Game Design to Be Aware of the Dangers of Stalkers

Stalking is a form of harassment that is often portrayed in movies as a matter of love and romance, whether it’s the behavior of a protagonist who follows or secretly observes someone despite being rejected, or standing outside a woman's house singing to express sincere love. However, if viewed from reality, these actions are all violations of personal privacy. The influence of films and media has led people in Thai society, especially among the youth (aged 18-24), to overlook the dangers of such threats. Thailand currently lacks laws regarding stalking, making it impossible to prosecute offenders unless harm has already occurred to the victim. Therefore, the game design to be aware of the dangers of stalkers has been created with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of basic coping methods against the dangers of stalking. This utilizes communication interactive visual novel games and incorporates horror media design theories to shape the artistic elements within the game, allowing players to perceive danger through an uncomfortable and frightening atmosphere characteristic of horror media. Additionally, it employs basic self-defense principles based on the "run-hide-fight" strategies to design various situations and choices within the game.

Key words: Stalking, Visual Novel Game, Run-Hide-Fight