Category: Events
Some noteworthy IGF entries
I had a more thorough look at all the entries to the main competition of the Independent Games Festival. The diversity is impressive. I have tried to select some entries that I feel are worthy of attention and/or likely finalists in my opinion. I have done this based on the information available, which ranged from screenshots to playable demos. Entries that didn’t have more than one screenshot were ignored.
I also did not include games that were decidedly hobbyist projects or games that fit a very specific market (and will probably find it without the help of the IGF). Obviously, given the high number of entires, I may have failed to recognize some really good titles. I hope the jury picks them up for me.
As it turns out, the games I selected can be divided in three categories. I call them pinball games, simulators and games with content. The first are the most likely to be noticed by the IGF jury, in my opinion, and the last make the least chance. As it happens, my personal favourites are in the last category. I hope I’m being too pessimistic because there’s some very remarkable titles there.
Endless Forest turns EVIL!
For the occasion of the Velocity Festival of Digital Culture in Lancaster, The Endless Forest will be shrouded in mist during the month of October. Undead deer will be roaring, wolves howling and bats fluttering in preparation for All Hallow’s Eve and Day of the Dead.
You’ll need the latest Endless Forest client (3.1) to trick or treat.
You can be the very center of the mayhem, if you use the machine installed in the Furness & Midland Hall in Carnforth Station in Lancashire. Check here for information.
We’ve heard that opening hours may be “erratic for the first few days of the festival”. From Tuesday 16th to Saturday 3rd November the venue will be open to the public from 10am – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday.
IGF 2008 entries revealed
The Independent Games Festival has published a list of the entries for the main competition. There’s 173 of them and they show an amazing variety. I pity the judges. It’ll be tough.
Here’s ours. We’re in good company, right under Bill Viola’s game. 
Imagery from IETM
Michael’s 11 year old son provides the following images of the large projection at the IETM conference. The videos below show the 2 game consoles, on which attendees could play the game, in action!
TEF@IETM
Today, just like yesterday, we’ll be at the Vooruit again (between 5 and 7 pm), playing with the Twin Gods in The Endless Forest at the occasion of the IETM Autumn Plenary Meeting. Don’t be alarmed when rocks start falling from the sky!
VELOCITY Festival of Digital Culture
The Endless Forest will be installed at Carnforth railway station in the UK from 11th October – 3rd November 2007 as part of the VELOCITY festival taking place in Lancaster, UK and other parts along a train route of fun and mystery. We cannot come to the show physically but we’ll be introducing new attractions and activities to The Forest throughout the duration of the show culminating in a spooky finale on Halloween. From the description we were sent, here’s what one can expect:
“…a simple installation in the high vaulted Midland & Furness Hall of the station. Visitors will have to pass through a heavy velvet curtain to enter the space and I’m keen that that this feels just right. The lighting in the hall will mimic the dappled quality of sun or moon light through trees, and there will be a good sound system installed. The piece will be projected onto a screen approx 8’x10′ that will be built especially. Visitors will be able to stand up against the screen which will be floor mounted. The digital projector will be contained within a plinth in the centre of the space with a trackball mouse mounted on the top surface for them to engage with the game. There will of course be a high speed internet connection…
As we build towards Halloween a further physical element will be introduced, 1,000 tiny LED fireflies in the vault above the visitor’s head that will respond to the presence of electomagnetic forces (mobile phones) and the sound of the express trains from London to Glasgow that periodically pass the windows of the hall at great speed! They will live for just 24 hours.”
coolness! If you’re in the UK and interested in taking the train ride more info can be found at their web site.
Also our trailer for The Path will be projected during their Halloween film night. Related to that, it is our understanding that children from the Dukes Youth Arts Center have written little stage play based on The Path’s scenario which will receive it’s premiere from ten minutes before to ten minutes after midnight on Halloween…. ! …. that should be interesting, I’m hoping they put a video of it on YouTube! 😀
Photo Post: Vooruit 25 Years Installation
The Endless Forest at Vooruit’s 25th birthday party
Next Saturday, September 22nd, Arts Center Vooruit in Gent, Belgium, is celebrating its 25th birthday. There will be concerts, performances and parties throughout the building. The Endless Forest will be shown on two interactive consoles in the Foyer of the Theaterzaal in the back of the building, as part of the new media arts Parcours.
Tale of Tales retrospective at Furtherfield
Furtherfield are featuring a retrospective of the legendary Net Art duo, Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn*, launching with a major two part interview with Maria Chatzichristodoulou (aka Maria X). This reflects upon their lives, artworks, ideas, creative histories and their journey from Entropy8Zuper! to their current incarnation as a games development studio with a different approach, Tale of Tales.
*that’s us 😉