SCENT
Synopsis
Scent is a short cinematic game in which the player, as a dog, roams a war-torn city, gathering souls from the dead. As you walk, run, and hide amid unfolding atrocities, the game draws you into a sensory experience of fear, darkness, and fleeting moments of hope. Stripped of specific historical or geographic markers, Scent explores what it means to witness without power.
Production: 2017 - 2025
Gameplay completion time: 15 - 20 mins
Previous Showcases
World Premiere (Interactive Installation Version)
Tribeca Festival 2025
(New York, June 6 - 29, 2025)
World Premiere (Short Film Version)
Animafest Zagreb 2025
(Zagreb, June 4, 2025)
Live Playthrough as a Cinematic Performance
Gene Siskel Film Center
(Chicago, October 24, 2024)
Award
Honorary Mention Award, Prix Ars Electronica 2021 (Artificial Intelligence & Life Art Category)
(for previous iteration of the project)
Game Trailer
Screenshots
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_1.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_8760d0820ad7421bb2bd6acc656a3aa5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_1.jpg)
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_2.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_4d09acae2f3d486bad9512cea334d237~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_2.jpg)
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_4.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_e27e9a0180c24a6b8824e5c8a1855522~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_4.jpg)
![Scent_[Alan Kwan]_5.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2fa5f6_32419f8231c34dd28b5e7f9a90b6a9ae~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_889,h_502,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Scent_%5BAlan%20Kwan%5D_5.jpg)
Things I've been thinking about
(1) This game is only 15 – 20 mins long, but it took me over 7 years to make. I reworked it many times. Now the game is finally finished.
(2) The players explore the environment through the point of view of a dog. The game presents no story, context, or background information on where the war is taking place and why it is happening. Nothing will be resolved after players finish the game. I'm interested in creating an experience that invites for contemplation on fear, deaths, and flickers of hope.
(3) I want to make cinematic games that are very short but rich and tense. Almost like a short film but interactive. Kind of like a mini game but with more complex emotional experiences. Interaction and control should be really simple and not focus on how fast players move their thumbs.
(4) When I talk about my works I always use the term "game" for general communication purpose. But I constantly think about whether it is the best term to describe what I want to do. If you are a hardcore gamer and think that this is not a videogame, I totally get it. I think we need better terminology to describe works of interactive virtual world that are made using videogame technologies but are not necessarily videogames.
Scent is Currently Available in 3 Presentation Formats
Format (1): Live Playthrough of the Game as a Cinematic Performance
.png)
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In a cinema setting, I present a live playthrough of the full game on the big screen, with a runtime of approximately 15 to 20 mins.
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I control the dog in the game as it moves through a devastated landscape — walking, hiding, witnessing, and gathering souls from the dead.
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I also control the game’s camera angles in real time, making it a live cinematic performance.
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I previously presented this performance at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago in October 2024, as part of an event organized by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Venue: cinema
I perform a live playthrough of the game on a laptop, with visuals and sound streamed to the big screen and audio system
3D rendering of the performance
Format (2): Immersive Interactive Installation
.png)
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The installation features a pedestal with a mini-keypad and mouse, allowing visitors to control the dog themselves and engage directly with the game’s world.
-
As one visitor plays, others can sit on the bean bags and experience the piece as a cinematic experience.
Bean bag
A dark room with projection
& stereo speakers
Pedestal with
a mini-keypad
& mouse
Artificial grass covering,
extending the game environment into the physical space
3D rendering of the installation
_edite.jpg)
I’m also interested in presenting an outdoor version of this interactive installation in an environment that mirrors the game’s setting, such as a forest.
Bean bag
Pedestal with
a mini-keypad
& mouse
Projection or LED wall
3D rendering of the outdoor installation
The interactive installation can also be adapted to different spaces.This photo shows the setup at Tribeca Festival 2025.
Photo credit: Mikhail Rush
Format (3): Short Film
This film version is drawn from a recorded playthrough of the game, in which I control the dog as it moves through a devastated landscape — walking, running, hiding, and gathering souls from the dead amid unfolding atrocities. Stripped of specific historical or geographic markers, the film immerses viewers in a sensory experience of fear, darkness, and fleeting moments of hope, exploring what it means to witness without power.
Production Credits
Director / 3D Artist / Programmer / Sound Designer:
Alan Kwan
Music from:
Jordi Jon Pardo
Arthur Komnacky
(Sad heaven piano #2 by PSOVOD (https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/414856/
Edited into a loopable version by Alan Kwan)
Graphic Designer:
Zac Choy
Trailer by:
Deniz Tortum and Alan Kwan
Special Thanks:
Kachi Chan
Kenny Wong Chi-Chuen
Xiao Xiao
Yang Jing
Mike Harris
Deniz Tortum
Lukas Steinman
Tamas Waliczky
Arthur Brussee
Keijiro Takahashi
Luyu Chen
Digital Assets & Sound Effects:
Coast Sand 01 by Rob Tuytel (https://polyhaven.com/all?a=Rob%20Tuytel)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://polyhaven.com/license)
at https://polyhaven.com/a/coast_sand_01
Pine-forest--ww2-soldier--crawl--grass.wav by elonen (https://freesound.org/people/elonen/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/elonen/sounds/478381/?
