Redesigning Emotion4Us: A video game for supporting emotional awareness of people with intellectual disabilities

Emotional awareness is crucial for social-emotional growth, as it facilitates self-regulation, enhances social skills, and promotes over- all well-being. However, for people with intellectual disabilities, under- standing and managing emotions can be difficult. Studies show that se- rious video games can help develop these skills, mainly by teaching new concepts while entertainment is a secondary goal, often using gamifica- tion strategies. Although some research highlights their benefits, these games are not explicitly designed to promote emotional awareness. Emo- tion4Us is a serious video game designed to promote emotional aware- ness in individuals with intellectual disabilities, utilizing positive stimuli to reinforce desired behaviors based on self-determination theory and the MDA (Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics) framework. This paper dis- cusses the redesign and shares results from two validation sessions with psychotherapists and special education teachers, focusing on the game’s potential and areas for improvement. We conclude with a discussion of future work and a reflection on the requirements for a successful imple- mentation of the video game.