Fortune Telling

This fortune telling game is created using openframeworks (C++) and blender referencing the Hokkien folk religion, where we communicate with the deities using moon blocks and burn joss paper as means of sending money to the other side, these elements along with a temple of the Earth Deity are featured in this game. Also inspired by the idea of ritual design (Ritual Design Lab, n.d), I combine the religious ritual in my own (disappearing) culture that carries value and meaning, with tools and technology to create an engaging and viable human experience. In a time fraught with global uncertainties, encompassing the specters of war, climate crisis, and economic breakdown, the quest to predict the future becomes a coping mechanism for the prevailing anxiety.
I aim to preserve and recreate our dying ritual in this virtual 3D space. The user engagement unfolds through three main features. Firstly, by posing a yes/no question, the user triggers an animated moon block sequence, with the answer (yes/no/maybe) revealed as the blocks touch the ground. Additionally, users can input queries about the future, generating predictions displayed within the 3D environment through a Markov chain algorithm. This amalgamation of ancient practices with cutting-edge technology seeks not only to provide an interactive experience but also to preserve the cultural significance of these rituals amidst the challenges of contemporary times.

_{Ozenc, K. and Hagan, M. (2018) About ritual design, Ritual Design Lab. Available at: https://www.ritualdesignlab.org/about-ritual-design/ (Accessed: January 15, 2023).}