POWER PLAY

A 1984-esque experience meant to put you in a place where you do not have the freedom or choice that you think you do.

INTENT

This age of such media regulation and monitoring of data, as well as the curbing of free speech, bares (in my mind) unsettling and uncanny resemblance to the world of George Orwell's 1984.

The intent was also to show the slow progression of restriction, and to stimulate a feeling of helplessness, confusion and perhaps frustration. Ultimately, create an experience that would change the player's perspective and give them a sense of discovery.

REFERENCES

Dys4ia

Limitations, the perspective of a transwoman, metaphors and reality, force

48 Laws of Power

How power is asserted, Influencing others, establishing power

LIM

Changing to fit in, Ostracization, Fear

The Boat

Compelling narrative, Interactivity to create connection, empathy

Hypnospace Outlaw

Monitoring others, Control and policing- however lighthearted

1984

Totaliarism, Freedom of Expression, Fear of high power, Glorifying powerful bodies

EXPERIENCE

Power Play begins with a blindfolded experience where you are guided through a room with only a recording to lead you through the landscape.

You are thrust into a world before Liaj, the country you are part of now. This is a scary, uncertain, and unknown place but Liaj is here to help you. This creates a dependence on Liaj and establishes its importance and power over you.

INTENDED OVERALL EXPERIENCE:

Content, still 'in control'

Unwilling, upset

Taken care of, protected

Don't like your choices

Frustrated, powerless

OPPRESSOR'S POWER INCREASES

This experience was prototyped for a small room in our campus at NID Bangalore and the audio instructions can be confusing at times. Despite this, the experience had the intended effect of transporting the player and giving them more context about the 'new' world and what Liaj should mean to them.

Play the video to hear the audio and see a rough walkthrough!

After players completed the experience, they were given a short prototype version of Liaj to play through on the PC. This prototype was made over 2 hours, so please forgive any glitches! My aspirational view was to create Power Play as a full physically interactive world that players can enter alone or with friends or family.

CLICK TO

ENTER LIAJ

Polite redirecting

Resonable excuse

Limited choice

Being tasked

No Choice

DOING FOR FUN

DOING OUT OF FORCE

Illusion of choice

Polite suggestion

'Technical difficulties'

Outright denial

Pressure and persistence