esfuerzo (effort) Video Game in Production
"esfuerzo" (effort in Spanish) is a platformer-style video game draws from Mayan religious traditions as a framework to present a hero’s journey. The project was conceived during the summer of 2022 when more than 152,000 unaccompanied minors reached the Mexico – U.S. border
primarily from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, lands that were once Mayan. The Mayans believe in three realms – the underworld Xibalbá, the earth – land of corn and the heavens Oxlahuntikú. The underworld and heavens are populated with deities whereas the earth with humans and animals. These realms are levels in the game. Along the way, culture, history and gameplay are interwoven.