November 27, 2024: Games As Art And Literature

[DeadParrot]

Originally Posted by PracticalM

.....

I did finally get rid of all the software that I only had on 3.5" floppies after I no longer have a working computer to read those. Next is all the old CD-ROMs that won't run on newer machines.

Still lots of ways to read 3.5" floppies. Drives still available that connect via USB. Some folks, including me, still have a 5.25" FD and motherboard to run it "just in case". Most modern Operating Systems, including Windows, have a way to run a Virtual Machine(VM) that can emulate earlier systems. So you can still load up that Win 3.1 or DOS game and play it. One of the problems is that even after the overhead of emulating early hardware and software, the emulated system is many times faster then the original. 'Push start, a few fast flashes, you died while scoring 3482 points.' Sometimes there are VM settings that can fix that.

That said, I have done some serious culling over the years. Mostly computer games that looked more fun when purchased than during play. I tend to hang on to physical games. Sometimes they can be harvested for parts for other games.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Shostak

It would be great to hear from this group what folks think would be essential to an exhibition that attempts to explore RPGs as a complex art form. What would such an exhibition need to have in it in order for you to feel like you came away from the exhibition having learned something, having had a satisfying (or at least interesting) aesthetic experience, and that visiting the exhibition was worthwhile and left you with a better appreciation for what RPGs are?

That's hard. Explaining how they are created risks doing something like explaining painting via brush sizes and paint chemistry.

The thing that survives after a role-playing experience is memories, and we tell each other about them, usually via the funny, horrific or disastrous parts. Telling the story of a campaign is quite time-consuming, and can easily be boring. Telling the story well is a different art from participating in the role-playing, although it is related, and definitely involves interaction between teller and audience. I've tried to write down some campaigns in The Path of Cunning (link in my signature), but the lack of feedback on those articles makes me feel I haven't done it very well.

[Shostak]

Originally Posted by johndallman

That's hard. Explaining how they are created risks doing something like explaining painting via brush sizes and paint chemistry.

The thing that survives after a role-playing experience is memories, and we tell each other about them, usually via the funny, horrific or disastrous parts. Telling the story of a campaign is quite time-consuming, and can easily be boring. Telling the story well is a different art from participating in the role-playing, although it is related, and definitely involves interaction between teller and audience. I've tried to write down some campaigns in The Path of Cunning (link in my signature), but the lack of feedback on those articles makes me feel I haven't done it very well.

Perhaps first-person accounts by gamers, in the form of audio or video, could help tell visitors get a better grasp of this facet of RPGs? There is also the possibility of some kind of simple interactive that provides the opportunity for a visitor to experience an abbreviated form of an emergent narrative. And there are other facets, like illustrations and props, that by being explored by the exhibition, might contribute to to the visitor's appreciation of the creation of memories.

I've enjoyed The Path of Cunning, by the way!

[kkc]

Originally Posted by Shostak

Perhaps first-person accounts by gamers, in the form of audio or video, could help tell visitors get a better grasp of this facet of RPGs? There is also the possibility of some kind of simple interactive that provides the opportunity for a visitor to experience an abbreviated form of an emergent narrative.

What you have accidentally done is make the case for a Ken Burns-style documentary where gamers tell their campaign war stories in colorful regional accents, against a backdrop of sepia-toned concept art and haunting violin music.

On July the ninth of 2013, Thaddeus Crunk composed a lengthy text message home as he made plans to enter the dungeon.

"My dearest Sarah, I hope this missive finds you well. I am sorry, but I must send apologies for missing our supper together tonight. My party must prepare for battle, but only poorly equipped and with our mage having memorized only the most unsuitable of spells. We must succeed or fail before sunrise for our gamesmaster must work the late shift at the warehouse for the next three nights, and all our hopes rest only on the strength of our camaraderie. Please record Orphan Black for me."

[Balok]

I have done this. Backed things on Kickstarter I just liked the sound of, and will probably never play. I have a closet full of old games I don't play any longer but couldn't bear to part with. Whoever inherits from me will have... a time understanding what they own. Maybe I'll write some kind of explanation. :)

[J. Edward Tremlett]

How about we nominate noteworthy games that should have their own exhibit?

I'd nominate Wraith: the Oblivion for having, as part of the rules of the game, a mechanic for having your character's dark side being played as a separate charcter by either another player (preferably) or the storyteller (if all else fails). I'm not aware of a game that did this before then.