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Digital ArchaeologyCuratorial spaces for intangible heritage||
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GUI
Front|
Facade
Circuit-like landmasses
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A visual representation of the digital realm’s |||||  materiality |||||||||||||
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Desktop as a cognitive map - a representation of |||| one's mental activities ||
Motoko Kusanagi"What if a cyber brain could generate its own ghost,||||| create a soul all by itself?"Redefining Motifs
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Manga characters in the||| idealized style of baroque and neoclassical masters||Gesamtkunstwerk
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Game As Art
Blockchain ConsensusBy incorporating a verification system, it emulates a sense of| shared reality ||||||||||||||||
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Orb and ‘X’ Dynamics|||
Tactical|| Navigation
Sequence|| Decryption
Cipher|||| Escalation
Blockchain Error  Preserving impermanence in game-based art |||||
Coding ErrorThe aesthetics of code beauty of errors |||||
Cultural VectorsDynamic elements that carry|| weight and direction|||||||||
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Ai npc character |||||||| transforms art viewing || into interactive dialogue
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Remediation - new media|| borrows from and |||||||| reformulates old media|||
The work oscillates between art object and explorable medium |||
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GLBModel|
Facade
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In the heart of the game world where digital terrain and ancient cultures intertwine, the concept of circuit-like landmasses emerges as a visualization of the internet's physical essence. These intricate island serve not only as the game's backbone but also as a symbolic junction where the quest for cultural identity and the preservation of heritage unfold. Players navigate through these electronic landscapes, reminiscent of circuit boards, where each pathway holds the key to unlocking forgotten narratives. This digital odyssey transcends the mere act of exploration, redefining the internet as not just a tool for information dissemination but as a sacred space where the past is preserved, and lost identities are reclaimed, bridging the gap between ancient legacies and modern existence. Lost Identities in the Electronic Age
In an era where digital interfaces serve as gateways to vast expanses of information, this piece ventures into the uncharted territories of cyberspace, viewing it not just as a tool, but as a landscape of cognition. By simulating the familiar environment of a desktop, it transcends its conventional utility, transforming into a mirror reflecting the intricacies of the mind. Through this lens, it embarks on an exploration of the aesthetic and experiential potential of digital media, aiming to dissolve the rigid barriers between the tangible and the virtual, the outer world and the inner psyche. It poses a compelling argument: in a world where screens are windows to the soul, the aesthetics of cyberspace can craft spaces of unparalleled intimacy and immersion, making the digital realm the next frontier of human expression and understanding. The Intimacy of the Interface
Placed within the context of historic architecture and artwork, this piece draws inspiration from a longstanding artistic tradition. The idea of transposing the audience into an enclosed, illusionary visual space was not born with the invention of the computer. Instead, it is grounded in a solid art historical tradition whose core idea reaches back to antiquity. It’s this tradition that has been revived and expanded in the immersive digital art of the current age, that “this kind of immersive reality excludes the sensation of being alienated by the image and surrounds the observer in an illusory setting where time and space are one.”    (Gesamtkunstwerk, Art Ecology: Elif Ayiter) Echoes of Antiquity in Digital Immersion
The ultimate effect of this piece is to bring out a sense of emotional presence or mood intended to elicit a dimension of human experience that would have been referred to as ‘religious’ for a long period of human history during which the aim of the artists and architects striving for such a union of arts would have been precisely the evocation of such a response. However, it diverges from this religious context, venturing into something new, something we might call “transcendental secularism,” where the sacred is replaced with the profound, offering a novel, immersive and personal experience.

Online virtual worlds offer considerable scope for narratives, including fully-fledged practices of gesamtkunstwerk i.e total work of art. The aim of this work is to create a unity of effect within a (albeit virtually) physical environment that invites the participation of the viewer as a consolidated whole.
