Speak Up

Speak Up mini-game
Speak Up is a game that addresses the many emotional and psychological barriers that may prevent children from disclosing abuse to their trusted adults. It is a puzzle-based platform game, designed for side-by-side play (two people at one computer keyboard) so that the player can play it with one of hisher trusted adults. In the classroom, two children can play the game together.

Each level represents a scenario where an alien child has been sexually abused. The game begins with an intro, in which the player sees an alien child and some alien adults talking. At the end of the intro, an “invisible wall” builds between the aliens, representing the psychological barrier that prevents the alien child from disclosing a “need to tell” situation. The aim of the game is for the player to break down this wall. The wall is broken down brick by brick, by matching an object with its matching star. When they are picked up, objects explain what the alien child is thinking or feeling, and stars give advice on how to deal with these thoughts or feelings. The child player collects the objects while the adult player collects the stars.

In addition, the trusted adult has special powers they can use to help the child solve the level. These are introduced gradually through the levels. The abilities are:

Key concepts in this minigame

Barriers to Telling

In order to break down the barriers to telling, the player character and their trusted adult must match an object that explains how the alien child in the scenario is thinking or feeling with its corresponding star that gives advice on how to deal with these thoughts and feelings. More >>

Offender Tactics

Each level is based on a sexual abuse scenario where the offender has used one or more offender tactics. More >>

Private Body Parts

Each level is based on a sexual abuse scenario. Most of these scenarios will make some mention of the term “private parts”. More >>

Tell & Keep on Telling

At the end of each level, the alien child tells their trusted adults about the “need to tell” situation. Several scenarios explain that if a trusted adult does not believe them or does not keep them safe then they need to keep on telling until someone keeps them safe. In one of the scenarios, the alien child calls the Kids Helpline for assistance. More >>

The Body Rules

Each level is based on a sexual abuse scenario where an offender has broken the body rules. More >>

Trusted Adults

Each level requires the child character and their trusted adult character to work together to finish the level. The trusted adult character has special abilities required to complete the level. More >>

Played in these chapters

Chapter 3: Understanding

Tau gives the player character and their trusted adult a computer game that was found discarded in the cargo bay. Together, the player character and their trusted adult discover that the Speak Up game is made for a child to play alongside their trusted adult. Several levels are played. The player character and their trusted adult give the Speak Up game to Sammy to play.

Chapter 4: Belief

Sammy has been playing the Speak Up game and asks the player character to play it too so that they can talk about it.