An Aspie Life - Game

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A young, autistic game developer has showcased his innovative new project at Australia's largest gaming convention, as part of an exhibit putting diversity centre-stage.

Inspired by his experiences living with autism, Bradley Hennessey's experimental game, An Aspie Life allows players to experience life with Asperger's.

In addition to entertainment, Mr Hennessey said the power of video games to enhance empathy with others is undervalued.

"Really, games can do anything," he said.

"It's the player. It gets more emotional because the player is … the one who does it."

While it might be a simple prototype, the Brisbane-based teenager said his game doesn't shy away from the realities of its subject matter.

"The idea here is the game has these autistic mechanics, it tries to recreate it and players can go through the story," he said.

To achieve success players must manage a variety of bars and meters, which oscillate based on the intensity of sound, the conditions of the environment and the people players interact with.

Traditional combat is replaced with speech battles, where players must communicate with dark figures that reflect the inability of autistic individuals to perceive body language.

"Autism is really all about social cues and socialising, so that's the major one that helps get players invested, show them what it's like," said Mr Hennessy.

"There's been many books and movies written about autism and stories about autistic characters, but with those other mediums, they're all linear, so you only ever know as much as what's told to you through those mediums."