Tune
Journalism Game
Creative Direction
Making in process
→ Royal College of Art
War continues to reoccur, with global coverage often focusing on its human toll. Yet, one aspect remains largely overlooked: the deaths of non-human beings in war. This neglect reflects the anthropocentric narrative that dominates our understanding of conflict. Have we truly grasped the essence of war beyond our species? Do we fully comprehend its far-reaching impact that extends beyond humanity?
“Tune” is a data-driven, interactive web-based game that highlights the often-overlooked impact of conflict zones on wildlife. While most narratives center on human suffering, “Tune” shifts the focus to the silent victims—the animals inhabiting these areas. By blending real data, immersive sound design, and dynamic visuals, the project seeks to broaden awareness and foster empathy through an engaging, interactive experience.
At its heart, “Tune” embodies the idea of “seeing the unseen and hearing the unheard.” Its interactive mechanics not only inform but also guide players on an emotional journey, encouraging them to uncover and connect with the untold stories of animals affected by conflict.
Seeing the unseen, hearing the unheard
Data with narrative
“Tune” combines real-world data with storytelling to reveal the often-overlooked impact of conflict on wildlife. By transforming abstract data into engaging, interactive narratives, the project fosters a deeper emotional and empathetic understanding of the untold stories of animals in war zones.
Key insights were gathered through interviews with scholars and experts in animal ethics and the ecological impact of war. These discussions shaped the narrative direction of “Tune,” leading to a pivotal breakthrough: representing the data as a “fog of war.” This dynamic metaphor captures the obscured and fragmented realities of war’s effects on animals, becoming central to the storytelling approach and highlighting the hidden consequences of conflict.
Light as awareness
In “Tune,” players guide a light source to illuminate hidden events and stories. Light serves as a metaphor for awareness, revealing traces of animals affected by conflict—narratives often overshadowed by human-centric perspectives. By illuminating these stories, players make the invisible visible, actively confronting overlooked impacts of war on the natural world. Please bear in mind this project is in a prototype stage.
Tuning as Deep Listening
The game’s audio mechanics invite players to tune sound frequencies, filtering out loud, dominant noises to uncover subtle, often unheard sounds of animals in distress. This act of deep listening mirrors empathetic engagement, encouraging players to focus on marginalized voices lost in the noise of conflict. It transforms listening into a reflective and participatory act, fostering a connection to unseen consequences.
Uncovering Hidden Truths
By combining light and sound, “Tune” takes players on a journey of discovery. As they adjust light and audio, fragmented stories emerge, gradually unveiling hidden realities. This interactive process turns players into active participants, piecing together silenced narratives and reflecting on the broader impact of war on the natural world.
Development
“Tune” is currently in the research and prototyping stage, focusing on exploring and refining light and sound mechanics. Engaging in dialogue with scholars, activists, and artists who specialize in animals in conflict zones is central to this phase. These conversations provide critical insights, ensuring the experience resonates deeply and meaningfully.
The project also prioritizes gathering first-hand narratives from individuals who have directly interacted with or cared for animals affected by war. These interviews offer unique perspectives, bridging quantitative data with lived experiences to enrich the game’s emotional and narrative depth. By integrating both objective data and personal accounts, “Tune” aims to create a balanced and impactful exploration of non-human experiences in conflict zones.
Process record
The entire process is being documented in a book format, capturing each stage of development and insight.
Current Update
This project is still in the process of making and developing. You can follow the updates here.
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