Greater Melbourne Area
👋 Hi, I'm Michelle Chen and I'm a Dr. in Video Games 🩺🎮 I co-create video games about mental health 🧠 🎮 Professional Experience - Game developer with 15 years of experience in programming, design, art, and production - Founder of Mental Jam, a platform for sharing lived experiences of mental health struggles through video games co-creation as a form of creative self-expression 🎓 Academic Achievements - PhD in Design at RMIT in Australia - MSc in Video Game Enterprise and Production at Birmingham City University, UK - University Certificate in Psychology, University of Derby, UK - BS Computer Science at De La Salle University - Manila, Philippines 📖 Presented research and games at various prestigious events: - Games for Change Festival - Asia Pacific - Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) - Games Symposium for Oceania and Asia Pacific - Freeplay - ArtsIT - Big Anxiety Festival - PAX Australia - ACMI + RMIT Audience Lab 🏆 Awards and Scholarships - Breakthrough Victoria Fellowship - GameIndustry.biz 100 Future Talent - Xbox Women in Gaming Game Changer - IGDA NextGen Leader & Scholar - Museums Victoria Culture Maker - Finalist, International Student of the Year - Research, Victorian International Education Awards - 7th Winner of Toptal STEM Scholarships for Women - Nominated for Extra Mile Awards: Student of the Year - Student Award winner at the European Women in Games Conference 2017 🌟 Community Involvement - Women in Games Ambassador - Making Space board member - Volunteer at game industry events - Teach kids coding and robotics - Formerly in BAFTA Crew and STEM Ambassadors in the UK 💌 Ask - I'd love to meet with mental health organisations and companies for collaborations, sponsorships, financial support and grants
- Mental Jam is a platform for sharing lived experiences of mental health struggles through video games co-creation as a form of creative self-expression - co-created 5 video games: Counter Attack Therapy, Amour de Soi, Life in Progress, Anyo and Meouch - presented research and video games at Games for Change Festival - Asia Pacific, Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP), Games Symposium for Oceania and Asia Pacific, Freeplay, ArtsIT, Big Anxiety Festival, PAX Australia and ACMI + RMIT Audience Lab - currently pivoting to a social enterprise through RMIT LaunchHub, PressPlay, AnyoneCan, Blackbird Giants and Hex
Worked on personal projects, such as "Le Petit Prince x Mixed Reality", an escape the room game that combines a handcrafted environment with augmented reality and virtual reality. Showcased in Taipei’s Maker Faire 2016 held at the National Taiwan Science and Education Center. Finalist in Taiwan’s 4C Digital Design Awards 2016, and showcased at Digital Taipei 2016 held at Taipei World Trade Center. Link: http://www.purplelilgirl.com/lepetitprince/
- one of the Culture Makers commissioned by Immigration Museum to deliver a workshop and a video game Link: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/whats-on/mini-melbourne/