Hello Playmakers!

Ivo Gormley and I are following Alex and Holly’s journey through making a new pervasive game. We’re documenting the whole process: brainstorming sessions, Sandpit play tests and the feedback being reworked into improving the game design.

We’ve been filming amongst ribbons and balloons, hi-tech gadgets and coloured pencils and there has even been an instance of drawing directly onto a perfectly good table; these people will go to any length when it comes to game design.

Favorite moment so far: During the Surveillance game at the Barbican centre, which involves trying to film opposing teams, each identified by a wearing a specific colour, Ivo and I kept trying to approach people mid-game only to see them flee in horror. Only later did we realise we were both wearing blue tshirts and were being mistaken for the blue team.

As well as documenting this “making of”, we are making a film about Play.

Why do we play? Is it something we need? Like we need, say, physical exercise? If so, why do most of us stop playing with age? Or can every social interaction be thought of as a game? Will the Web and the diffusion of technologies like GPS help play make a comeback in public space? Basically, we want to find out what play will mean in the 21st century.

Now, we’re talking and planning to talk to people with all sorts of different backgrounds who can help us understand the various forces at … er …“play” when we play.

We are looking for anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, town planners, technologists … jesters, postmen, trapeze artists … anyone who has an interesting perspective on play really!

Who do you know that fits the description? Let us know!