!

thanks for playing!

Thanks for letting me know!!

Thanks!

Thanks for liking!

thanks for liking the effect

I like your game too!

I like the process of looking for stories in a simple but delightful place.

I like that the character can move with ease instead of walking.

After finding five stories, I kept wondering, "Where is the last one?" And it's nice that I finally found the last one and completed the game :)

thank you!

I like your game too!

Tip!

Tip!

Tip!

You can give them 🙅🙅‍♂️ some objects, such as 🌼🌻🌹 to see if they change their minds.

I'm gald to know that you enjoyed playing the game.

I also enjoyed playing your game. It's a special experience. The aesthetics feel transparent, light, and delightful. The black and the green go so well together.

The music is also good. It feels emotional and sober at the same time.
I'm glad that you joined the jam and created a gem :)

meticulous. details are perfect.

I like that it's falling together as opposed to rising together. Rising feels very mainstream. As I figured that my life will rely on the gay/queer subculture, I have a feeling that life is about falling instead of rising. The deeper you fall, the closer you are to your true companions. 

the cutest

It feels good to be in the game. I got the message from the game mechanism that you have to keep making the request multiple times to get them involved.

I also reached the two endings. Such a special game. Does having a heart make us stronger or weaker?

It's definitely a soulful game.

It's well made. congrats! beautiful messages!

your game and and the other submission https://patricemp.itch.io/pieces made me think hard about "Does strength really come from the heart?"

I enjoyed the game a lot. It put me into a state of flow. There is little distraction. The message is valuable.

I enjoyed the game a lot. It put me into a state of flow. There is little distraction. The message is valuable.

so well made. congrats! beautiful messages!

your game and and the other submission https://patricemp.itch.io/pieces made me really think hard about "does strength really come from the heart?"

edit: and your usernames are also cute

So hard, but it's a thrilling game mechanism.

I also reached the two endings. Such a special game. Does having a heart make us stronger or weaker?

It's definitely a soulful game.

the cutest

The game mechanism is special.

This is wonderful. beautiful conversations and beautiful scenes

It feels good to be in the game. And I got the message from the game mechanism that you have to keep making the request multiple times to get them involved.

love the color.

cool buildings

the art is so good

omg

so cute