Breath by mcroce (https://freesound.org/people/mcroce/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/mcroce/sounds/234335/
Hearbeat sound (with gurgling) by LookIMadeAThing (https://freesound.org/people/LookIMadeAThing/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/LookIMadeAThing/sounds/250846/
lucid drone.wav by decembered (https://freesound.org/people/decembered/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/decembered/sounds/42761/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a shorter version
Four_Voices_Whispering_4.wav by geoneo0 (https://freesound.org/people/geoneo0/）
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/geoneo0/sounds/193809/
C5_mother singing.mp3 by Iamgiorgio (https://freesound.org/people/Iamgiorgio/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Iamgiorgio/sounds/371307/
LightMachineGun3.wav by SuperPhat (https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/sounds/417686/
BurstFire.wav by SuperPhat (https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/SuperPhat/sounds/424630/
Wind-noise.wav by jorge0000 (https://freesound.org/people/jorge0000/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/jorge0000/sounds/361053/
BirdFlap1.wav by AgentDD (https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/sounds/246225/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
BirdFlap2.wav by AgentDD (https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/sounds/246224/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
BirdFlap3_Deeper.wav by AgentDD (https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/AgentDD/sounds/246223/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
gas_fire_catch.wav by themfish (https://freesound.org/people/themfish/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/themfish/sounds/45809/
Edited by Alan Kwan into a shorter version
PS_Wood_Fire_Burning_(Loopable)_01 by PoundSoundUK (https://freesound.org/people/PoundSoundUK/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/PoundSoundUK/sounds/717807/
No changes were made to the original version
bullet zip and hit.wav by TheLittleCrow (https://freesound.org/people/TheLittleCrow/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
At https://freesound.org/people/TheLittleCrow/sounds/496509/
Elephant growl and trumpet slowed down by ShangASDFGuy123 (https://freesound.org/people/ShangASDFGuy123/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/ShangASDFGuy123/sounds/735267/
Raven many.mp3 by Bidone (https://freesound.org/people/Bidone/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Bidone/sounds/69575/
Big Bell with Verb by dr_knoise (https://freesound.org/people/dr_knoise/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/dr_knoise/sounds/181292/
Sad heaven piano #2 by PSOVOD (https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/PSOVOD/sounds/414856/
Edited into a loopable version by Alan Kwan
Night Ambiance - 44.1k, 16-Bit Depth.aif by DidntGoToFilmSchool (https://freesound.org/people/DidntGoToFilmSchool/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/DidntGoToFilmSchool/sounds/248103/
S_Spotlight_Off.wav by Grubzyy
(https://freesound.org/people/Grubzyy/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Grubzyy/sounds/422729/
"Look out, Tex!" by unfa (Tobiasz 'unfa' Karoń)
(https://freesound.org/people/unfa/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/unfa/sounds/187359/
AR15 rifle shot by michorvath
(https://freesound.org/people/michorvath/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/michorvath/sounds/427596/
heart beat increasing 116642.wav by klankbeeld
(https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/181805/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
Scared Male Heavy Breathing by casiba842
(https://freesound.org/people/casiba842/)
Available for use under the CC0 license(https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/casiba842/sounds/554307/
female heavy breathing angry anxious mouth upclose closed open by jerry.berumen
(https://freesound.org/people/jerry.berumen/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/jerry.berumen/sounds/772833/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
Young boy, fast breathing for running.wav by SpliceSound
(https://freesound.org/people/SpliceSound/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/SpliceSound/sounds/260187/
Man Breathing.wav by sydneyfrencho
(https://freesound.org/people/sydneyfrencho/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/sydneyfrencho/sounds/683687/
Breathing_scared.wav by deleted_user_2104797
(https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_2104797/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_2104797/sounds/166125/
DeqstersLab - Heavy Breathing Scared Male by DeqstersLab
(https://freesound.org/people/DeqstersLab/)
Available for use under the Attribution 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/DeqstersLab/sounds/721351/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project
Man_Cry_Close.wav by RepDac3
(https://freesound.org/people/RepDac3/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/RepDac3/sounds/477750/
Godzilla Stomp.wav by Cloud-10
(https://freesound.org/people/Cloud-10/)
Available for use under the CC0 license (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/Cloud-10/sounds/651838/
fall to ground.aif by MAJ061785
(https://freesound.org/people/MAJ061785/)
Available for use under the Attribution 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
at https://freesound.org/people/MAJ061785/sounds/85546/
Modified by Alan Kwan into a version used in this project