During This Is A Door in 2012, film maker James Tresise interviewed Robert and Sayraphim about their work, what Pop Up Playground is doing and why it’s important.
Interview with Sayraphim Lothian from James Tresise on Vimeo.
Interview with Robert Reid from James Tresise on Vimeo.
Earlier in the year, James also interviewed Ben McKenzie about games and play
BenGameMechanic from James Tresise on Vimeo.
We’ve just uploaded a new video which shows a little about our design process and what happens at a playtest.
Check it out!
Playtesting Office Wars from popupplayers on Vimeo.
Newsletter! Newsletter has just gone out! We hear those of you who arn’t on the mailing list gasp about missing out, but never fear, you can find it here: http://eepurl.com/y4n0b
(and sign up on the right so you wont ever miss one!)
New PlayTests to build New Games.
Come play the newest of the new games by Pop Up Playground.
27th July
10 am – 5pm
310-314 Church Street, Richmond
Come play and help us finish these games off
email us at rabbithole@popupplayground.com.au to let us know you’re coming
Also, we’ll gladly receive any gold coin donations to help us pay for the space hire.
On the weekend, Pop Up Playground went off on adventure, beginning in the dark and cold and rain of a Melbourne morning and flying bedraggled and bleary eyed to Sydney.
The good people at University of New South Wales invited us to run a workshop with some of their games design students and interested members of the public.
We ran some warm up games, then got into a massive double game of Werewolf where the accused could run from the lynch mob and join the other town. We also ran a brand new Constructive Play work called Table Town. Then we took a break for lunch and then came back to have a quick chat about what it is Pop Up Playground does and why we do it. We finished off with two games of Pudding Lane (its been a while since we’ve run it, which prompts me to think we need to do semi regular training sessions so we remember the rules) and then showed the documentary we made at IGfest and the weekender.
We would have liked to have a bit more time for reflection and a chance to throw around ideas, but time has a way of getting away from us when we’re having fun.
It was great playing with all those guys and to meet some of the playful people in Sydney. It was also totally awesome to welcome Grant and Mary from Serious Business to Sydney, having just gotten off the plane from the UK that morning.
We’ll be back up soon, we’ll keep you guys in Sydney posted.
The newsletter has jsut gone out to our mailing list (sign up on the right if you’re not already) and it’s got big news – we’re coming to Sydney and Copenhagen! Click here for all the fun: http://eepurl.com/xuzhD
Tipping point
by Emilie Collyer
All he did was stop for a coffee.
Tuesday morning, city square. Autumn sunlight bouncing off the little canal they built into the concrete pavers. The smell of promise in the air. Autumn in Melbourne always smells like promise.
His grey suit, nice cut, looking like he forked out a bit for it. Maybe he’s on his way to an interview. He’s nervous. Low self-esteem. The shoes are worn but polished and just a bit too much after-shave scent trailing in his wake. Soapy, with undertones of cigarette smoke. Hands shaking gently as he wraps them around the cardboard cup, flicks the lid off, blows on the coffee.
It’s one of those pretty coffees. The barista has taken care, drawn a delicate swirl in the crema, shaped like a love heart. If the guy had looked closely it might have been warning enough. But only if he’d recognised the symbol. And why would he? He was a regular guy, with ordinary hopes and petty fears, feeling a bit flat on a Tuesday morning, wanting the buzz of a caffeine lift.
He wasn’t one of us.Read More
Phew! Last night we debuted The Whispering Society as part of White Night Melbourne. We had over 1000 people through our four locations, seeking out signs of the paranormal and sharing their stories over the 12 hours.
For the moment we’re resting up, but we couldn’t resist sharing some photos from the night.
Thanks to our amazing game runners, Madeline Anderson, Jack Beeby, Sam Dowdswell, Jason Cavenagh and Dave Lamb. Also massive thanks to the volunteer staff of the State Library of Victoria who went above and beyond to help out with all our payers and Gwyn Morfey who stepped in as emergency game runner to help out when we were overwhelmed by numbers of players.
Stay tuned for Emilie Collyer’s conclusion to The Whispering Society.
Our Writer in Residence, Emilie Collyer, also wrote a response to the experience of playing games at the Fresh Air festivalin Feb, 2013. We’re proud to present Emilie’s brand new work – Plays Well With Others.
Plays well with others
by Emilie Collyer
The problem wasn’t so much in the game. The problem was in the aftermath of the game.
‘Who the fuck is going to clean this place up?’
He was blonde, lean and dressed as a security guard. None of us could tell at that moment who was Halo and who was Human. It was hard enough any time, but straight after a long game judgement was particularly impaired. But he was holding a gun so we gave him the benefit of the fucking doubt.Read More
Our Writer in Residence, Emilie Collyer, has been hard at it and here responds to the experience of playing Atmosphere Industries’ Mont Trottoir.
Believer
(gotta-fucking-love-them)
by Emilie Collyer
My favourite photograph is the one of us at the top of the mountain. You’re looking like a freakin’ movie star. Fuck you’re gorgeous. And I’m looking like the idiot who’s in love with a movie star. We’re both wearing sunglasses and peaked caps and kerchiefs – is that what you call them? – around our necks. Mine is orange and yours is purple. The sun is shining so brilliant. Behind us are mountains and more mountains. Serious mountains for serious fuckers. Our mountain was humble in comparison. It was only 5,000 metres or thereabouts. You know I should look up exactly how high it was. I have never been happier than in that moment. On that day. Fuck me, you were so beautiful.
We never own anything, that’s what I learned. Things, people, mountains, sunshine, they’re just on loan to us and we can’t ever get away with thinking we can keep them forever.Read More
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