- Call of the Wild
A virtual and physical game about the politics of human activities in a post-anthropogenic era, Call of the Wild explores the shifting concept from Ego, Eco, and ultimately to Seva, responding to the planthropocenic politics through constant reversion of spectatorship of avatars. From the AR gaming design to its interactive projection onto the Gowanus area, gamification becomes a powerful agency of engagement that subverts the traditional energy-consuming and ecologically devastating gaming industry into a sustainable proposal.
The arena itself serves as a metaphorical compost bin, symbolizing the transformation of human activities into a habitation enabler that fosters a symbiotic Seva relationship between local ecology and human endeavors. This process prioritizes existing habitat systems and allows for unexpected growth and development over time. For instance, land and sky habitat restoration will utilize composting and the Miyawaki method to rapidly grow pocket forests, even in small spaces. Within three years, these forests will become self-sustaining. Similarly, shore and water habitat restoration techniques, such as oyster reef and wetland restoration, will purify the canal, create a wildlife-friendly environment, and provide community spaces along the shoreline.
In addition to the physical transformation of the arena, there is a commitment to fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship. Through the creation of a connective green corridor for flora nursery and fauna preservation, the gamified arena site extends its reach to the larger Gowanus neighborhood, encouraging all-community involvement in observation and conservation efforts.
The hybrid mixed-reality game, equipped with a smart platform featuring interdependent feedback systems, empowers residents to visualize and compare canal pollution with the carbon emissions of the gaming industry, promoting a deeper understanding of environmental challenges and encouraging sustainable practices.
Overall, the project acts as a platform for unforeseen growth and presents an alternative perspective on the gaming industry, standing as a critique of the modern addiction to entertainment, which frequently results in the depletion of natural resources.
Team: Xingyao Wang, Lulin He, Xinyue Geng