CFP: CHI PLAY 2016 UnWorkshop, "It was Colonel Mustard in the Study with the Candlestick": Using Artifacts to Create an Alternate Reality Game

[Elizabeth Bonsignore]

Hi all,

Forwarding as possible interest. Please share as you like, thanks!

*** Apologies for Cross-Posting ***

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CALL FOR PARTICIPATION - CHI Play 2016 UN-Workshop

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     “It was Colonel Mustard in the Study with the Candlestick”: Using Artifacts to Create An Alternate Reality Game– An Unworkshop

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Workshop website: http://unworkshop.hcigames.com/

In conjunction with CHI PLAY 2016, Austin, TX, USA (https://chiplay.acm.org/)

October 16-19, 2016

Overview: 

Workshops are often used for academic social networking; however, the connections made can be superficial and result in little collaboration. This workshop is our attempt at creating a new format that builds deep relationships through co-creation and peer learning. As game researchers, designers, and enthusiasts, the CHI PLAY audience has unique insight into how to create meaningful games. An alternative to traditional workshops, the goal of this workshop is to design a unique opportunity for participants to network, co-create and learn by creating an alternate reality interactive theater experience.

 

This one-day workshop convenes tangible wearable interfaces with game design and improvisatory theater. During the session we will co-create an interactive theater experience that will be played with and by an audience as a high-tech murder mystery.

 

Artifact submissions can fall into a number of categories, including: Tangibles/Wearables, Sculpture (3D printed or otherwise), music/sound effects, and photographs/journals. Artifacts should be made by participants, easily transportable and durable. Workshop participants will be chosen based on their artifact’s functionality, originality and fit.

 

Topics of Special Interest

Alternate Reality Games

Tangibles/Wearables

Interactive Theatre

 

How to Participate

• Step 1: Fill out the brief call for interest survey (http://tinyurl.com/hgn9rg7) (Deadline: July 31, 2016)

• Step 2: Artifact categories sent out to potential participants who have responded to the call-for-interest survey (August 2, 2016)
  

Organizers will give potential participants a category and/or set of constraints   within which to develop their artifact.

• Step 3: Submit your Artifact Proposal/Abstract in extended abstract format to: unwor...@hcigames.com. (Deadline: 9 August 2016)
  

 Your artifact Abstract must include:

 - Artifact proof of concept (photograph, sketch, soundfile)

 - 1-2 page page description of the artifact and its use:

     ○ How does it fit into the murder mystery storyline?

     ○ What ways do you image this device being used?

     ○  How might an audience interact with it?

     ○ What potential problems do you encountering in your prototype? How are you going to overcome them?

 

Artifacts will undergo a peer-jury process and 10-15 will be selected, with preference to functional, and innovative submissions. Authors of accepted submission will be notified no later than August 11th, 2016. If accepted, at least one author of each accepted artifact needs to register for the workshop and for one or more days of the conference.

• Step 4: Workshop Pre-Meeting to demo/showcase artifacts (TBD, sometime during the week of 19 Sept, 2016 -- after CHI 2017 deadline)
  

All accepted workshop participants will be invited to participate in a Google Hangout session to meet each other and to demo their artifacts. Participants will have a chance to read the artifact descriptions and watch the videos beforehand; however, it is important that before the workshop begins, participants are aware of one another’s work.

 

Background and Details available on the Un-Workshop Website:

http://unworkshop.hcigames.com/

 

Feel free to send questions to:

unwor...@hcigames.com

 

Looking forward to hearing from you!

The Un-Workshop Organizers

• Alina Striner, Human-Computer Interaction Lab, University of Maryland, College Park
  
• Lennart Nacke, Research Director, HCI Games Group, University of Waterloo
  
• Elizabeth Bonsignore, Human-Computer Interaction Lab, University of Maryland, College Park
  
• Matthew Mauriello, Human-Computer Interaction Lab, University of Maryland, College Park
  
• Zachary Toups, Director, Play & Interactive Experiences Lab, New Mexico State University
  
• Carlea Holl-Jensen, Human-Computer Interaction Lab, University of Maryland, College Park