Emergent Game: Call for Ludens

We invite you to play Emergent Game and help us explore possibilities across appropriated digital and non-digital spaces.

For the last month or so, a small group of people have chosen to describe themselves as Ludens – those willing to take part and play – rather than Sapiens – those who will only watch. Together we have been exploring an open-ended game format known as Emergent Game.

Emergent Game: Sapiens? Ludens? Choose.

It’s a bit hard to describe because as new people get involved their interactions influence what is happening… although I think it is fair to say that we have now arrived at something that is utilising a range of web applications (photo-sharing, video-sharing, map-sharing, idea-sharing…) to catalyse re-imagining the everyday stuff around us.

There is some commentary on the Emergent Game website that describes this in more detail than I can here, but even that is really just scratching the surface.

what is?

If you are interested in any of the following, then this could well be the The Game for you:

  • exploring use of public spaces
  • exploring the edges
  • exploring groups of people
  • examining modes of participatory practice
  • messing around with technology
  • messing around with language
  • messing around with ideas
  • interacting
  • playing for the sake of learning
  • playing for the sake of playing

However, if you think you must be any (or perhaps all) of these types of people to join in, then please think again. Simply put: Emergent Game is what you make of it.

To help you decide whether to become a Ludens, a Sapiens or to go ahead and forget all about it, I recommend you first have a look at the Sapiens section of the Emergent Game website. Here you’ll find some commentary to give you a flavour of what’s been going on so far.

Don’t worry if it seems impenetrably technological – The Game doesn’t assume dizzying amounts of computing knowledge; only a willingness to give things a go. Likewise you don’t need the latest smartphone or satnav (but we do recommend a mobile phone, access to the internet and perhaps a digital camera).

Loki logs in

As you may have noticed, each Ludens is anonymous. Emergent Game is played through a customised soft toy avatar that represents you both online and for the real-world aspects too. How far you take this customisation is entirely up to you.

Lepufo gets some new eyes

If you can see the potential in all this and are ready to get involved, here are your initial instructions.

If you can see the potential in all this, but see yourself as more Sapiens than Ludens, here is your news feed.

If you have a group of Ludens, are ready to challenge our notions of place, but need to discuss language support, here is your contact form.

If you have an agenda, and need to discuss either incorporation or a splinter group, this is also your contact form.

Either way, we’re looking forward to talking to you.

The small print:

Emergent Game is supported by the New Generation Arts festival, 2008. Our main flurry of activity will be in early June, but things are already getting started now and could well run on for longer than the festival too.

For those of you based in or near Birmingham, UK, there will be various workshops and events – please watch either this or the Emergent Game website for more information as it is made available.