An Emulated Mind

An Emulated Mind is a walking sim made in Unreal Engine 5 with the intent to confront the overwhelming emotions of grief and sense of lostness one feels after the deaths of those they care about. The project was spurred on by the passing of the creator's grandfather, Edward Alexander, in April 2022; his close friend, Ethan Jones, later the same year; and finally his father, James W. Barra, in Spring 2023.

The game tells the story of an unnamed protagonist, who, after losing their grandfather, inherits from him an A.I. emulation of his personality, kept within a cumbersome metal box. The game follows the protagonist and this device, referred to as the Emulation, throughout three planned levels, as they converse and search for hidden data drives meant to help the Emulation become more alive.

The experience asks: when someone dies, is it their creations that survive, or the memories and impact they leave on others?

The game was installed at MANA Contemporary Arts Center in Jersey City, NJ, as part of the Motus Mentis show hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology. For three days, gallery visitors could pick up and play.

Want to try it yourself? Download at mealio.itch.io/an-emulated-mind