“Borders” Indie Game/ Art Installation

 Check out the official Website at: www.bordersgame.com

Borders is a game I designed about the hardships immigrants face crossing the Border. The game was inspired by the stories my father and mother told me growing up about when they had to cross over. After creating a public installation of the game, BORDERS received coverage in local, national and international media because of its relevant content and themes.

This lead to its invitation to Sheffield Doc/Fest in the UK, the 3rd largest international documentary film festival in the world, and IndieCade’s Showcase at E3 in LA, the largest video game trade show in the world.

http://www.indiecade.com/games/selected/borders

https://sheffdocfest.com/films/6267

Purchase the game or Merchandise below:

Windows/Mac 

 Android

T-Shirts and Prints

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Borders 

Artist Statement:

Borders is a political art game created not only to exhibit video games as an art form but to portray the dangers Mexican immigrants face in order to give the next generation a better future. Players attempt to cross the border while avoiding La Migra (border patrol) and staying hydrated. The place where every player dies is permanently recorded into the video game’s world, represented by a skeleton. This universal symbol communicates where players should be careful as well as simulates the large death toll claimed by Mexico’s deserts.

Gonzalo Alvarez’s parents immigrated over to the US and would tell him stories of their journey that inspired this game. Running away from La Migra, staying hydrated, and avoiding “El Mosquo” the nickname for the helicopter, were all things they had to overcome to give him the opportunity to live in America. This game came to be out of wanting other to realize the dangers immigrants face everyday in trying to give a future generation an opportunity to succeed. The artist is a living testament of that statement.