Get ready to flex your creative muscles! Shuhei Yoshida, former head of PlayStation Indies, and Jordan Magnuson, founder of the legendary TIGSource forum, are teaming up for a unique game jam that’s all about blurring the lines between gaming and poetry. If you’re looking for a fresh challenge that pushes the boundaries of interactive art, this is it.
A Celebration of “Game Poems”
Magnuson and Yoshida are among the esteemed judges for this upcoming game jam, organized by the UK’s National Film & Television School. The focus? The “videogame poem” – a new form of expression described as an “emergent short-form personal expression that challenges traditional boundaries between art forms.” You can find more details on their Itch.io page.
Magnuson’s Deep Dive into Poetics
Jordan Magnuson, known for his work on shortform games and his influential role in fostering communities like TIGSource (the birthplace of Minecraft, Fez, and Papers, Please), has written an entire open-access book about Game Poems. This deep dive explores the concept through organizing principles such as brevity, subjectivity, and ritual performance, drawing inspiration from poets like Goethe, T.S. Eliot, and Emily Dickinson. Magnuson’s work also includes practical exercises for aspiring game poets, along with a toolkit of useful resources.
While I’m still working my way through Magnuson’s book, I’ve found it incredibly insightful. It successfully distills complex ideas from diverse artworks, making them accessible to everyone. It’s both comprehensive and approachable, offering a valuable introduction to this emerging field.
A Universal Language
Magnuson eloquently describes poetry as “not a form so much as a mode of intervention that can exist in any medium,” a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. It’s a powerful creative force, capable of infusing other forms of media with its unique energy and perspective.
More to Come: An Exclusive Interview
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing both Magnuson and Yoshida for an upcoming feature on game poems. Unfortunately, Gamescom threw a wrench in our plans, but we’re aiming to publish it next week! This will allow me to discuss some of the submissions from the NFTS jam.
Meet the Judges
The judging panel is packed with talent, including Cash DeCuir, narrative designer, writer, and voice director for Disco Elysium; John Lau, game designer and lead producer on South of the Circle; Claudio Pollina, game designer and professor at Rome University of Fine Arts; and Jenna Jovi, a screenwriter and narrative designer with experience in both games and film.
Join the Jam!
Magnuson will be giving a seminar at 11am UK time on Monday to introduce the jam – you can watch it live on Zoom. The theme of the jam will be revealed during the seminar. One key requirement is that all submissions must be playable in a browser. So, unleash your creativity and start versifying! And for those who aren’t quite ready to embrace the poetic muse, Steam gift cards are up for grabs for the winners.
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