P02 → Pursuit of Perfection
XR and Game Design
Pursuit of Perfection is a video game that critically explores the current phase of global capitalism, known as Cognitive Capitalism or Techno-Feudalism, a system in which the entire planet becomes nothing but resources which only accelerates the destruction of the conditions of
possibility of human life or possibly any life - Mackenzie Wark. The game also delves into the role of AI, reflecting how automated systems amplify this relentless drive for efficiency and control, mirroring the dehumanizing aspects of modern capitalism.
The player navigates a world where natural elements like trees and plants turn into geometric, monochrome cones upon contact, symbolizing the reduction of nature to data points. Coins speed up gameplay, making point scoring faster but ultimately rendering the game absurd and unplayable, mimicking the unsustainable acceleration of AI-driven capitalism.
The cone, inspired by Thomas Bernhard’s Correction (1975), represents the futility of seeking perfection, paralleling AI's pursuit of optimization. The project critiques a global system obsessed with endless growth, perfection, and the automation of human experience.