Renaissance: The Game (R:TG) is an interactive music player / game which was designed by multi-disciplinary artist Aleksandra using Unreal Engine. Gameplay in R:TG unfolds as the player is dropped inside a Panopticon; a circular structure that is composed of twelve wedge-shaped rooms. Every room can be accessed from the center of the Panopticon, or via left or right adjacent rooms. 

Each of the rooms of the Panopticon contain a music player which is dedicated to one of twelve tracks from Kelvin Sholar’s album RENAISSANCE (MAY 22, 2025). In this way, the Panopticon is demonstrated to be a continuous field of both sound and vision. As the player explores rooms in different sequences, so are unique playlists created. 

In addition to containing a unique music player for each track, rooms have dedicated wall textures that are based on Michael May’s thematic photographs for the record. When the music player is activated, then wall textures shift, light moves and objects “dance”. In short, the Panopticon awakens and transforms when music is played.  

The Renaissance album spans a wide range of moods and musical languages — from introspective and meditative to energetic and rhythmic. This interactive environment seeks to revive that variety in a new sensory form, where sound becomes space, and composition becomes experience.

For “The Infernal Dance Of King Katchei”: to activate the room, simply direct yourself inside and press the red music player at its center. Then, the gamer encounters abstract zombie figures which dance to the music- they can be jumped over, or jumped onto, creating a red splat. Conceptually, the abstract zombies are symbols of reawakening or of movement between the mechanical and the biological- echoing the concept of rebirth that defines RENAISSANCE.

For “BlackJack”: When the music player is active, one can enjoy a wonderful proximity based, color-changing bubbles, show.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: R:TG has been designed to be accessible through a web browser, (e.g. Chrome or Firefox); on a laptop or desktop computer you can scroll down to play the game below. Unfortunately, mobile phones and tablets do not have the proper graphics card or processor to play R:TG

GAME KEYS:

• W / A / S / D: Directional Movement
• Arrow Keys: Directional Movement
• Mouse: Free Aiming Action
• Click Red Music Player: Toggle Play / Stop Music
• P: Toggle Pause / Resume Music
• E: Exit to Main Menu
• SPACE BAR: Jump

CREDITS:

Aleksandra: Game Design, Animations, Cover

Kelvin Sholar: acoustic piano, electric piano, synthesizers, electronics, percussion, vocals

Eric Vaughn: drum set and percussion

Charles Sammons: acoustic bass and percussion

Chris Sholar: electronics

Michael May: thematic photography