This presentation will discuss alternative approaches to gameplay by looking at player agency through the lens of improvisational performance and in relation to goal-oriented gameplay and the role of the glitch in the agency of a game system, itself. This presentation will also discuss improvisational play as a critical approach to the stricture of game mechanics and narrative. By discussing the use of game-level building tools in the platformer Little Big Planet, Tamara Yadao, of game art performance duo foci + loci, will show some of her custom built game maps and sound spaces that she plays as instruments and performance systems.
About the presenter
Tamara Yadao designs virtual environments/interfaces for improvisational performance using in-game level-building tools. She has spoken about ‘glitch’, game sound, a/v synthesis and virtual instrument design at Dartmouth College, MassArt, New School, NYU Poly, Museum of Arts and Design, Spotify, Concordia University. She is part of game art duo foci + loci, awarded a 2013 NYSCA grant. She also received a 2014 Jerome grant through the American Composers Forum. Among others, she has exhibited/performed at Babycastles, Brooklyn Museum, Brown University, Press Start Festival at Centre Pompidou, Eyebeam, Hackers on Planet Earth conference, MAGfest, Vector Game Art Festival. She also writes chip music under the moniker Corset Lore.