Regressive Expansion

Set in a dystopian near-future, Regressive Expansion explores the connection between space and human occupation. Within a small community, society must be reinstated to ensure the group’s survival. This project poses the question: at what point does societal development begin to become regressive. Corruption caused by societal power dynamics manifests itself within the game’s environment and causes the player to reconsider humanity’s totalitarian decision making.

With the player gradually occupying more and more of their confined environment throughout the game, there becomes a point when occupation is no longer a demonstration of development and success and, instead, becomes a morally corrupt power domination. This corruption subtly shows itself within the gameplay through gradual ambiguity around the navigation of the space, disorientation from the first person perspective and visual glitching.

At this crucial point in the storyline, the player is presented with a choice about ethics, whether to carry on and corrupt the game beyond usability, thus ending the game early, or reconsider their choices and help build a developed community over a societal dictatorship.