Tracy Fullerton and the new collaborative artform of video games.

Listen up debutant's and my cavalry, and listen well.

Today I had the wonderful pleasure of attending a lecture given by Tracy Fullerton, author, teacher, and video game designer. I've sat in front of hundreds of guest speakers and very few have impressed me as well as Fullerton. She impressed me by her belief that by integrating art, philosophy, and memories into a game, the user might find a way to relate to it. Its about experiencing the game on a higher interactive medium. Now I don't play video games. I might have smoked a joint or two (or more), geeked out, and got into some serious video game action while in high school. So as I was preparing for the lecture and boning up on Fullerton's background I cam across a free download for a game named "Cloud". I decided to download the game and give it a try. After an hour or so of game play I realized that I was experiencing one of my earliest childhood fantasies: the ability to fly. Given it was through a video game, but I never had experienced a connection with a game like I had with "Cloud" (All of you reading this can either groan or wipe your tears - its true). In the game, the user embodies a boy named Yun, and Yun has the ability to fly around the game universe and collect clouds. Once the clouds are collected, the user has the opportunity to release clouds in any pattern or design they can create. I remember as a kid looking up at the sky and imagining that clouds would look like a bunny or a frog. As simple as the game was, I experienced an engaging, and personal connection with the game that I haven't experienced before. The approach to Fullerton's design techniques revolve around the game's ability to interact with the gamer, not only functionality wise but on a level that integrates philosophical questions, reproduced art, and common memories that most people share. The philosophy behind “Cloud” is for the user to reconnect with their ideas and fantasies they had as a child. This allows the game to transcend the mechanics of the video game norm into a more communicative art form.

Fullerton also produced a trailer of sorts for her new game "Night Journey" for which she has teamed up with artist Bill Viola. The game resembles a "Myst"-like environment but recreates Viola's artwork. Still a prototype, it looks as if it might be an interesting art project.

Now to my rant.

Why is it that I am always stuck with immature film students that do nothing but crack jokes, complain about the film department and ruin what could have been a really interesting exercise. After the lecture, the large group was broken into smaller groups where we were supposed to play a basic game, and then create your own game. Well those in my group couldn't participate in a child's game and if they had to design a game, lets just say a certain school was the basis of the jokes. Go back to high school or grow up! Don't ruin other peoples experiences by your inability to be creative or at least act like an adult. Needless to say, I left (as did another group member who I assume was feeling the same way). I left because I didn't want to be associated with an idea that was designed to be a joke that was to be presented to Fullerton. Lets grow up kids or shut the hell up!

Sorry.....

Anyways for further info on Tracy Fullerton you can check out her website at www.tracyfullerton.com
or check out Bill Viola at
www.billviola.com

Also - a few films that touch on clouds:
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain a.k.a. Amelie
La Science des rêves a.k.a. The Science of Sleep
Truly, Madly, Deeply

Now, let me off my boxx.
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