As part of a summer coding program run by Girls Who Code, two young ladies have developed a game to help destigmatize menstruation. Young girls and even adults are often embarrassed to talk about this normal bodily function, so a game about it might help the discussion flow. Unfortunately, the game itself could use some padding.
I like the idea a lot. Some people still believe that women on their period are unclean, and plenty of men are unwilling to buy feminine hygiene products for their girlfriends or wives – as if the checkout lady is going to think he’s having some strange medical issue. It’s a cool topic to tackle, I just hope someone jumps on board and helps make the game something better.
Tampon Run is a simple, 8-bit game in which a girl must collect boxes of tampons as projectiles to defeat her enemies, the boys, of course. If she runs out of tampons, it’s game over and the screen goes red. Now, this certainly isn’t the bleeding edge of game design, but the music isn’t terrible and it’s a decent amount of fun for a short time. It’s more about the positive message and the awful puns, I believe.
NeoGAF was convinced this was gross, but I don’t agree. It’s a nice topic for a game, one that girls are often far too embarrassed to talk about, but might be more willing to discuss if things like this were around. It is a normal part of life for women, one that could make games more realistic. Just imagine if Joel had needed to craft something for Ellie in The Last of Us? What a way to make a post-apocalyptic world even more distressing.
Last Updated: September 17, 2014
Nahuel Graziani
September 17, 2014 at 13:40
“Young girls and even adults are often embarrassed to talk about this normal bodily function, so a game about it might help the discussion flow.”
I see what you did there.
Jedi Consular Kromas
September 17, 2014 at 13:44
yet you missed “… certainly isn’t the bleeding edge of game design,…”
🙂
Hammersteyn
September 17, 2014 at 13:42
“An organization trying to close the gender gap in tech” by throwing tampons at boys.
Jedi Consular Kromas
September 17, 2014 at 13:44
Don’t forget … we have South Park. 😛
Unavengedavo
September 17, 2014 at 13:42
Aunt Flo? O_o
Hammersteyn
September 17, 2014 at 13:44
Bloody hell that’s the best explanation ever. Period!
Her Highness the Hipster
September 17, 2014 at 13:49
holy crap. traumatic… but true.
Hammersteyn
September 17, 2014 at 13:45
The streets are a bit dull, Could have done with a red robot or two.
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
September 17, 2014 at 13:45
Well done to the developers. It’s just ridiculous that we live in a world where something like this had to be made.
Admiral Chief Assassin
September 17, 2014 at 13:49
Needs some padding eh?
Hammersteyn
September 17, 2014 at 13:52
hurhurhur!
Grant [_G_] Hancock
September 17, 2014 at 13:52
The music is Beethoven just by the way
Hammersteyn
September 17, 2014 at 13:53
Music sure has regressed through the centuries
Brady miaau
September 17, 2014 at 14:48
Beethoven is quite simply my fauvorite composer, modern or otherwise.
I love the sonata’s, the symphonies. A lot of power and emotion in the music
BacchusZA
September 17, 2014 at 15:25
“I like these calm little moments before the storm. It reminds me of
Beethoven. Can you hear it? It’s like when you put your head to the
grass and you can hear the growin’ and you can hear the insects. Do you
like Beethoven?”
Awesome quote from one the most awesome characters in one of the most awesome movies EVAH!
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
September 17, 2014 at 13:56
The puns in the article were AMAZING lol
Gerhard Davids
September 17, 2014 at 13:56
This article Zoe… *Slow clap*
RinceThis
September 17, 2014 at 14:01
NeoGaf make more gaffs than Kotaku so wouldn’t worry about what they have to say.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
September 17, 2014 at 14:02
“Some people still believe that women on their period are unclean…”
read as
“Some outdated ideological perspectives still decree that women on their period are unclean…”
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 17, 2014 at 14:05
I thought it was going to be a Temple Run clone.
HvR
September 17, 2014 at 14:15
And now to undo their hard work:
RinceThis
September 17, 2014 at 14:24
I bet Zoe loved writing this! Tehehe.