Morir de Pie
Video Game Production, Creative Direction
Immensiva Art Residency
2023
Award Winning Project
Summary
This artistic virtual reality project, created during my residency at Immersiva, explores the impact of big tech companies designing "clean technology" spaces as utopian alternatives, exploiting the housing shortage and deepening class divisions. These environments, built for the creative elite, risk reinforcing social hierarchies and eroding human rights, community, and connection to nature. This project invites viewers to question their complicity in this neo-feudal system and challenges them to consider the cost of accepting the comforts offered by these idealized future cities, reclaiming the right to civil disobedience.
With this project I want to awaken in the player a feeling of complicity with the new neofeudal technological system. Quoting Emiliano Zapata "I prefer to die on my feet than live on my knees'', I want to vindicate our right to civil disobedience and embody in the physical record the cost of accepting the rules of the game and enjoying the well-being that these idealized models of the city of the future offer us.
Details
Genre: VR Art Game
Subgenre: Trial-and-error / exploration
Players: single player
Rating: +16
Platforms: Oculus Quest and Quest 2
Release date
December 2023
What I've done
1. Game Vision and Concept Development
2. Story and Worldbuilding
3. Artistic Direction
4. Gameplay Experience Design
5. Development
6. Sound and Music
This is a project done while doing the Immensiiva Art Residence
Gameplay
Kneeling is the most relevant gesture of acceptance, submission and loyalty towards a totalitarian authority.
For this reason I have decided that it will be the backbone of the experience. The player is drawn into the total darkness of the experience, alone and uncomfortable by a screeching sound. On the ground, a ticket attracts attention inviting them to kneel. In doing so, they discover a nice amusement park, an illuminated sign with the message “how far can you go” challenges him to walk the park but only if they stay on their knees.
As an absurd symbol of submission to power, a throne ruled by an avocado awaits us. If the player is able to bring the ticket to the avocado, they will be able to hear the final message.
It is an experience thought at a collective level, where the player will discover other people by kneeling. When they stand up, will find themselves alone, adding to the feeling of desolation. If they decide to remove the headset, they will be able to observe the absurdity of the gesture of seeing others on their knees in the exhibition.
