Target: BACRIM is an immersive, interactive documentary game designed to expose the realities of organized crime and human rights abuses in the Bajo Cauca region of Colombia. By blending non-fiction journalism with fictional narrative elements, the project aims to move beyond traditional storytelling, transforming the audience from passive observers into active participants. The core thesis posits that by blurring the lines between fact and fiction through augmented reality, the project can foster a deeper, more visceral understanding of the dangers faced by local communities.
The project utilizes a nonlinear narrative structure, described as a thread of parallels, which abandons traditional Aristotelian drama in favor of a mosaic-style experience. This approach requires users to make decisions that carry real-world weight within the game’s logic, effectively placing them in the role of a protagonist who must navigate risks involving police corruption, illicit mining, and social cleansing. To heighten immersion, the game integrates personal communication channels, such as email and telephone, to pull the user out of their comfort zone and into the narrative environment.
A central challenge addressed is the tension between journalistic integrity and game design. While journalism typically seeks to inform a broad audience, game mechanics often rely on exclusion and reward systems. The project navigates this by prioritizing user agency, ensuring that the narrative adapts to individual choices. Ultimately, the work serves as a case study for the evolving field of interactive documentary, highlighting the theoretical and practical difficulties of creating meaningful, experience-based journalism that successfully bridges the gap between digital play and the harsh realities of human conflict.
