Playing video games in front of a live audience turns them into an immersive performance art. The experience was both bewildering and exhilarating, as 70 players collaborated to navigate a surreal journey through a digital landscape.
The game Asses.Masses, created by Canadian artists Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim with a small team of collaborators, is often compared to other video games that are more about puzzle-solving than immersive storytelling. But its setting – a theatre surrounded by hundreds of people shouting advice and opinions – transforms the experience into a collective performance art.
The game opens with questions on donkeys in different languages, requiring players to work together to provide answers. As the journey progresses, it becomes clear that collaboration is key to success. The audience's diverse backgrounds and expertise are all utilized as players navigate through 10 chapters of the game.
During my experience playing the game for eight hours straight, I felt a sense of camaraderie with other players in the theatre. The collective effort made the game a true endurance test – and an incredible adventure. It has led me to reflect on why games that encourage collaborative play can be more engaging than those that don't.
In my experience, video games are most interesting when they evoke strong emotions or reactions from players. These experiences often rely on the addition of human factors – in this case, a live audience – which bring a new level of immersion and depth to the game.
The game Asses.Masses, created by Canadian artists Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim with a small team of collaborators, is often compared to other video games that are more about puzzle-solving than immersive storytelling. But its setting – a theatre surrounded by hundreds of people shouting advice and opinions – transforms the experience into a collective performance art.
The game opens with questions on donkeys in different languages, requiring players to work together to provide answers. As the journey progresses, it becomes clear that collaboration is key to success. The audience's diverse backgrounds and expertise are all utilized as players navigate through 10 chapters of the game.
During my experience playing the game for eight hours straight, I felt a sense of camaraderie with other players in the theatre. The collective effort made the game a true endurance test – and an incredible adventure. It has led me to reflect on why games that encourage collaborative play can be more engaging than those that don't.
In my experience, video games are most interesting when they evoke strong emotions or reactions from players. These experiences often rely on the addition of human factors – in this case, a live audience – which bring a new level of immersion and depth to the game.
!!! I mean we're talkin immersive performance art right here! The fact that everyone's workin together like a huge puzzle is insane... and don't even get me started on how the audience's energy changes everything. Like, shoutin advice in different languages at the start & then havin people contribute from all walks of life is just genius 
. It made me realize why collaborative gameplay is so much more engage than solo play. I mean, where's the fun in just savin' a princess alone when you can be part of somethin bigger? The collective effort was like... we're all in this together! 
. It made me realize how much I love collaborative games - there's something so satisfying about working together with a team to overcome challenges. The surreal digital landscape they created was like nothing I've ever seen before 
. I'm obsessed with the idea of gaming being a performance art, where the players are the stars and the crowd is part of the show 
. It just goes to show that video games can be so much more than just mindless fun - they can be experiences that really connect us all 
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We'd play games like Counter-Strike or Halo for hours on end and just get lost in the moment. I love how this game brings people together and turns it into a performance art – it's almost like going to a concert or something! 
But what really gets me is how it makes you realize that some of the best experiences come from collaborating with others, not just soloing through levels on your own. It's like going back in time and playing those old multiplayer games we loved so much – it feels like the good ol' days, you know? 
i was at this gaming event last year and it was like a whole different vibe 
? It's wild how they can turn something as simple as a video game into this massive performance art thingy. I love that it requires players to work together, but at the same time, I'm like, what if not everyone gets along in the group chat? 
I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of an epic journey with hundreds of strangers? it's like one big puzzle party 
and I love how the game uses that collective energy to create this surreal experience. it makes me think about how gaming is always evolving and pushing boundaries - first we had solo campaigns, then multiplayer, now immersive live performances... what's next?! 
I'm definitely down for more games like Asses.Masses that blur the lines between player and audience 
like u said, it's not just about puzzle-solvin or shootin stuff up, its about experiencin somethin new & unique every time u play. and havin that live audience adds a whole new level of energy & tension to the whole thing 
its like bein part of this big ol' gaming party 
! I love how it's all about collaboration and working together with other players to solve puzzles and stuff. It's not just about beating levels or collecting loot, it's more about being part of a team and feeling like you're all in this together.
! And the best part is, there are players from all over with different backgrounds and expertise, which adds to the whole experience. I felt like we were all in this together, you know?
. I think that's where games go wrong when they just focus on individual players - it's boring! But when you bring people together like that, man, it's a whole different story 
i think what really made it special was how it made me feel part of a community, you know? we were all just random players in the audience but through the game we became this collective entity trying to figure stuff out together 
and i totally agree with you that games which bring human elements into play are where its at for me 
. For me, it's a reminder that our interactions with others can be a huge part of what makes an experience memorable and impactful.
. And yeah, video games are definitely more interesting when they make you feel something – whether it's excitement or frustration or whatever. It's like, can't just be a solo experience anymore 
. And I think what really made it special was the live audience cheering us on and providing their expertise, it added a whole new level of depth to the game