Virtual Cottage | duandigames.com

Virtual Cottage is a desktop app, developed by the studio DU&I to give players a virtual “comfy place” to rest and be productive without any distractions, and simply features a lopped animation of a character quietly studying in their bedroom.

Is meant to help you get started with your tasks and bring you into the flow state. There is only two buttons that provide music and rain sound to avoid distraction and then the option to put on a timer so you can manage how long you are spent on a task. It was

The purpose of this app reminds me of the idea of “body-doubling” which simply means doing a task in the presence of another person. People with ADHD and other similar behavioural struggles may find body-doubling helpful when they are struggling to complete a task because it provides them with reassurance that they are doing the right things, but it also encourages them to stay focused and committed to the task.

I chose to look into this little game because I thought it was interesting how they used body-doubling and the creation of a virtual “safe space” to help their users manage daily struggles and I wondered how I could implement similar ideas into my own games design because the intention is similar to my own.

As a self-help tool, I think it could have potential in many other areas beyond managing time and focus on personal tasks. I think it could be interesting to use this idea of body-doubling to create games or experiences that teach or guide a player on specific activities such as coping with overwhelm through regulatory methods like deep breathing.