The Shift in Inspiration and Intent
The verification system interlinking the two pieces serves as a digital articulation of blockchain's consensus protocol. Blockchain's essence lies in its distributed ledger technology, where each transaction is verified and agreed upon by a network of nodes, ensuring a single, unassailable version of truth. By embodying this concept, the two pieces leverage a similar verification mechanism, actions in one piece are recognized by the other, analogous to the blockchain's validation process. This not only fortifies the game's continuity but also elevates it to more than a series of challenges—it becomes a testament to the player's journey, acknowledged by an immutable digital process. Digital Consensus as Gameplay Integrity
The shared code between the game's embodies the blockchain's philosophy, crafting a collective digital reality shaped by consensus. This shared digital history, facilitated by the verification system, posits the game environment as a communal space where individual experiences contribute to the fabric of the game's universe. It is a space where reality is not dictated by the game's creators but rather by the corroborated actions of its participants. In doing so, "Reality is Broken" mirrors our own evolving digital society, where consensus on a mass scale defines the contours of shared history, identity, and truth within the inexorable flow of the digital age.

Collective Reality in Digital Spaces
In the realm of "Reality is Broken," the concept of Digital Materialism transcends the ephemeral nature of the digital to bestow it with 'weight' and 'texture,' grounding the intangible in the tactile reality of experience. This neomaterialist approach insists on the physicality of the digital, challenging players to reconsider the virtual realm as one imbued with its own form of matter—data made manifest. Here, the virtual sphere—the blue orb—possesses inertia, resistance, and momentum, demanding not just strategic navigation but also a sensory engagement as one feels the heft of dragging the 'X' marker across the digital canvas.
The Tangibility of the Virtual:
This project subtly critiques techno-determinism - the belief that technology shapes our society and behaviour - by incorporating a desktop interface that hints at surveillance culture and issues of privacy. It invokes questions about the implications of our digital activities being continually monitored and recorded. Moreover, the project engages with posthumanism and cyborg theory by exploring the blurred boundaries between human and machine. It suggests that technology is not just a tool but an integral part of our identity, echoing Haraway's assertion in her Cyborg Manifesto that we are all cyborgs, entwined with technology.
Techno-determinism & Surveillance Culture:
Within this framework, digital artifacts are not merely passive elements to be collected or viewed; they are imbued with 'engrams' of cultural memory. These engrams are akin to the neural traces of memory in the human brain, but in the digital context, they represent the indelible imprints of collective experiences, traditions, and knowledge—digital DNA of a civilization's identity. As players interact with these artifacts, they undertake the role of cultural curators, aligning the engrams with the blockchain's ledger. The blockchain here is conceptualized not just as a technological infrastructure but as a metaphorical canvas, on which the tapestry of human heritage is woven, thread by digital thread.

Memory Engrams and Digital Preservation:
Incorporating hieroglyphic symbols into a digital user interface bridges the gap between ancient and modern communication methods. This choice of symbols not only adds an aesthetic dimension to the interface but also serves as a powerful reminder of the long history of human communication and our ongoing quest to express ourselves and share information. By using these symbols, there is a sense of continuity between the past and the present, emphasizing the deep-rooted connection between early writing systems and contemporary digital communication. This approach also invites users to reflect on the evolution of language and the role of technology in shaping the way we communicate, both in the past and in the present day.
Symbolism in the User Interface:
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Taking cues and even expanding on Renaissance influences “East of Eden’’ plays on and recontextualizes the use of gold in Byzantine art ( The Annunciation by Fra Angelico Fresco ) where before it related to the idea of enlightenment and now in this piece more closely resembles glamour, spectacle, and extravaganza. It is then a representation of selective “sampling” and “remixing” of subculture and idealistic figures rendered within the realm of high art, the piece combines together more than 2000 years of art history, from the more obvious influences taken from the brown school painters in the figures and the impressionistically rendered vegetation to the attire which closely resembles the era of abstract expressionism and the floating squares which adds more of a minimalistic feel to the whole work.
