dima

  • 8bit syndrome

    Interactive installation at Signal Festival Prague 2013, 19.-20.10. 2013, Piazzetta at New Stage of National Theatre

    Authors: Adam Široký (programming, mapping, performance control), Tomáš Nadymáček (graphics)

    Tools: Flash (games), HTML on WebSockets (player front-end, on smartphones), Perl+OSC (back-end, providing game to front-end communication), custom WiFi network


    "Raised pulse rate, tightened stomach muscles, strange dreams, and the squares... ohhh, the falling squares. I saw them everywhere, and when I didn't see them in skylines or grocery aisles, I had only to close my eyes and there they were behind my eyelids, falling faster and faster as I furiously rotated them mentally."
    "Many people, after playing Tetris for more than an hour straight, report being plagued by after-images of the game for up to days afterwards, an ability to play the game in their head, and a tendency to identify everything in the world as being made of four squares and attempt to determine 'where it fits in."

    [Annette Earling: The Tetris Effect, 1996]


    The 8bit Syndrome introduces computer games that have become a legend into the public space. Tetris, Snake, Pong... the principles proven by years stay on, although their design has been thoroughly innovated. Keyboard is replaced by a touch-screen and all passers-by with a smartphone or tablet can join the game. They just have to log into to the prepared WiFi network. And spectators will also come into their own – instead of the greenish display there is a projection on the building of the New Scene of the National Theatre. Large glass pixels of the building’s front remind of the low resolution of the 8bit games. Can the “Green Team” beat the “Blue Team”? Whose score will be the highest? Who is going to have their dream images filled with squares?
    event ⚫ web