Traditional arcades often conjure up images of children playing popular video games like PAC-MAN and Dance Dance Revolution. It’s an environment that’s usually associated with fun — not a place where players investigate larger social issues.
Arcade 11, taking place from March 4 to 8 at Concordia, aims to challenge those expectations.
A regular highlight of the larger Montréal joue game festival, Arcade 11 is a five-day event put on by members of Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) and the Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology.
This year’s theme is research and research-creation, and organizers hope visitors walk away with an understanding that video games are capable of being a great deal more than just pleasurable pastimes.
“The way we work with games is unique and we would like people to understand where we’re coming from,” says Gina Hara, coordinator and creative director of TAG.
“Games are part of our culture and we need to acknowledge that their powers go beyond entertainment.”
At the public event, participants will be able to test eight alternative video games. Members of TAG will also host a Playtest Corner where players can give their feedback on games that are still in development at the research centre.
Pippin Barr is associate director of TAG and assistant professor in Concordia’s Department of Design and Computation Arts. What makes this iteration of Arcade 11 so exciting for him is the chance to introduce a vision of the place of video games in academic research.
“Where previous editions of the arcade have focused more on presenting the public with unusual games, this time we really want to show the thinking and serious work behind the creation and study of games,” Barr says.