They Shall Not Come Back

VR interactive experience where players embody the lingering soul of a young soldier lost in the turmoil of World War I, striving to reunite with his family in NYC for one final encounter. Caught between the harsh realities of the battlefield and the ethereal realm of the afterlife, players embark on a moving journey across time and space, uncovering the enduring strength of bonds that transcend mortality.

The experience features interactions such as typing Morse code on a telegraph machine, climbing a ladder in a trench bunker, playing the piano in a New York apartment, and exploring environments to revisit generational memories.
Created by a small team of MFA and BFA students at the USC Games Program and USC Ganek Immersive Media Lab, the project explores the emotional depth and generational gaps in understanding loss during a chaotic period in history. Leveraging the latest immersive technology—including volumetric capture, motion capture, procedural animation, instinctual interactions, and distinct visual aesthetics—it creates a powerful and reflective experience.