The Adelaide video game heading to New York
A video game by South Australian game developer and 40 under 40 alumni Chantal Ryan has been selected as one of seven to appear at a festival in New York City this June.
Hosted by global Web3 technology company OKX, the Tribeca Festival brings together film, TV, music, audio storytelling and games.
The unreleased DarkWebSTREAMER, by Ryan’s studio We Have Always Lived in the Forest, will be on show at the festival from June 12 to June 16.
Ryan had been studying anthropology and English when she came up with the idea for the game and taught herself coding.
“I posted our game as a passion project and we were instantly approached by publishers, investors in the video game industry,” Ryan previously told InDaily.
As part of the festival, a demo of Ryan’s game, “a psychological-horror RPG streamer simulation that puts players in the role of an occult streamer on the dark web” will be available for the public to try.
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The game has previously presented at events such as PAX Aus in Melbourne in 2022.
“We had a mind-blowing crowd spilling out of our space,” Ryan said.
The game utilises AI technology to generate a random experience for each play, exploring “the sinister undertones of contemporary influencer culture”.
DarkWebSTREAMER allows players to explore the world’s first procedurally generated internet, with a unique dialogue as designed by an anthropologist.
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The game involves a unique blend of RPG, simulation, roguelite and text adventure, with handmade narrative technology meaning every playthrough has a unique story.
Each game on the showcase will be eligible for the Tribeca Games Award, which recognises an unreleased game for its artistic and storytelling excellence.
Ryan’s game will be appearing alongside games from the United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Vice president of Tribeca Games and Immersive Casey Baltes said the selection focused on “how incredible storytelling through video games can forge deep connections between its audience and the characters in its stories”.
“These titles showcase such vastly different voices, gameplay, and visual styles, and we’re excited for attendees to discover how each of these stories will transport them to new realms, offer unique perspectives, and evoke powerful emotions.”
The Tribeca Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Centre in an attempt to spur economic and cultural revitalisation in lower Manhattan.
The 40 Under 40 Awards program is helping to bring attention to a new generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in the state. The winners will be announced at a gala event on Thursday, June 27.
