Play a Mixed Reality Puzzle

“Emergent Game“

Wikipedia defines emergent gameplay as the “creative use of a game in ways unexpected by the game designer’s original intent”, but what if the design of the game itself was emergent?

This project takes a participatory arts approach to designing a mixed reality game: the game’s name, rules and objectives will be arrived at through a series of interactions and collaborations taking place both online and in the real world. Likewise the game itself will take place across a mashup of digital and non-digital spaces.

Got access to an internet connection? Got a mobile phone? Want to find new ways of interacting with your surroundings? You’ll need an avatar to represent you within the game, go to www.emergentgame.org.uk for your initial instructions.

Developed by Nikki Pugh, a recent Birmingham City University graduate, Emergent Game draws on the growing pervasiveness of mobile communications, digital media and online social networking. Players in central Birmingham will be able to utilise Digital Birmingham’s new free information zone and wireless network facility for aspects of the game: log onto www.birminghamfiz.com and follow the Emergent Game link.

We’ll be running two introductory sessions to give people the chance to explore Emergent Game before they start to play.

Both are based in Birmingham, UK and both are free, drop-in sessions:

Workshop 1:
Monday 2nd June
Rooty’s at the Custard Factory
Drop in between 4.30 and 7pm

Workshop 2:
Friday 6th June
BCU Fine Art Department, Margaret St, City Centre (behind BM&AG)
Drop in between 2 and 4pm