Mission statement
Above all, Inspiratio Studio’s goal is to maximize our positive, societal impact, given our limited means. We believe that levels of effectiveness matter and that good intentions, while commendable and necessary, are insufficient conditions to pursue change effectively. As such, our core principles share key tenets of the effective altruist movement.
The perhaps somewhat counterintuitive approach of selecting video games as our platform of choice becomes clearer when considering the complementary qualities of games and academia: Scientific papers for instance are aptly suited for rigorously laying out nuanced arguments in great depth. Likewise, games frequently excel at īnspīrō – sparking emotions in audiences and having the player take center stage.
Either method taken individually presents challenges: Where modern media techniques can be used to overdramatize and distort information, affectless ratiō runs the risk of falling short of exhaustively representing the spectrum of what genuine, lived experiences can entail: A paragraph of a scholarly article, as well-crafted as it may be, is inherently limited in its expression by the boundaries of the medium.
Striving to combine the best of both worlds, the serious games genre – defined as games that deliberately go beyond pure entertainment – thus became the preferred approach for widening our social influence. We believe that rationality and emotionality must not stand in juxtaposition, but describe different levels of information processing, which can and should elevate each other. Meanwhile interactive media as a whole continues to become more personalizable and life-like every year (AI-driven NPCs, advanced P2P interactions, photorealistic graphics, …), thereby allowing serious games’ to tailor messages even more effectively to individual players.
Utilizing this powerful toolset to create equally educational and engaging experiences – by responsibly stimulating both (com)passion and intellect – is what Inspiratio Studio is all about.
Traditional media never limited itself to pure amusement, but encompassed momentous speeches, political pamphlets and scandalous documentaries. In a similar vein, we are convinced that games, as a leading mass medium today, must not confine itself to any domain either.
Ultimately, we support an evidence-based, consistent and radical approach, where our ideals are present throughout the whole development pipeline, from the topics chosen, to the design decisions employed, and the services utilized. It is our greatest hope that we can act as social multipliers for worthwhile causes, by raising awareness, changing skeptical minds, and inspiring others to do the same.
We welcome you to critique, challenge, and join us on this journey.