If I recall, it was a few different accounts of psychological torture in solitary confinement that led to the image we created. The story of director, Shin Sang-Ok’s detention is in a few different books and most recently an episode of This American Life. I am fairly sure we got the routine of making the prisoner…

These first friend requests very targeted towards different segments — e.g. NYC and Moscow cultural influencers like artists, entrepreneurs, and writers; members of activist groups; artists; journalists; fashion models; web celebrities; etc.

There was a very interesting effect whereby Junko Junsui’s requests started…

The whole white pajamas in a white cell routine was based on a few accounts by victims of psychological torture, including a South Korean film director who was kidnapped by Kim Jong Il to make films in North Korea.

YES, it is true that our fictional character Oksana Kareyeva (aka Oksana Konstantinova, aka Diyne Seteney) did get confused by various security organizations as a real “Black Widow” terrorist from Dagestan. In the story of the game, that characterization is part of a smear campaign by one side, the Oligarchs.…

Yes, we were behind everything. But there were so so many others involved. Writers Eric Ozawa, John Marckesano, Danny Homan, and Shani Boianjiu helped develop the characters and various storylines. Photographer, Frej Hedenberg, cinematographer, Daniel Leeb and illustrator Anna Rusakova were also hugely influential in…