Transforming Community Through Pervasive Play
In this talk, Watson will present Reality Ends Here (2011), a
pervasive alternate reality game designed to effect
immediate change in the community of learners at the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA). Over the course of the project's 120 day run, collectible cards, rumors, secret websites, and a mysterious black flag drew more than 150 students into an intense underground social game involving collaboration, strategy, and artistic experimentation.
By connecting students to one another in unpredictable and
serendipitous ways, and by providing a framework for meaningful play and performance, the game transformed a collection of heavily siloed academic divisions into a productively chaotic and interdisciplinary community of practice. Drawing on the research and methodology underlying the design, implementation, and assessment of Reality Ends Here, Watson will argue for the transformative potential of pervasive game interventions across a range of domains, from education andpublic policy, to activism, innovation, and beyond.
Jeff Watson is a PhD candidate in Interdivisional Media Arts and Practice (iMAP) at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. His research and art practice focuses on investigating how game mechanics, pervasive computing, and social media can enable new forms of storytelling, participation, and civic engagement. He can be found online at remotedevice.net.