The Virtual Reality game Ekklesia transforms the audience members into participants of a virtual simulation:
In this unique immersive theater experience, produced by Benjamin Seuffert and Lukas Joshua Baueregger at Staatstheater Augsburg, participants are tasked with creating a new civilization from scratch in a VR environment.
Up to eight people enter a room and get placed around a big table together. After an introduction by a “scientist” and a Mixed Reality tutorial, everyone gets sent to their own virtual space to start placing buildings of their new settlement.
The aim of the “experiment” is to gain insight into how the problems of a society can arise and how to respond to them. Everyone gets to decide which factors matter most to them personally and gets to see the consequences of their actions.
Every decision about which building to place matters. Not only is the appearance of the city shaped by its buildings, but different aspects of a prospering society need to be balanced carefully. The story develops with each new building, as three narrators adapt to the player’s every choice. Over the course of the experience, the gameplay gradually breaks down and is replaced by theatrical scenes in the form of 360° videos or impressive 3D renderings.
Back in the real world, everyone receives an evaluation of their virtual society and there is room for an open discussion at the table.
