Aaron Oldenburg

Factsheet

Developer:
Aaron Oldenburg
Based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Release date:
Fall 2019

Platforms:
PC / Mac

Website:
http://home.ubalt.edu/aoldenburg/DesertMothers

Regular Price:

Description

Desert Mothers is a game where players begin in the same procedurally-generated desert environment, but that begins to diverge for each player as their local landscape changes based on the player's actions. The environmental AI is observing the player and responds "emotionally" to their actions through weather and other changes. The constraints within which the players interact are discovered during play, and revolve around the body, breath, drawing, and out-of-body exploration.

History

The game was begun in January 2017 and has a planned release for fall 2019. This is part of a series of games where I explore mechanics and generative landscapes inspired by altered states of consciousness. It follows a sub-series of games inspired by internal "worlds" induced by the atypical psychedelic Salvia Divinorum as well as a game that attempts to mimic a hypnagogic state. Desert Mothers is partly inspired by the dynamics of group meditation and psychedelic experiences like ayahuasca ceremonies. Though not a religious game, the name is inspired by early Christian ascetics who lived isolated lives in the desert, having spiritual experiences.

Features

• Meditate, draw, breathe, and watch the environment change in response
• Listen to an abstracted audioscape
• Play the game with others online or solo, in virtual reality (Oculus Rift or GearVR), or with a gamepad if you don't have VR
• Explore abandoned structures or view the perspective of the world from nearby flora and fauna
• Communicate gesturally with other players

Desert Mothers Credits

Aaron Oldenburg
Everything

Contact

Aaron Oldenburg
aaron.oldenburg@gmail.com