That Dragon, Cancer hitting Ouya in 2014

Adventure game That Dragon, Cancer--which chronicles personal struggles with childhood cancer--will release exclusively on the Ouya console in 2014, the company announced today.

The game will be self-published by independent developers Ryan Green and Josh Larson. The Ouya team is supporting That Dragon, Cancer with an unspecified round of funding.

"Before Ouya, a self-published game like this would probably never make it to a home console," Ouya said in a statement. "But this story, with its unique art and endearing characters, deserves to come to life in the living room on the best sofa, TV, and sound system in the house--and where friends and family can experience it together.

Green admitted that bringing That Dragon, Cancer to a living room console is a surprising choice given the game's subject matter.

"It is likely not the first place you'd choose to play a dramatic adventure game dealing with the subject of childhood cancer," Green said. "And perhaps for many, this game may be too personal an experience in the presence of others."

"Our hope, however, is that while this may be a personal experience, that it will be a shared experience."

According to Green, talking with groups about topics like childhood cancer can be challenging, but ultimately is a rewarding experience.

"We're finding that when you share your heart with people, they want to share their heart with you, even in the middle of a loud convention-center floor," Green said. "That's what we want to do. We want to create a safe space for people to talk about hard things."

That Dragon, Cancer tells the story of Green's real-world life. His son, 4-year-old Joel, has cancer and is currently fighting his eighth tumor. The game will chronicle their struggle and will touch on the trials of the experience, as well as the lighter, more hopeful moments.

"That Dragon, Cancer will have moments of despair, but I will never leave the player there," Green said. "Our journey has been characterized by hope and many small miracles, a community of faith and a set of amazing physicians. And even in the event we lose him, our desire is that our hope remains."

Green and his wife Amy also wrote an illustrated book--He's Not Dead Yet--based on the struggle Joel and his family are currently going through.