DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17454295
title: Up The Stairs Project: Research-Based Serious Game to Empower Young Adults with Aphasia – Dataset
title: Up The Stairs Project: Research-Based Serious Game to Empower Young Adults with Aphasia – Dataset

description: External Project Pages

FilmFreeway

Gameplay video with guided narration, full project overview, news & reviews, visuals, creator’s statement and bio:https://filmfreeway.com/Up_The_Stairs

Linktree

To stay updated, explore the game further, connect with the creator, and access additional materials, this “tree” is being built:https://linktr.ee/gAimingHigher

Abstract 

Up The Stairs is a research-based Serious Game designed to empower young adults with aphasia, through educational, self-directed, accessible play. Developed with game engine technology (Unity), it merges a 3D exploratory island with 2D mini-games and audiovisual art and design, integrating evidence-based speech-therapy methods (PACE, Cognitive Speech Therapy; MIT planned) to enhance communication, cognition and confidence. Gameplay progression follows a multilayered “Station System,” aligning location, linguistic theme, communicative function, and alphabetical order (here: Greek Α-Ω). Each Narrative Station integrates functional and outcome-based actions to strengthen language, cognitive and perceptual skills - supported by adaptive difficulty, modular progression and a human-centred, multimodal design, that promotes personalisation, autonomy and long-term engagement through an accessible, ergonomic User Interface with intuitive navigation and feedback. The prototype demonstrates transferability to linguistic, health and educational contexts, paving the way for further development of a Game Mechanics for Empowerment Framework (GaME-F). 

Research Foundation – English Summary

This project is built upon a qualitative research study on Game Mechanics in Serious Games for the Empowerment of Young Adults with Aphasia. The English summary of the research is included as part of this Zenodo record, along with the full bibliography list, the foreword of the original research work, and the front cover (also part of the project) of its book.(The original full text is in Greek. Further documentation can be made available upon request.)

Subsequent Developments (2024–2025)

After the completion of the research phase, a full design document and a functional prototype of Up The Stairs were created in Unity. These developments translate the research insights into a practical, playable form and continue to evolve.

The Project’s Journey: Recent Developments & Recognition

Up The Stairs has been shortlisted as a Nominee in the 2025 Serious Games Competition at the Games and Learning Alliance (GALA) Conference, organised by the Serious Games Society (SGS) in collaboration with Utrecht University, and sponsored by the Centre for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS). The game will be exhibited at the GALA Exhibition on 20 November 2025 as part of the Conference held 19–21 November 2025.(This event unfolds within a broader ecosystem of cross-disciplinary activities in the Netherlands during the same period, including the DiGRA Symposium, the Dutch Game Week Conference (DGWC), and Dutch Game Week (DGW).

In parallel, the project’s gameplay video, created as a hybrid cinematic piece presenting the interactive experience through guided narration, subtitles, and allegorical imagery, received the award for Best Experimental Film (Acting Code Awards) at the 4th International Epidaurus Film Festival (IEFF) 2025. Although originally designed as an interactive experience, the video also raises awareness about aphasia and communication, functioning as an allegorical reflection on recovery and resilience, symbolising the journey of reclaiming agency and connection.

An extended abstract on the game will be included in the GALA 2025 Games Competition & Exhibition Book of Abstracts, an academic publication hosted by the University of Southampton (UK).

Additional Materials & References

Beyond the materials included here, this project has generated a wide range of presentations, design iterations, and audiovisual or written documentation - including builds, journals, development timelines, voice-over scripts, and an additional creator’s note in audio format (MP3) with original music created for accessibility (in Greek). These resources were developed to research, design, build, and present the game in multiple formats in both Greek and English.A detailed list of documentation and deliverables is available upon request.

Current Contents of this Zenodo Record

– English research summary (PDF)– Project description and overview (this page)

(To be updated as the project evolves.)