Devil Bringer likes killing demons, but dislikes pittbull terriers and hats. Devil Bringer’s special skill is dancing the bolero. [Although, to me, that easily sounds like it could be the name of a type of hat…]
The image above is the profile card the person playing as Devil Bringer created in the first few minutes of playing Emergent Game. After completing this profile mission, players then go on to complete a series of other missions. Sometimes the profile mission sets you up nicely for the rest of the game: you know exactly how you must respond to the following missions…
I originally named the Synapse the Synapse because I imagined the arduino-powered, instruction-delivering oojamaflip to be at the head of a chain of people, something a bit like a neuron.
I’ve just now discovered courtesy of wikipedia that:
The word “synapse” comes from “synaptein”, which Sir Charles Scott Sherrington and colleagues coined from the Greek “syn-” (“together”) and “haptein” (“to clasp”).
Which is even more apt; so if anyone asks, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
So right, the question is how to give as many members of the playmakers teams (usually about 15 people, I think) important jobs to do. (NB important does not necessarily equate to sensible.) Rather than thinking of the camera as a huge physical device, I see it more as a large mass of people having to move in unison. On the Ludocity forum I initially suggested remoting the power supply to the video camera so that several people had the responsibility to keep switches closed in order to keep the camera filming. This was an extreme example, and probably not one you’d actually want to do because the stakes are a bit high if someone breaks the circuit and the camera loses power. You’d have to stop play and get things set up to start recording again = too much of a handbrake.
So, back to the old staple of loud noises and flashy lights. Loud noises instantly draw attention to the players both from bystanders and from other teams they may be trying to sneak up on/away from. Flashy lights because if you’re watching playback on 3 screens simultaneously, you’re not going to be able to identify which camera the sound came from.
At tonight’s fizzPOP I hacked together a bike light, an attack alarm and a couple of push-to-break switches to see if the approach looks like it’s got legs. Both switches have to be continuously held down or else lights will flash and noises will be noisy.
After the session the other hackers were kind enough to humour me and help give it a little test. It was raining, but fortunately we were in a building next to a railway viaduct, so we headed for that.
Can confirm lights are bright enough and noises loud enough.
Prior to going outside, we’d had a really good discussion about the Playmakers project, possible roles of technology and what were appropriate roles of technology.
A really interesting idea that bubbled up was what would the scoring be like if you could use augmented reality software to recognise the presence of players from other teams and therefore automate durational scoring? We imagined ridiculously big It’s a Knockout style marker images being carried around the streets.
Could have some interesting implications for superimposing graphics over the videos during the playback too…
Anyway, back to loud noises and flashy lights. From the test we learned:
Switches need to be more tricksy: maybe tilt switches or something that rely on the position of whatever you’re carrying - push buttons as they are are too easy to hold shut.
Things will get interesting with upwards of about 5 people in a chain.
The camera person needs to be quite a way back from the loud noise and flashy light device…
… but I like the way the video shows the team doing stuff, having the camera pointed down the line like this.
Croc clips can’t be relied upon if you’re running around!
There’s a group of Birmingham arty folk doing stuff over at Pitt Studio in Worcester today and I want to tell people about it. But I can’t. They’ve hidden all the information.
The Pitt website has this on their front page:
…which is sort of useful if you’re looking at it in the context of the Pitt website so you a) know where abouts it’s being held and b) aren’t relying on a screen-reader or anything like that. There’s nothing on either of the sites relating to the two main curators involved.
I’m frustrated because a while ago I had a press release with loads of information in it. You know, the sort of information likely to encourage the usual Birmingham suspects to go over to Worcester and check out what’s happening at Pitt (something I’ve been meaning to do for months, but just needed a prod to do so).
I don’t often use this site for rants, but this has got me really worked up. So much of the art stuff around me is stuck in the flyer mentality that it really hinders spreading the word. Grrrrrr.
Here’s the press release I got, that I’m forced to publish on my own site if I want to link to it. (Which I will be doing from my Twitter account in just a few seconds…). Forgive me, but I can’t be bothered to add links in.
Press Release
MENAGERIE OF BIRDS
Preview 4-8pm Saturday 6th June 2009
Pigeon Party 7-8pm at the Preview
Artists include: Claire Brewster, Annabel Dover, Dicky Graham, Harminder Singh Judge, David Miller, Michelle Munn, Scott Robertson, Stuart Tait with Alex Lockett and Ian England’s Pigeon Party
Curated by Charlie Levine
In historical terms ‘Menagerie’ is used to describe the collection and captivity of exotic animals. It was defined in the Methodical Encyclopedia of 1782 as an ‘establishment of luxury and curiosity.’ For Menagerie of Birds curator Charlie Levine has bought together a collection of artists whose work encompasses the thoughts of captivity, luxury and curiosity represented through the image of the bird. From a subtle sound piece by Stuart Tait, books by Annabel Dover, paintings by Michelle Munn and Scott Robertson, a light drawing by David Miller, delicate cut outs by Claire Brewster, sculptures by Dicky Graham and a film piece by Harminder Singh Judge this show is certainly eclectic.
For the final hour of the preview Alex Lockett and Ian England supported by [insertspace] will host a Pigeon Party as part of Project Pigeon. Ian and Alex invite you to ‘come and celebrate the pigeon (especially theirs), dance to pigeon songs, eat speed cake, drink whisky and meet the birds.’
Menagerie of Birds seeks to combine various methods of artistic practice with Levine as the bird fancier as the first invited curator at Pitt Studio.
Menagerie of Birds Preview Saturday 6th June 2009 4-8pm
Exhibition continues until Sunday 28th June 2009, viewings by appointment only, please contact Nathanial on 01905 616660
Project Pigeon is an art, curatorial and education project; Alex and Ian are keeping and racing pigeons, running workshops, holding open loft days, and exhibiting artworks carried by pigeon.
Curated by Charlie Levine at Pitt Studio, 62 Chestnut Walk, Worcester, WR1 1PR
Contact Charlie at charlie_levine@yahoo.co.uk or Nathanial at info@pittstudio.com
