Unexpected Media

Play/Time Games Lab

In October 2007, the first Play/Time Games Lab will be staged as part of the London Games Festival Fringe.

Games, not just console games but games on tv, the web and mobile phones, ‘alternative reality games’, pervasive games, street games, are emerging as one of the key creative forms of the 21st century.  The London Games Festival Fringe aims to explore and celebrate the culture, innovation, economics, aesthetics and creativity of games, not just through exhibiting, discussing and playing them but also by developing and commissioning them.

Over four days between October 22nd and 26th, twenty creative professionals – artists, writers, developers and producers from backgrounds in theatre, video-games, animation, web design, tv and radio - will collaborate and compete to develop original ideas for new games across a range of platforms.

The Play/Time Lab will comprise a blend of masterclass, presentations, workshop, screenings and of course, play. Participants will have a unique opportunity to explore and experiment with game forms and digitally mediated play; working as individuals and in teams they will also brainstorm, develop and prototype ideas for new ones.

Play/Time will focus on digitally mediated play but not specifically on the console games market. We are interested in exploring new forms of interactive narrative, location based games, social and casual games, games that involve live events and performance, augmented or alternate reality games, games with emotional depth, games that appeal to ‘non-gamers’, games that play out across a range of platforms including radio and televsion.

The theme for this first Play/Time Lab is: Soho Stories. We are interested in giving the lab a sense of place (even though some of the games may be entirely digital) and exploring the psycho-geography of Soho, its cultures, communities, languages and myths (even if we’ve invented them).
If you’re interested in participating, contact us at play.time[at]unexpectedmedia.com for information on how to apply.