‘Seeking connection’: the video game where players stopped shooting and started talking

Some players of a popular game are valuing “connection over competition”.

💬 “What players are getting from these friendly interactions is more rewarding than any game loot system or victory screen.”

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/apr/15/arc-raiders-players-stopped-shooting-started-talking

#videogames #social #connectedness #media #culture #communication #community #sociology

Today's poem:

Birdsong
- Unknown author

https://www.tumblr.com/ukdamo/813311006951522304/birdsong?source=share

#poetry #prague #JewishMuseum #life #zest #connectedness

If we make sex reasonable
like true choice of saying no in heterosexual relationships
that means that neither depends on sex as an expression of connectedness.
That mean people feel connected to something without sex already
no deprivation in that society
that's when yes is yes will be real

then does marriage and sexual exclusivity still make sense in such a society?

#OnlyYesMeansYes #consensual #reasonability #connectedness #marriage #relationship #partnership

Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection

As boys become men, they become distrustful, lose friendships, and feel isolated and alone.

https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674072428

#masculinity #loneliness #connectedness #teen #manliness #sociology #friendship

Trauma-informed game available now! 🐱

'Open Worlds Play' by Sunny Chen, was the 1st place winning game from the 2024 game design contest about social connectedness (and cats)

▪️ $3
▪️ No Ads
▪️ No Tracking

⭐ Play in your browser at #itchio

Created for middle and high school students to support protective factors against violence

🎮 https://jag.itch.io/owp

#indiegame #indiedev #education #videogames #connectedness #SEL #publichealth #nonprofit #cats @publichealth @gamingagainstv @crecente @stopTDV

💡Location matters less than you think for team cohesion. Connectedness is what actually matters.

Read more in my latest article below 👇

#connectedness #productdevelopment #leadership #worksmarter #teams #feedback #discovery #delivery #agile #goals #people #habits #flow #wayofworking

https://akikoo.medium.com/why-co-location-is-overrated-for-team-connection-0cbb60379f58

📚 New research illustrates how live events foster social connection

"[t]he study also found that the boost in connection wasn't long-lasting—feelings of social connection typically weren't sustained 24 hours after events ended.

🧡 This suggests the need for regular participation in such activities to maintain benefits."

🌐 https://phys.org/news/2025-08-events-foster-social.html

#liveevents #connection #connectedness #socialconnectedness #loneliness #lonelinessCorps
#social #research #publichealth #mentalhealth

🧡 Wondering how to find your tribe?

Play 'Open Worlds Play' by Sunny Chen

An award winning game about social connectedness for teens.

▪️ Free
▪️ No Ads
▪️ No Tracking

⭐ Play in your browser at #gamejolt right now! Created for middle and high school students.

🎮 https://gamejolt.com/games/owp/1016025

#loneliness #connectedness #game @gamingagainstv #findyourpeople #lonelinessCorps
@LonelinessCorps

🎮 Open Worlds Play

An award-winning game about social connectedness designed for middle school age students.

▪️ Free / no ads
▪️ Appropriate for all ages

⭐ Play on a desktop or laptop in your web browser.

🌐 https://gamejolt.com/games/owp/1016025

#socialconnectedness #connectedness #SEL #isolation #community #game #nonprofit #renpy #education #students #communication #prevention #indiegame #publichealth @gamingagainstv

🎉 Available to play now!

'Open Worlds Play' by Sunny Chen, was the 1st place winning game from the 2024 game design contest about social connectedness.

▪️ Free
▪️ No Ads
▪️ No Tracking

⭐ Play in your browser at #gamejolt right now! Created for middle and high school students.

🎮 https://gamejolt.com/games/owp/1016025

#indiegame #indiedev #education #videogames #connectedness #SEL #publichealth #nonprofit @gamingagainstv @stopTDV