Torn Apart

A narrative game that sheds light on the loss of culture and legacy due to gentrification.

Playtest our BETA version & give us Feedback!

Please access the playtest instructions and information here.

Torn Apart is a narrative game project developed by the “Home Team” at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center. Our game sheds light on gentrification and its impact on long-standing residential neighborhoods. 

Reflecting the gentrification of Pittsburgh neighborhoods like East Liberty, Torn Apart seeks to authentically portray displacement and give a voice to communities and cultures that are often overlooked. Torn Apart aims to immerse players in the experience of having to pack up belongings and explore spaces filled with memories and history that are about to be lost. After experiencing our game, we hope players leave with greater awareness and the ability to critically observe development in their own neighborhoods. 

Gameplay Teaser

Meet Home Team

Meghna Anil

3D artist & Producer

Kesha Bagadia

Narrative Designer

Vedantika Chaudhary

Producer & Game Designer

Collin Rehemeyer

Programmer & Game Designer

Shuqin Huang

3D artist

Lutong He

3D artist

Advising Faculty

Michael Christel
Teaching Professor, Entertainment Technology CenterCarnegie Mellon University

Heather Kelley
Associate Teaching Professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center

Subject Matter Experts and Interviewees

  • Dan Holland  Director of Research and Policy for the Lower Marshall-Shadeland-Development Initiative
  • Bruce Chan  Senior Director of Urban Design at Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
  • Dr. Tahirah Walker  Assistant Professor at Point Park University
  • Walter Lewis  President and CEO at Homewood Children’s Village
  • Geoff Kauffman  Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University
  • Ricardo Washington  ETC faculty

Special Thanks

Dan Holland 
Director of Research and Policy for the Lower Marshall-Shadeland-Development Initiative

Dr. Tahirah Walker
Assistant Professor at Point Park University 

Homewood Children’s Village 
Youth organization in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania