Hey Mom, I’m [][][]
A narrative-driven game and interactive installation of a coming-out letter to a mom about the daughter’s queer identity. Reflecting personal experiences growing up in a Chinese-Indonesian family, where acceptance is tolerated if never spoken about, rather than acknowledged.
Ideation
Emphasising the concept of the consequences of choices, inspired by the struggle, awkwardness, anxiety, and disappointment that come with a queer daughter trying to come out to her mom, which is often confronted by avoidance rather than being faced. Told as a video game in which the player takes on the role of the mom as she tries to understand her daughter. Each choice the player makes affects whether or not the daughter decides to open up. With the physical installation of the cupboard as an extension, a symbol of “coming out of the closet.” Each time the player clears a stage in the game, one of the cupboard drawers unlocks, revealing archival objects associated with the daughter’s queer identity.
Video Game Stills
Personal Archival Objects Curating the intention of the experience when looking inside the drawer to remember the daughter the parents lovingly raised is still the same little girl, even if she is queer. And representing how queerness can be all sorts of things, and this is just one of the stories of how a Chinese-Indonesian navigates her queerness through personal archival objects and photos.
“Hey Mom, I’m [][][]” was exhibited for the first time at the UAL: London College of Communication - Design Degree Show 2026 from 3 - 6 June 2026. 35 people played the video game over 4 days, with reviews saying they felt touched, relatable, and inspired.
Video Game: Unity, Pixel Art
Physical Installation: Secondhand cupboard, Arduino IDE, Arduino Uno Board, Servo motor
Archival Objects: Photography, Clothing, Toys, etc
Font: Pixel by Pixel - Anatta
Year
2026
Location
London, United Kingdom
Game Developer: Jamie M [Alias]
Game Designer: Anatta
Assistant Game Designers: பாரதி பரதன் [Bharathi Bharathan] &
Ruby Hagan
Script Writer: Anatta
Script Editor: Grace Lees
Sound Designer: Kyaw Nyi Nyi Linn
Creative Assistant: Chelsea Laylo
Carpenter: Anatta
©Anatta2026