[ISEA2018] Paper: Aaron Oldenburg — Heaven and Hellscapes: Exploring Altered Mind States through Procedural Environments

Abstract

Keywords: videogame, neurosciences, spirituality, psychedelic, artgame, simulation, landscape, docugame, dream, abstract

This paper discusses the results of several original digital game design experiments where generative landscapes are created to reference states of consciousness. Their designs take inspiration from hypnagogic states, geographically located psychic trauma and dream-states, unconscious player input, dissociative worlds, and landscapes as autonomous, emotional entities. This series is a work-inprogress that points to future paths in expressive generative
landscape design.

  • Aaron Oldenburg, University of Baltimore Baltimore, USA, is a game designer and new media artist whose primary interest is in game rules as an expressive medium. His video and interactive work has exhibited in festivals and galleries in New York, Johannesburg, São Paulo and Los Angeles, including SIGGRAPH, A MAZE. International Games and Playful Media Festival, and FILE Electronic Language International Festival. His work has been written about in Kill Screen, Baltimore City Paper, and Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

Full text p. 138-142