Immersive Aesthetics: VR, Larp, and Art

Join us for our lecture in the Erasmus EDGE Event Series: “Immersive Aesthetics: VR, Larp, and Art” by Nadja Lipsyc! This bonus event is part of our Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership for curriculum development in transformative game design.

When: Monday, June 17 from 7:00-8:30pm CEST
Where: Online on Zoom

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Link will be provided to registrants on the day of the event. Make sure to sign in with the same name you used to register.

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Description:
This research explores the aesthetics of immersive and interactive storytelling in Virtual Reality, around the development of a role-playing game inspired by the film Stalker (1979) by Tarkovsky. Named Lone Wolves Stick Together, this VR experience borrows from larp (live action role-play), video games, sound installations, and film to explore how to use the full creative potential of digital immersion. As the first larp fully developed as a standalone VR experience, Lone Wolves Stick Together poses as a proof of concept of the viability and intuitivity of the form, but also opens reflections on ethics of technology and co-creation. The wider discussion around VR and larp will bridge towards transformation: through role-play, but also through virtual bodies and prosthetics, and through reality-testing as a mean to seek personal and social change.

Presenter bio:
Nadja Lipsyc is a game designer, artist, and researcher with an education in neuroscience and audiovisual production. She recently completed her PhD in Artistic Research at the The Norwegian Film School. She works with videogames, film, VR stories, experimental theater, installation art, larp and teaches at the Oslo school of Architecture and Design. Her work often stages surreal and symbolic universes tied to contemporary critical questions.

The presenter is a volunteer for Erasmus EDGE, a joint Higher Education Cooperation Partnership project between Uppsala University, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Dragons’ Nest, Chaos League, and Avalon Larp Studio.

This series is hosted by the Games & Society Lab at the Department of Game Design, Uppsala University Campus Gotland. The series explores the use of analog role-playing games as vehicles for lasting personal and social change.

* * *Learn more about Erasmus EDGE here.

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Graphic design by Kate Blomgren and Daria Shpak.

Sarah Lynne Bowman, on behalf of EDGE
Senior Lecturer, Department of Game Design
Uppsala University Campus Gotland

Join the Fair Play Jam, 4-6 Oct!

✨🌈Applications for Fair Play Jam 2024 are open! 🌈✨

We are super excited to be running Fair Play Jam in collaboration with Outi Laiti. This 3 day game jam is all about growing game design skills in fairness, cultural sensitivity and racial equity 💖🎮

It’s open for all levels and types of game formats, and it features free training and mentoring by anti-racist experts!

Especially recommended for students!

Applications are open until July 15th!

Fair Play Jam is taking place October 4-6, 2024, at the Department of Game Design – Uppsala University
Applications are open until July 15th

Wind Riders

Our team wants to create a game where you are racing against yourself or others in a sailing game. The booth will be built like two (very small) boats and one screen. The boats will have a physical rudder and sail. The main mechanics of the game is a rudder that controls the steering of the boat and a sail that you will have to catch the wind in. The high concept of the game is having two players plus some bots that race against each other just like Mario Kart. Also in this version the boats are fully fledged, something that looks like the hull and front of a boat with a viking theme. We also want fans that indicate the direction of the wind and really make the player feel like they are in a boat on an open sea.

This game was awarded the Jury Spotlight Award at the Gotland Game Conference 2024.

Team Sail’em!

  • Fredrik Kjellberg
  • Danila Rumyantsev
  • Vivien Birkás
  • Duy Nguyen
  • Elias Uddin
  • Julian Letsche
  • Linda Ringdahl

The Social Grip: Llama Drama

The Social Grip: Llama Drama is a second-person perspective stealth game and is a continuation of last year’s The Social Grip. Almost every part of the game has been given a close look and is being updated. In each level players will have to switch between the security cameras to move the main character Dan around. Players, will have to think carefully on when and where to move and how to avoid the guards patrolling the levels. The original grid-based movement has been replaced with more responsive point-and-click movement. Our art team has also taken a close look at last year’s art style and are working on an improved art style. Finally, we are planning to introduce new mechanics and goals such as collecting evidence and hacking into elements of the environment.

The Social Grip: Llama Drama was awarded The Almedalen Library Award at the Gotland Game Conference 2024.

Thesis on DiVA:

Player Onboarding in a Low-Complexity Game Favouring Implicit Instructions: A Case Study of the Game The Social Grip

Team Chonk Cats Productions:

  • Rens van Eldijk
  • Daniel Mardunovich
  • Lukas Wolf
  • Ottilia Hedberg
  • Anna Hatzl
  • Bozidar Jankovic
  • Dylan Kühl
  • Ilias Keramidas
  • Disa Nordström