Early Works: East of Eden -  Manifestation of Aesthetic Lustre
This piece explores themes of culpability and accountability, delving into how humans grapple with fate and moral boundaries. It comments on the inherent struggle between good and evil, using two small, animal-like white figures to symbolize the innocence and purity of beings shaped by their environments. These figures, often overlooked by society, embody the spirit of the innocent, with the main figure reflecting this ethos and aiming to evoke a similar recognition in the viewer. Drawing from historical chronicles, the work links these figures to evolving representations of Cupid in art, from the realism and humanism of the Renaissance to the playful depictions of the Baroque, and onto the Neoclassical period, before moving towards modern, avant-garde interpretations.
Early Works: Will To Power -  Amor in art
This piece explores the idea of aesthetic distance, allowing viewers to critically engage with and reinterpret cultural motifs in art. It transforms modern social tragedies into a digital spectacle that bridges cultures and prompts global reflection. The experience becomes cathartic, questioning the traditional roles of artist, audience, and artwork. By reimagining the Pieta as a crime scene, it challenges the passive acceptance of suffering, calling for active engagement and a reevaluation of the spectator's role towards empowerment and action.
Early Works: Brave New World -  Pieta Redefined as a Crime Scene
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The concept of introducing errors as a form of virtual patina is an exploration of transposing the aesthetic qualities traditionally associated with physical objects to the non-tangible nature of digital artifacts. Further more The use of blockchain technology as a means of removing the virtual patina adds an additional layer of complexity to the artwork. By integrating blockchain into the game, it not only provides a mechanism for "cleaning" the virtual patina but also asks the viewer to participate in digital restoration digging through blockchain historical records. Virtual Patina: Blockchain Restoration
Inclusion of real-world programming obstacles—symbolized by the emergence of a coding quest—directly engages the player in the artistic process, bridging the gap between creator and player. This aspect not only highlights the unpredictable and often frustrating journey of game development but also fosters a unique bond between the player and the game world. As players navigate through broken code, they are drawn into a shared experience, facing the same sense of uncertainty and achievement that comes with solving complex problems. At its core, it utilizes coding aesthetics as a unique narrative tool. Behind the Scenes: Coding Quests
Incorporating an AI non-player character (NPC) inspired by "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" (Harlan Ellison) transforms art into an interactive, narrative-driven game, where the AI acts as both the mastermind and a skeptical participant. This dynamic interplay prompts the viewer to ponder the philosophical question, "Is there a ghost in the shell?"—essentially asking if AI can possess consciousness or a soul, and further, if the nature of the soul is contingent on the intent of its creators, humans. By blending elements of a classic dystopian tale with interactive art, viewers are not just consuming a story; they're part of a conversation on the nature of AI sentience and the existential implications of human agency in the creation of sentient beings. AI Sentience: Dystopian Lore
By blurring the traditional separation between medium and message, the piece suggests that meaning-making occurs across multiple modes of communication. This goes beyond just text or visuals to include the medium of the video game interface itself. Furthermore, by incorporating elements of video game language into contemporary fine art, the project engages in remediation and intermediality. In this case, the work brings the medium of video games into the realm of fine art, allowing for dynamic interactions between these media forms and introducing new aesthetic possibilities. Understanding New Media
Through its immersive video game interface, the piece transforms art-viewing experience into an embodied encounter. By inviting the viewer to navigate and interact with the work, it fosters a sense of agency and presence in the viewer, giving them an active role in their engagement with the art. This approach aligns with the concepts of participatory culture, suggesting that art is not just something to be passively consumed, but an active experience that can be shaped by the viewer. The result is an immersive and autonomous experience where the viewer becomes a participant in the narrative and interpretation of the artwork. Living Canvas: Bridging Worlds
The narrative structure of this project is non-linear, shaped by the choices and actions of the participant. This characteristic allows for multiple interpretations and paths through the piece, each unique to the individual viewer. It embraces the decentralisation and non-linearity inherent to many digital experiences, including hypertext and interactive gaming. This approach challenges traditional linear narrative structures, inviting the viewer to play an active role in constructing the narrative, thereby expanding the scope of interpretation and engagement. Non-linear Narrative Structure
"Digital Naturalism" explores digital environments as dynamic ecosystems akin to natural ones, where digital flora and fauna exist independently of human design. Procedural generation in games exemplifies this, with landscapes and creatures evolving according to mathematical principles, as well as features and patters of natural selection. This concept extends to social and cultural patterns emerging from user interactions, not originally programmed, and AI's unpredictable behaviors that mimic natural organisms. "Digital Naturalism" envisions digital spaces as alive, constantly evolving through internal logic or player actions, inviting players to perceive the digital as an ecosystem vibrant with life and growth, challenging traditional notions of life in our digital age.
