Role
UI Design · Map Design · Game Implementation
Tools
Unity · Figma · Procreate · Adobe Creative Suite
Team
Nina Shi · Yan Li
How does information circulate across class boundaries—and who controls its flow?
The project translates sociological research into a playable system.
IInformation becomes currency, leverage, and risk.
How does information circulate across class boundaries—and who controls its flow?
The project translates sociological research into a playable system.
IInformation becomes currency, leverage, and risk.
A. Class Structure
A. Class Structure
Each class possesses different levels of access, trust, and mobility.
Each class possesses different levels of access, trust, and mobility.
B. Information
B. Information
Not all information is equal—its accessibility determines power.
Not all information is equal—its accessibility determines power.
C. Transition Mechanisms
C. Transition Mechanisms
Social mobility in the game mirrors real-world class transition patterns.
Social mobility in the game mirrors real-world class transition patterns.
Designing Information as a Playable System
Designing Information as a Playable System
Information functions as a tradable resource.
Players gather, copy, sell, and leverage information to climb class boundaries—at moral and social cost.
Information functions as a tradable resource.
Players gather, copy, sell, and leverage information to climb class boundaries—at moral and social cost.
Spatial design reinforces social hierarchy—wealth is geographically elevated and visually insulated.
Spatial design reinforces social hierarchy—wealth is geographically elevated and visually insulated.
Challenge(s)
This project investigates how social class structures influence access to resources and opportunities. Through interactive scenarios, players encounter choices that simulate potential pathways across the class pyramid. Rather than offering a fixed answer, the system encourages players to reflect on how different resources and decisions shape social mobility.
This project investigates how social class structures influence access to resources and opportunities. Through interactive scenarios, players encounter choices that simulate potential pathways across the class pyramid. Rather than offering a fixed answer, the system encourages players to reflect on how different resources and decisions shape social mobility.
