Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Baram, Uzi

Area of Concentration

East Asian Studies

Abstract

The increased sophistication of virtual realms has transformed video gaming into a sphere of hyperreality, with realism and authenticity placed at the core of developing engaging narratives and immersive worlds. In Sleeping Dogs, players become Wei Shen, an undercover cop combating the triad organizations of Hong Kong. Players explore a condensed version of the city as they navigate through the criminal underworld and experience Wei’s journey. The developers’ vision of what Hong Kong means as an identity, place, and culture is illustrated through the design of the environment, structure of the narrative, and creative choices. Although created for leisure purpose, Sleeping Dogs presents its own interpretation of the city as a cultural landscape with a unique identity that represents a ‘Hong Kong’ players can connect with and call their own.

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