Hot on the heals of Pac Manhattan is the UKís answer to the challenge. Uncle Roy All Around You is part theatre, part console game and errr, let them tell you:
Uncle Roy All Around You is where the console game breaks out onto the streets; a game that pitches Online Players around the world alongside players on the real streets of the city. Street Players use handheld computers to search for Uncle Roy, using the map and incoming messages to move through the city. Online Players cruise through a virtual map of the same area, searching for Street Players to help them find a secret destination.
Using web cams, audio and text messages players must work together. They have 60 minutes and the clock is ticking…
And according to Metro (newspaper)
…one of the most exhilarating theatrical experiences you’ll encounter. You leave feeling contemplative, thrilled and ever so slightly paranoid.’
This combination of the virtual world and meat space is something weíre going to see a lot more of over the next 10 years. As the real world becomes highly networked (in urban areas anyway) itís going to be completely integrated with the online world. Who knows what the consequences of that might be. But the futureís never going to be the same again.
Of course Uncle Roy was first premiered in London back In June 2003, and its earlier predecessor (also by Blast Theory) Can you see me now won a Golden Nica at 2003’s Ars Electronics. Look a bit more closely at CYSMN and it becomes clear that Pacmanhattan is extremely closely modelled on its for its methods of interaction between players and viewers…
Hi Alan
Thanks for the info. Were you involved in the project?
Russell