ABOUT
Overview
“Under the Code” is an interactive visual novel game designed to explore the growing dependence on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on human decision-making. The installation requires a monitor displaying the game, a keyboard and mouse for user interaction, and speakers for immersive background music and sound effects. As the visitors make progress in the game–making decisions, solving puzzles and completing tasks–they slowly realize their choices were already subtly influenced and controlled by the game which represents artificial intelligence. This unsettling experience reflects the illusion of free will and emphasizes the themes of manipulation and loss of autonomy. The installation encourages visitors to reflect their personal experiences and reliance on technology and to question the potential risks of a heavily AI-driven world.
Why
This project is inspired by society’s increasing dependence on technology and artificial intelligence (AI), which often leads to a loss of autonomy. To reflect this main theme, the game is based on a cyberpunk aesthetic— a genre known for its dystopian portrayal of technological overreach and human-machine entanglement. Structurally, it draws from interactive storytelling games such as The Stanley Parable, VA-11 Hall-A, and Doki Doki Literature Club, where player choices influence the narrative, reinforcing the theme of agency in a world controlled by technology.
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The game’s visual design is influenced by Cyberpunk 2077, VA-11 Hall-A, and Nam June Paik. Cyberpunk 2077 and VA-11 Hall-A shape the character and background design, immersing players in a neon-lit, dystopian world that mirrors society’s growing reliance on technology. Nam June Paik’s glitch installations inspired the game’s use of glitch effects, symbolizing digital distortion and the fragility of perceived reality. These visual elements work together to create an unsettling yet engaging experience, reinforcing the game’s main theme.
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This project explores an ongoing social issue, encouraging players to critically examine their relationship with technology and AI. Rather portraying technology as toxic, it highlights the risks of manipulation and complacency, encouraging players to seek a balanced and mindful approach to digital dependence. By combining interactive storytelling, cyberpunk aesthetics, and glitch-based visual disruptions, the game creates an immersive and thought-provoking experience that challenges players’ perceptions of control in an AI-driven world.
How
As the project is a visual novel game, I decided to use Ren’Py which is a free software game engine customized for building visual novel games. For character and background designs, I will be using Adobe Creative Suite to create pixel arts. For the audio and sound effects, I will be using background music from Rengoku Teien which is a copyright free music source.
For using Ren’Py, I have utilized the following tutorials and documentations: