Games are usually seen as entertainment, but what if they could challenge how we view our world? *Echoes of the Llaima* is a system, a game, a puzzle. It's a digital twin of a community, but its logic defies easy understanding. Players must navigate a web of interconnected, almost illogical rules, inspired by Chilean folklore and surrealist art, to achieve communal well-being, instead you are forced to redefine progress itself.
The world is one of interconnected rural communities, nestled among the foothills of the Andes. Resource scarcity is a constant reality, but tradition and a deep connection to the land persist. A quiet technological revolution has provided access to open-source digital tools, but their adoption is uneven, creating a unique blend of ancient wisdom and nascent digital literacy. Collective well-being holds higher value than individual material gain.
This project prompts reflection on our current economic and development models. It is a reminder that we should scrutinize “growth” that are based on financial metrics. It asks: Can seemingly illogical systems reveal deeper truths about community and well-being? What trajectories we are actually on?
Inspired by surrealism, digital art, and the symbolic richness of festivals, Ríos draws upon Chilean folklore and pan-Andean cosmologies. These influences manifest as abstracted symbols within the game's intricate rule sets. Starting with theoretical research into systems thinking, Ríos develops conceptual maps, translating them into a simulated environment using visual coding. The project is a high-risk, high-reward exploration, deconstructing game mechanics and meticulously refining the rules for consistency within its redefined means for “success”.
More about Ríos_11525
2024: AI-driven game asset generation becomes widely accessible.
2025: Open-source digital twin technology gains traction in community planning.
2026: Backlash against algorithmic homogeneity in mainstream gaming begins.
2027: Increased focus on 'well-being' metrics alongside traditional economic indicators.
2028: Rural communities start developing local digital twins based on alternative economies.
Ríos_11525 considered the following imagined future scenarios while working on this project
Ríos_11525 considered the following hypothetical product ideas while working on this project