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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.
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
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