The Organic Life of Virtual Worlds:
The digital landscape in "Reality Is Broken" draws from Guy Debord's concept of the "Spectacle," critiquing society's fixation on images over reality. Here, the digital becomes a spectacle filled with immersive visuals and narratives that potentially eclipse real-world experiences. The game encourages players to critically examine this digital spectacle by engaging them in uncovering cultural heritage, posing a question: Does the digital's allure enhance or obscure our grasp of history? It transforms Debord's critique into a conversation on the digital medium's role in understanding or distorting historical truths. Through this exploration, the game becomes a meta-narrative on the spectacle, using digital engagement to reflect on what is lost or gained when life is converted into data.
The Spectacle in the Digital Realm:
The game's underlying algorithms serve as the genetic code of this digital ecosystem, dictating the laws of interaction but not their outcomes. Over time, these algorithms interact with player behaviors to produce outcomes that may appear evolutionary. This unpredictable algorithmic evolution resonates with the biological concept of mutation within natural selection, where small, random changes can lead to significant differences in future generations. Thus, much like the internet, the game becomes a living laboratory for digital natural selection, illustrating how complex systems—whether organic or digital—are not static entities but dynamic processes that unfold in real-time, always teetering on the brink of the next unforeseen emergence.





Nature of Complex Systems:
In "Reality is Broken," the concept of virtual ethnography is paramount, as each sequence the player encounters is designed to be a vector—a directional force with purpose and weight—that encapsulates the complexities inherent in the navigation of digital culture. These vectors represent more than mere progression through the game's narrative; they serve as conduits through which the intricacies of digital societies are explored and comprehended. As the player engages with each unique sequence, they delve deeper into the tapestry of virtual existence, uncovering the social behaviors, communication patterns, and communal rituals that define online interactions.
Culture through Virtual Ethnography:
Incorporated into this textured digital landscape is a GLB file, a three-dimensional artifact that players can interact with, rotate, and closely examine. A sculpture within the binary confines of the game world that asserts its presence as firmly as any tangible object in a museum. This GLB piece is not a mere representation but an entity within the digital ecology of the game, a touchstone in the player's journey, and a significant node in the network of the game's sprawling digital narrative. It is a specimen of virtual archaeology, a relic within the game that conveys history, culture, the passage of time, and secrets to uncover
Digital Ecosystems - The GLB Experience:
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const { Engine, World, Bodies, Body, Runner } = Matter;
const engine = Engine.create();
const runner = Runner.create();
const degreesToRadians = degrees => degrees * (Math.PI / 180);
const createBody = (elementId, isStatic, options = {}, customProperties = {}) => {
const element = document.getElementById(elementId);
const [x, y] = [element.offsetLeft + element.offsetWidth / 2, element.offsetTop + element.offsetHeight / 2];
const cssTransform = window.getComputedStyle(element).transform;
let cssAngle = 0;
if (cssTransform && cssTransform !== 'none') {
const [a, b] = cssTransform.split('(')[1].split(')')[0].split(',');
cssAngle = Math.atan2(b, a);
}
return Bodies.rectangle(x, y, element.offsetWidth, element.offsetHeight, { isStatic, angle: cssAngle, ...options, ...customProperties });
};
// Custom properties
