In Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist, the player is dropped into a messy backstage area of the “game” with dim lighting. There are tons of small details scattered around the room such as books, notes about the “game”, and a muffled voice coming from another adjacent room. The author gives the user time to explore the waiting room and read some of the context clues in order to understand the situation that they have just entered.
I have been mentioning a “game” concept that the user’s experience is decorated around. Paradoxically, the entire experience of the user in Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist, is orchestrating the “game” for another user by flipping switches causing simulated weather changes, releasing tigers, causing fires, and many other ridiculous yet charming acts of chaos. All game instructions are supplied by a single bodyless voice who seems to be overworked and constantly stressed. The voice will state instructions for the user, yet as the user executes said commands, the voice will redact or correct his statements causing the user to feel confused and anxious.
So what is the context of Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist? After analyzing some of the backstage details I believe that I have found a likely theory which answers the question. All of the workers (except our trusty guiding voice) have quit working the “game” and the only option left for the voice to keep the game running is to have each of the “game’s” players to operate the “game” for the person in front of them.
This theory formed through the clues that the author supplied to the user throughout their game. Scattered throughout many scenes are clues pointing towards a strike due to worker’s lack of payment. For example, the author includes picket signs with a worker icon with x’s over his eyes. Though, these eerie clues were balanced out by comedic clues such as small post-it notes on the chairs of previous workers spelling “BRB”, despite the implication that the workers will never be returning.
Strike picket signs in backstage area.
Post-it note on the back of a chair in the backstage area.
Although my theory could be the true meaning of the game, after reading The Death of the Author by Roland Barthes, it is also reasonable to wonder if there are other possible theories and/or explanations for Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist. Barthe believes that there is no correct and set interpretation for a piece of literature (including games). The perspective of the reader becomes the center of who the message is targeted towards. Therefore every interpretation of this game can be different, yet equally correct. This illustrates the “Death” of the author, or more clearly, the insignificance of the author’s intent, and the true significance of the observer’s interpretation.
