Art Game: Ricardo Miranda Zúñiga's "Ometepe" (2016)
Game designer and artist Ricardo Miranda Zuniga (LOOPS) has completed a new project. titled Ometepe. As Miranda Zuniga writes,
"It’s a small 2D game inspired by research that I did regarding a planned transoceanic canal that is to be built through Nicaragua. Fortunately, it seems that the canal is on hold due to lack of funds - apparently the primary funder Wang Jing, a Hong Kong billionaire has lost a great deal of money in due to the Chinese market. However, as I had spent time researching the canal and a week on Ometepe speaking with people, I decided to build a game that would bring attention to the situation. If the Nicaraguan government and Wang Jing can find a way, the canal will happen and it would mean the greatest movement of earth in the planet’s history and likely have immense ecological effect." (Ricardo Miranda Zuniga)
Full description in English and Spanish:
"In June 2013, the Nicaraguan National Assembly approved a bill conceding the financing, planning, construction and management of a cross-oceanic canal to the Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Investment Company (HKND Group) headed by Chinese billionaire Wang Jing. The agreement spans an initial 50 years with the possibility of a second 50 years. The initial phase of construction began in December 2014 and the target year of completion is 2020. The agreement to this 40-50 billion US dollar project was discussed by the Nicaraguan National Assembly for only one week before approval. The agreement was not made public prior to the decision. The construction of the Nicaraguan Canal would entail the largest movement of earth in the planet’s history and would have immense ecological impact. The planned route of the canal would require the forced relocation of campesino communities.
To help bring attention to the Nicaraguan Canal, the video game “Ometepe” is set on the island of the same name, located in Lake Nicaragua through which the canal will pass. Although the project appears to be stopped due to lack of funds, the Nicaraguan government remains secretive about the project.
The island Ometepe is formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua that are linked by wetlands and due to the unique formation of the island it presents an incredibly diverse ecology. In 2010 UNESCO declared Ometepe a Biosphere Reserve.
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En junio de 2013, la Asamblea Nacional de Nicaragua aprobó una ley concediendo la financiación, planificación, construcción y gestión de un canal interoceánica al Hong Kong Nicaragua Canal Development Investment Company (HKND Group) encabezada por el multimillonario chino Wang Jing. La fase inicial de construcción se inició en diciembre de 2014. La construcción del Canal de Nicaragua supondría el mayor movimiento de la tierra en la historia del planeta y tendría un inmenso impacto ecológico. Aunque el proyecto parece estar detenido debido a la falta de fondos, el gobierno de Nicaragua sigue siendo sigiloso sobre el proyecto.
Para ayudar a llamar atención sobre el Canal de Nicaragua, el videojuego "Ometepe" está situado en la isla del mismo nombre, situada en el Lago de Nicaragua a través del cual pasará el canal.
La isla de Ometepe está formada por dos volcanes que elevan desde el Lago de Nicaragua y están vinculados por humedales. Debido a la formación la isla presenta una ecología muy diversa. En 2010 UNESCO declaró Ometepe una Reserva de la Biosfera."
The desktop version of Ometepe can be
downloaded here (Windows or Mac) or it can be played online here. Born in San Francisco in 1971, Ricardo Miranda Zúñiga is an American new media artist who approaches art as a social practice that establishes dialogue in public spaces.LINK: Ricardo Miranda Zuniga