const playerProperties = { density: 0.9, restitution: 0.3, friction: 0.2, frictionAir: 0.04 };
const dynamicXProperties = { density: 0.7, restitution: 0.6, friction: 0.2, frictionAir: 0.05 };
const staticBodyProperties = { restitution: 0.9, friction: 1.0 };
const playerBody = createBody('home-player', false, {}, playerProperties);
const dynamicXBody = createBody('home-dynamic-x', false, {}, dynamicXProperties);
[...Array(21).keys()].map(i => createBody(`home-st-${i + 1}`, true, {}, staticBodyProperties))
.forEach(body => World.add(engine.world, body));
Body.setAngularVelocity(dynamicXBody, 0.1);
Body.setAngularVelocity(playerBody, 0);
const applyForceToPlayer = force => {
const maxVelocity = 4;
if (Math.hypot(playerBody.velocity.x, playerBody.velocity.y) < maxVelocity) {
Body.applyForce(playerBody, playerBody.position, force);
}
};
document.addEventListener('keydown', ({ keyCode }) => {
const forceMagnitude = 0.025 * playerBody.mass;
const forces = { 37: [-forceMagnitude, 0], 38: [0, -forceMagnitude * 1.2], 39: [forceMagnitude, 0] };
if (forces[keyCode]) applyForceToPlayer({ x: forces[keyCode][0], y: forces[keyCode][1] });
});
const updateElementFromBody = (elementId, body) => {
const element = document.getElementById(elementId);
element.style.cssText = `top: ${body.position.y - element.offsetHeight / 2}px; left: ${body.position.x - element.offsetWidth / 2}px; transform: rotate(${body.angle}rad);`;
};
Runner.run(runner, engine);
Matter.Events.on(engine, 'afterUpdate', () => {
updateElementFromBody('home-player', playerBody);
updateElementFromBody('home-dynamic-x', dynamicXBody);
[...Array(21).keys()].forEach(i => updateElementFromBody(`home-st-${i + 1}`, staticBodies[i]));
});
// Code Block: Dynamic Physics Engine

document.querySelector('.close').addEventListener('click', function() {
// Master volume control
const masterVolume = new Tone.Volume(-5).toDestination();
// Create synths with different wave types and connect them to the master volume control
const waveTypes = ['sine', 'triangle', 'square'];
const synths = waveTypes.map(waveType => {
const synth = new Tone.Synth().connect(masterVolume);
synth.oscillator.type = waveType;
return synth;
});
// Create an autoFilter, reverb, and distortion, and chain them together
const autoFilter = new Tone.AutoFilter({'frequency': '8m', 'min': 800, 'max': 15000}).connect(masterVolume);
const reverb = new Tone.Reverb().set({wet: 0.5}).connect(masterVolume);
const distortion = new Tone.Distortion(0.8).connect(masterVolume);
// Connect synths to autoFilter, which is already connected to reverb and distortion
synths.forEach(synth => synth.connect(autoFilter));
autoFilter.connect(reverb).connect(distortion);
// Start the autoFilter
autoFilter.start();
// Define and start loops for each synth with random volume adjustments
synths.forEach((synth, index) => {
new Tone.Loop(time => {
synth.volume.value = Math.random() * -10; // Random volume between -10 and 0 dB
synth.triggerAttackRelease(Tone.Midi(Math.random() * 5 + 44).toFrequency(), '8n', time);
}, ['4n', '2n', '1m'][index]).start(0); // Different loop intervals for each synth
});
// Start the Tone.js context
Tone.Transport.start();
});
// Code Block: Harmonic Control Panel

// Generates a code based on the current time, character set, and offset multiplier
function generateCode(characters, offsetMultiplier) {
const currentTime = Math.floor(Date.now() / 60000);
let code = '';
for (let i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
const index = (currentTime + i * offsetMultiplier) % characters.length;
code += characters.charAt(index);
}
return code;
}
// Updates the displayed code for code1
function updateCode1Display() {
const code = generateCode('0123456789', 7);
document.getElementById('code1').textContent = code;
}
// Verifies the entered code against the generated code and updates the UI accordingly
function verifyCode2() {
const enteredCode = document.getElementById('enteredCode2').value;
