The Rude Awakening

An Interactive Narrative on Life During World War I.

Immerse yourself in an engaging narrative of World War I through four different parallel stories experienced through the eyes of four unusual protagonists.

Forte Belvedere - from 1915 to 1916
The psychological pressure endured by soldiers due to the bombardment of Forte Belvedere. Explore the labyrinthine tunnels as young aspiring officer Karl Humelberger.

Jesenice - from 1916 to 1917
The evolution of factories to meet community needs and the relationships among people from different borders. Witness the radical changes in the town of Jesenice through the eyes of Marija Golob, a peasant who escaped the fields.

Bitola - from 1917 to 1918
The reality experienced by doctors beyond the trenches and the desperate rescue of the wounded. Spread hope alongside Guillaume, a young soldier in the French colonial troops.

Austria - from 1918 to 1919
The theme of the pandemic and the helplessness of humanity in a sad parallel with the current period. Race against time with Corina Stengheli, a nurse serving during the Spanish influenza epidemic.

Unlike other war games, The Rude Awakening retraces historical events from a completely new perspective: from the claustrophobic situations inside the forts, to the devastated daily life in small towns near the front lines, to the collapse of hospitals caused by the Spanish influenza pandemic.
The collaboration with nine European partners has given the creative team access to historical materials from museums in four different countries, materials that are otherwise inaccessible.