Research
Jams, Jelly Beans and the Fruits of Passion
Let us search, instead, for an epistemology of practice implicit in the artistic, intuitive processes which some practitioners do bring to situations of uncertainty, instability, uniqueness, and value conflict. (Schön 1983, p40)
Game On was born out of the idea of creative community; finding, networking, supporting and inspiring the people behind the face of an industry, those in the mist of the machine and those intending to join. We understood this moment to be a pivotal opportunity to nurture a new emerging form of game making, in an era of change, where the old industry models were proving to be unsustainable.
As soon as we started putting people into a room under pressure, to make something in 48hrs, a whole pile of evolutionary creative responses emerged. People refashioned their craft in a moment of intense creativity that demanded different ways of working, an adaptive approach to the craft of making games – small – fast – indie.
An event like the 48hrs forces participants’ attention onto the process as much as the outcome. As one game industry professional taking part in a challenge for the first time observed: there are three paths in the genesis from idea to finished work: the path that focuses on mechanics; the path that focuses on team structure and roles, and the path that focuses on the idea, the spirit – and the more successful teams put the spirit of the work first and foremost.
The spirit drives the adaptation, it becomes improvisation. As Schön says: “Improvisation consists on varying, combining and recombining a set of figures within the schema which bounds and gives coherence to the performance.” (1983, p55).
This improvisational approach is all about those making the games: the people and the principles of their creative process. This documentation evidences the intensity of their passion, determination and the shit that they are prepared to put themselves through to achieve their goal – to win a cup full of jellybeans and make a working game in 48hrs.
Schön, D. A. 1983, The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action, Basic Books, New York
Publications and Documentation of Creative Practice
truna aka j.turner & Lubi Thomas (2012) Jams, Jellybeans & the Fruits of Passion: Visualising the 48 hour game making challenge – poster presentation [mapping-48hrs-2012]
truna aka j.turner & Lubi Thomas (2011) Jams, jelly beans and the fruits of passion – art book (26 Pages). [Creative Work] [sample]
truna aka j.turner & Lubi Thomas (2011) IGDA Perspective May 2011 : Apres le deluge – The Brisbane [Briz-lantis] story. [Creative Work]
truna aka j.turner & Lubi Thomas (2010) GCAP 2010 presentation : jams, jellybeans and the fruits of passion. [Creative Work] [PDF]
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