From Darkness Releases its Alpha Version

From Darkness Releases its Alpha Version

It was announced by the Austrian artist group, gold extra, the first release of their documentary single-player experience: From Darkness (0.6 – Alpha).

From Darkness takes you straight to the streets of the metropolis Nairobi. The capital of Kenya becomes the starting point of a compelling investigation exploring the lives of journalists, shop owners, community workers, and urban refugees.

Check out the trailer of From Darkness, featuring some gameplay footage:

“Players experience these real stories through a fictitious character: a mother, searching for her missing daughter who worked in this region for many years. Through her eyes we can interact with street children, politicians, doctors, NGO workers, restaurant owners, and refugees, who share their insights in interactive interviews.

This exciting interactive journey is produced by the Austrian artist group, gold extra, who are widely recognised for their documentary games and installations, such as FRONTIERS, TOTEM’S SOUND, SOLE CITY, and for various works in European museums.

FROM DARKNESS is based on extensive research in Kenya and Uganda, conducted in close co-operation with African NGOs and many dozens of interviewees. With their help, the artists gathered over 60 hours of interview and video footage, producing an intense interactive documentary experience. The innovative, hauntingly beautiful, multi-layered visual concept mirrors the idea of uncovering various layers of information. It is based on collage techniques, combining original video footage, pictures, and sound into a multi-dimensional environment.

The subjects of this project are the ongoing “resource wars” in Eastern and Central Africa; the current circumstances of urban refugees; and stories of daily life from local communities and groups of refugees. For the latter a special light was put on the Banyamulenge, a Congolese people who have been brutally displaced and are coping with the challenges of exile.

Interactive documentaries are a significant new medium within the genre of transmedia storytelling. FROM DARKNESS opens up new perspectives and creates a walkable piece of art. Viewers and players can explore and uncover layers of stories, memories, political contexts and dreams. A short version of the game is currently on display at the ZKM Karlsruhe in Germany (full-length presentation: January 6^th, 2017) and the Nam June Paik Center Seoul in South Korea.

Team

gold extra is an artist group based in Salzburg and Vienna, Austria. The artists produce works in and in-between Fine Arts, Gaming, Performance, Music, and Hybrid Media. Festivals and exhibitions: ZKM Karlsruhe (Germany), Nam June Paik Center (South Korea), Art Moscow (Russia), Games For Change (USA), Ars Electronica Nightline (Austria), and many more.”

For more information on From Darkness and to download the alpha version, visit its official website.