Here is a short blurb describing an experimental play event I’m orchestrating at the BNMI’s Interactive Screen workshop August 27th (unfortunately, private). Thanks to Tale of Tales for granting permission to use their game (now up and running on my dual-booting MacBook!) in this context:

A LAN party is a temporary gathering of people and networked computers for the purpose of optimizing the play of multiplayer digital games. What if that game is an artwork?

The Sustainable Forest will be a small scale “LAN party” using Tale of Tales’ (Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn) multiplayer online game The Endless Forest. The work itself is an atmospheric, self-directed game where you communicate non-verbally as a deer in a whimsical, multiplayer forest environment. Drawing on both the “endless forest” outside, and an atmospheric, surreal space inside, this “soiree” will strive to optimize the feeling of co-present, self-directed play. It is an experiment in sustaining an art experience by crafting a social gaming context conducive to mood, community, play, engagement, and reflection.