This week, we talked about Transgender games and transgender people in gaming. This was exemplified through the use of the game “Dys4ia” by Anna Anthropy. This game was something I was familiar with, as we played it last semester as well. It tells the story of Anna Anthropy’s struggles with the beginning of her transition, and all of the “bullshit” that came with it. However, this game was designed not to be broad blanketed depiction of transgender, but rather a personal journey, as stated clearly in the beginning of the game by Anthropy. The game was meant to display “just one person’s story”, as a message to other transgender people, saying that you shouldn’t give up on who you truly are, even if it all seems so difficult. While the game does feel quite personal, the broad overarching messages still break through, helping those who may feel uncomfortable in their own skin feel more comfortable in working towards their best lives. One big topic the game covers is the watching eyes of the world around transgender people, making them feel out of place, whether that be through words, looks, or actions. The metaphor Anthropy uses for this is the strange shape trying to fit through the hole in the wall, which is shown at the beginning and end of the game, with the first instance of the shape being impossible to fit through the wall, while the last instance shows the shape flashing and morphing into different forms. Whereas Anthropy once felt like she didn’t fit in, she now is unsure of the future. Deflecting rude comments and dodging the eye of the public was just the beginning, yet the journey ahead becomes much more hopeful as time goes on. It is a beautiful message of finding the beauty within yourself and pursuing your happiness as a transgender person. While this is one person’s story, the gaming world can be quite harsh and stereotypical when it comes to the transgender community. The video we watched early in the semester exemplified this, as developers use the transgender community as the butt of jokes, making offensive depictions in their games or making villainous characters queer or transgender. “Dys4ia” is one game developer’s answer back to all the hate and suppression, calling for a new age of hope for transgender gamers.