Moving Castles
Clearnet Paranoia
Interactive computer game
In an eponymous essay from 2021 Moving Castles articulated a deep angst towards the rise of a parasitic, hyper-centralized “metaverse”. In Clearnet Paranoia the players get pushed forward by an inescapable urge to exit such a disaster scenario. Scattered quotes from the essay guide them into three wretched game worlds, and help them navigate herds of psychotic CEOs, influencers alienating in a dark forest and a teknival-esque Moving Castles’ rave.
Moving Castles is a game studio and design lab for autonomous worlds based in Berlin.The studio explores the intersection of technology, art, and community through innovative projects and events1. Their work focuses on creating modular and portable multiplayer "miniverses" that combine collective agency and public participation. Inspired by the concept of a "moving castle" from Studio Ghibli's film, Moving Castles aims to build decentralized, member-governed digital spaces that foster unique social and cultural activities. The collective is part of Trust, a knowledge-community that emphasizes experimental governance structures and interdisciplinary collaboration.