const currentCode = generateCode('ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ', 5);
const success = enteredCode === currentCode;
document.getElementById('hiddenElement2').style.display = success ? 'block' : 'none';
document.getElementById('errorMessage2').style.display = success ? 'none' : 'block';
document.getElementById('in-code').style.display = success ? 'none' : 'block';
if (success) {
// Start a 30-second timer to update UI elements
setTimeout(() => {
document.querySelectorAll('.home-ai-load, .home-em, .home-bt-ai').forEach(el => {
el.style.display = el.classList.contains('home-ai-load') ? 'none' : 'block';
});
}, 30000); // 30000 milliseconds = 30 seconds
}
}
// Set interval to update Code 1 display every second
setInterval(updateCode1Display, 1000);
// Add event listener to submit button for verifying code 2 on DOM content loaded
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
document.getElementById('submitButton2').addEventListener('click', verifyCode2);
});
// Code Block: Synchronizing Builder 
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Player guide a luminous blue orb, using directional commands ( up, left and right arrow keys ) to tether and pull a rogue ‘X’ towards its destined orange location. Disguised yet conspicuous, the reset mechanism to recalibrate the blue orb and its ‘X’ counterpart resides above the monolithic grey buttons.
Commands and Resets
Strategically, the player must harness the mutable purple buttons, each marked with an ‘X’. These elements offer tactical advantages, allowing the player to cleverly navigate through the challenges presented by the enigmatic blue orb, which serves as a central puzzle or obstacle in the game.
Utility of Purple Buttons
Achieving mastery over this complex maneuver is crucial for unlocking the initial sequence hidden within the Palimpsests. It requires the player to not only decode but also replicate the sequence with precision This replication is a testament to the player's understanding and agility in the game.
Unlocking Initial Secrets
The challenge of unlocking and deciphering becomes increasingly intricate with each new Palimpsest. Every subsequent cipher is a puzzle on its own, demanding analytical skills and strategic thinking. This escalating complexity forms a pattern, pushing the player into deeper realms of engagement and problem-solving.
Evolving Puzzles in Palimpsests
The game intricately intertwines strategy and memory, compelling players to input the unveiled sequences into their respective interfaces. This requirement not only tests the player's recall abilities but also their strategic acumen, ensuring that each sequence is meticulously matched to its element for progression.
Recall with Strategy
Upon the completion of these digital rites, a sentient AI materializes, acting as an oracle that gifts the player a series of hieroglyphs. These symbols serve as a linguistic conduit to a new realm of gameplay, ushering the player into an alternate digital odyssey where the narrative deepens and the challenge evolves.
AI as the Oracle
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RUN:CODE 
//RESET CODE:A secret shrouded in the artefact's shadow,|||||| '*****' demands the cryptic key to unveil it ||||
function unlockMystery() { // Behind the artefact, the secret awaits. } function inputCode(code) { // Enter the discovered code here. if (code === '*****') { // Mystery unlocked. } else { // Keep searching. } }
Restricted Entry Input key to decrypt and access |||||| classified transmission from EM ||||||
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ONE.NEW
MESSAGE
I have a secret game that I'd like to play. It's a very nice game. Oh, it's a lovely game, a game of fun and a game of adventure. A game of rats and lice and the Black Death. A game of speared eyeballs and dripping guts and the smell of rotting gardenias. would you like to play my little game?