What do you say when you’re worried about a child? The Meldcode Game gives professionals a safe space to practise these difficult conversations. In the 3D simulation, you have a realistic conversation with a virtual character powered by AI. This allows you to practise without a real situation being at stake.

At Into The Great Wide Open, the team tested the prototype with 42 participants. They played the game and shared their experiences afterwards through a survey and interview.

The responses were positive. Participants found the game useful and educational and said the conversation felt realistic. The way the virtual character responded stood out in particular. Participants also took the exercise seriously: some stayed for a long time and even looked up additional information about the Meldcode during or after the game.

The test also showed where there is room for improvement. The character’s facial expressions could be more realistic, and so-called red flags could be handled more clearly in the conversation. The test did not provide a clear answer on whether the game makes participants feel better prepared for a real-life conversation.

The next step is to test the game with a larger group of professionals. The team will also continue developing the game and test it with students. In the longer term, they want to talk to educators and policymakers about how the Meldcode Game could become part of training and education.