Factsheet

Developer:
Tale of Tales
Based in Ghent, Belgium

Release date:
4 February, 2010

Platforms:
iOS
Android

Website:
tale-of-tales.com/Vanitas

Regular Price:

USD$2.99

Description

Sometimes, when you're depressed, it's good to see something depressing. A contemplation of the fleetingness of life. To help appreciate what you have. A meditative experience. A spiritual toy. A reminder of the preciousness of life.

History

We were commissioned, along with devlopers Eric Zimmerman and Jason Rohrer, to create a game for an exhibition held during the Art History of Games conference at the High Museum of Art. In addition to presenting during the conference we took part in an exhibition held at the Kai Lin Art gallery in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Features

  • Beautiful, tactile realtime 3D graphics.
  • Win a gold star each time you get three identical objects.
  • Surprising musical punctuation by renowned avant cellist Zoe Keating.
  • 24 Quotes on the topics of life and vanity from The Bible and from famous authors such as Rimbaud, Nietzsche, Sappho and Kundera.
  • Random combinations can generate over 40,000 different dynamic interactive pictures, each capable of inspiring contemplation.

Videos

Trailer YouTube, Vimeo

Our speech at the Art History of Games conference YouTube

Awards & Recognition

    • "Art History of Games" High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georia, July, 2010
    • "FILE electronic language international festival" Sao Paolo, Brazil, July, 2010

    Selected Articles

      • "Vanitas brings the idea of personal treasure and meaningful objects to the often cold world of mobile apps where utility and function are typically more important than emotion or private sanctity."
        - Jonah Brucker-Cohen, Rhizome
      • "The Art History... Of Games? Games As Art May Be A Lost Cause (Coverage of the conference.)"
        - Charles J. Pratt, Gamasutra

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      About Tale of Tales

      Boilerplate
      Tale of Tales is a small independent studio operating out of Ghent, Belgium, lead by Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn. Since 2003 they have created 7 beautiful and poetic videogames such as: The Path, The Graveyard, Bientôt l'été and Luxuria Superbia. Tale of Tale's games are known for their unique style and unusual gameplay ideas. Outspoken and unafraid to thwart convention, they look forward to another 10 years of making games that have an impact on games culture and a place in players lives.

      More information
      More information on Tale of Tales, our logo & relevant media are available here.

      Vanitas Credits

      Auriea Harvey
      Designer, Director, 3d artist

      Michael Samyn
      Designer, Director, Programmer

      Zoë Keating
      Musician