From smart phones to the Internet, so much of today’s society focuses on the visual and our response to it. While advances in audio technology have made surround sound ubiquitous in TV, movies, and video games it is relegated to a supporting role - creating a texture and context but always taking a second seat to the visuals. The Treasure of the Wumpus is a game without visuals. Players are placed in a light proof enclosed pod, given a navigational controller, and are asked to navigate the land of infinite darkness to collect treasure and avoid traps simply by using the surround sound aural cues. Trapped in a maze without walls, players must move slowly, and listen carefully as our aural memory is not as sharp as our visual.
For the audience watching from outside there are two monitors. One displays the map and the players active location, while on the other is an infrared view of the player’s face from inside the pod affording the audience a peak at their reactions.