Commedia
Commedia
http://www.tii.se/zerogame/commedia/index.htm
Commedia is a fully functional game and supporting website. Developed in Shockwave, it is uses a multi-player server to make the game playable through a web browser. It was published in 2003. Features include a player lobby and virtual backstage, as well as the game itself. The Artifact also includes a supporting website and PDF manual with exercises, instructions and ready to play scenarios.
This project is part of an ongoing overarching investigation of experiential, aesthetic and creative perspectives on game design that investigates the space between game and art. A key area of focus is how to build emotional depth within game form and Commedia was produced to address questions of how a digital theatre framework could allow and encourage a deep multi-player role-playing experience. The project involved a preliminary investigation of gesture-based computer role-playing and research into limited gesture-sets as aid systems for interactive acting experiences. The research aims were to explore the interrelationships and crossover zones between live action role-playing (LARP) and computer gaming, to create frameworks for new genres of dramatic interactive media production, and to enhance player character representations to support new game play experiences.
Commedia was publicly presented at The Research Forum, The Arts Institute at Bournemouth in 2007, and viewed by request by MIT and the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2003.
