When you’re trying to properly teach consent it can be a little difficult to get the point across without using some form of media to help you. The games produced by the nonprofit charity Jennifer Ann’s Group are great for forming an easy, and open, line of communication about consent for kids and young adults.
Today we will be looking at Crossing Boundaries, a game for teenagers that can also be quite resourceful for college-age students. The game takes you through quite a few situations in which you learn about different approaches to many situations and the various ways that consent is important.
Travelling the World
Crossing Boundaries is about three friends who recently graduated from school. To celebrate this they have saved up some money and are going to travel the world together.
The two characters Eva and Alice bring along their friend Joe who doesn’t do a great job of always thinking his decisions through completely. Thanks to Joe, and missing their plane early on, the friends get into quite a bit of trouble on their adventure across the world. The game also incorporates a cute mini-game with some fun mechanics to drive home the themes of consent even more throughout the game.
Even if it’s something like trying to force someone to try a new food, “no means no!”
Consent Applies to Many Situations
My very favorite thing about Crossing Boundaries is that it’s about more than just sexual consent. It dives into the fact that every person has their own will and that no one has a right to try and go against it.
One of the main driving points that popped up in the game is that you can’t make choices for another person’s body. For example, Joe decides on his own to sign his friends up for a perfume testing project that could potentially harm them, because “there weren’t many spots left.” As the game clearly shows, the issue of consent extends beyond the realm of dating and sex to include anything that affects your personal space, will, or body.
The game also has choices you can make for each situation that pops up. There are multiple choices for each situation and it’s up to you to choose how you want to react. This shows that every circumstance has multiple paths you can follow, with multiple positive reactions to choose from. It also shows that standing up to someone may not always be as well received as you hope.
Humans are complicated in their emotions. When they are put into an uncomfortable situation they may not be thinking straight or know how to properly react to someone that’s trying to pressure them. This game shows Joe’s growth and through his growth it shows how positive actions can affect those around you, helping them become better people.
You Can’t Script a Real Situation
I really think Crossing Boundaries helps prove the point that there’s not always one way to react to a situation. Each problem you encounter in life is unique and you will have to react in a way you feel comfortable. The game also makes a point that just because someone doesn’t say no or run away, that isn’t grounds for assuming that they’re okay with a situation. All in all, everyone has a right to decide what they feel comfortable with doing in their life. Even if it’s something like trying to force someone to try a new food: “no means no!”
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Gaming Against Violence is an award-winning program presented by Jennifer Ann's Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity [EIN: 20-4618499].
How to Play Crossing Boundaries
Developed by: Testudo Games
Produced by: Jennifer Ann's Group
Price: Free
Language: English
Age Rating: Rated 12+
More information about Crossing Boundaries
► Get Crossing Boundaries on the iTunes Store
► Crossing Boundaries available at Amazon
► Play Crossing Boundaries in your web browser
► Watch a video game trailer about the consent game Crossing Boundaries
