Big Huggin'

{{Infobox video game

|image =

|caption =

|developer = Critical Gameplay

|publisher = Critical Gameplay

|designer = Lindsay Grace

|composer = Lindsay Grace

|series =

|platforms = Windows

|release = 2011

|genre = Affective videogames

|modes = Single-player

}}

Big Huggin' is an affective video game developed by Critical Gameplay in 2013. It was created by Lindsay Grace.{{cite web|url=http://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/grace.cfm|publisher=American University Washington DC|title=Lindsay Grace|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403140102/http://www.american.edu/soc/faculty/grace.cfm|url-status=dead}} It has been shown in exhibits in the United States, Mexico, France, and Brazil.{{Cite web|url=http://gameartshow.siggraph.org/gas/big-huggin/|title = Big Huggin | the Aesthetics of Gameplay}}{{Cite web |title=Independent Games Festival |url=http://www.igf.com/php-bin/entry2013.php?id=559 |website=igf.com}}

Gameplay

Its design is based on Critical Design, and in contrast to classic video games, it is not controlled by mouse or keyboard, but rather the controls of the game are based on hugs made to a 30-inch custom teddy bear.

Development

Big Huggin' was created in 2012 by Lindsay Grace, and its promotion continue in different cities and countries.{{Cite web |date=2013-01-24 |title=The game that asks you to hug a real-world teddy bear is here. It is proof that the world is not awful. |url=https://www.killscreen.com/big-huggin-absolute-proof-world-not-awful/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Killscreen |language=en}}

=Kickstarter campaign=

Lindsay Grace launched a Kickstarter campaign on January 15, 2013, in order to raise US$2,500 for the continued promotion and exhibition of the game. A subsequent goal was the subsidized release of the game for children in places where giving hugs is even more valuable than usual. The campaign helped fund the production of bears and the game.{{cite web | title=Giant Bear Hugging Video Game by Lindsay Grace | website=Kickstarter | date=14 February 2013 | url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/969809149/big-huggin-giant-bear-hugging-video-game/description | access-date=6 September 2023}} The campaign was founded on February 14, 2013 and raised US$3,080.{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/969809149/big-huggin-giant-bear-hugging-video-game/updates |title=Video Game Updates|website=kickstarter.com|access-date=6 September 2023}}

Gameplay

Player input is collected by hugging a 30-inch custom teddy bear rather than a video game controller with buttons.{{Cite web|url=http://www.criticalgameplay.com/hugme/|title = Critical Gameplay: Big Huggin' Affection Game|website=criticalgameplay.com}}