“Borders” Indie Game/ Art Installation

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

GAMEPLAY TRAILER

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 art 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

SCREENSHOTS:

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Game Cabinet Installation:

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Summary: Borders is a political art game created to not only to exhibit video games as an art form but to portray the dangers Mexican immigrants face crossing the border. 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. Players can see the skeletons of past players which communicates the large death toll of the Mexican Desert.

The game cabinet has since traveled around the world now containing the body of all the players. There are currently over 2500 bodies in the original save file from players in Beaumont, Austin, and Dallas Texas, Los Angeles California, Sheffield UK, along with others.

Artist Statement:

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.