when we were, a virtual reality video game, investigates perspectives and memories. Through exploration, players piece together the relationship between two sisters, Amy and May, as they return to pack up their childhood bedroom. In the process of packing, the player will recall moments in the lives these sisters shared and experience the differences in Amy’s and May’s memories.
Interacting with objects in the room prompts memories of the past to play out as vignettes. The bare bones room contrasts with the warm full version of the room remembered by Amy and May. The sisters add in their thoughts about the moment, and the same object can evoke two different reactions.
As people, we are a collective of memories, and what we remember can influence our identity as individuals. My work aims to explore our interactions and the subjective truth around memory: how we might connect with others and what our perceptions of those shared experiences may be, preserved imperfectly in our minds. Like most things, there are multiple sides to every story.
By using virtual reality to allow players to see both characters’ perspectives and to experience tactile associative memories, the player will ultimately shape their own thoughts on the relationship between Amy and May based on the memories of their lives together.
when we were © 2021
when we were © 2021
when we were © 2021
Done with Unity, Blender and C# for the HTC Vive
Exhibition at the William Benton Museums of Art (March - April 2021)
Online exhibition at Digital Media and Design at UConn Spring 2021
© 2021