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PlayARK - 2011

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playARK is Cardiff's very own games festival. An exciting event that brings together a celebration of games and play and all things fun. Split between two days the festival will hold the first series of talks of it's kind in Cardiff with world renowned speakers from across the UK discussing the impact and possibilities of developing systems and ways of thinking through games and play in business, education and society as a whole. The second day brings together a unique mix of games from digital games, retro games and board games to physical games that are played in everyday spaces. The city will become your playground and the streets your hiding places.

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playARK is Cardiff's very own games festival. An exciting event that brings together a celebration of games and play and all things fun. Split between two days the festival will hold the first series of talks of it's kind in Cardiff with world renowned speakers from across the UK discussing the impact and possibilities of developing systems and ways of thinking through games and play in business, education and society as a whole. The second day brings together a unique mix of games from digital games, retro games and board games to physical games that are played in everyday spaces. The city will become your playground and the streets your hiding places.

Alison John's picture

Hello game lovers!

We had so much fun last year running our games festival that we have reached for our fun calendar and set a date for 2012. We can now announce that we will be running the playARK Alternative Olympic games on.........(epic drumroll).........Saturday 7th July.

The festival will be packed with our usual exciting menu of pervasive games, digital games and board games featuring some oldies and some crazy new games including Space Hopper Sports.

We are looking for game designers and creators to submit their games to be part of this year's festival. We are looking for all kinds of games from street games to board games - let your imagination run free. Deadline for submissions is Friday 8th June.

Check out the highlights from last years festival:

PlayARK Game Festival, Games, October 2011 from Jorge Lizalde on Vimeo.

If you want to submit a game or want to find out more information about this year's festival please contact (me) Allie at alison.john@ark-lab.co.uk

Julian Sykes's picture

We have a great christmas game in store for people. If you are interested you can find out more and buy tickets at http://jokulfrosti.eventbrite.com/
Jokul Frosti

Julian Sykes's picture

Along with the talks and also the games day we also created a game for people to play in the evening. Have a look at the images above for a glimpse of what the game was like.

Julian Sykes's picture

A quick slideshow of some of the games that we put on during this years playARK festival. We are now looking to see if we can put it on a again next year so fingers crossed.

Julian Sykes's picture

It's over a week ago I had just managed to clear up one room of the house. With Allie frantically collecting all the other stuff from all the volunteers and supporters that without them the talks, the games and everwake really could not have been made possible. Firstly a quick comment. If someone comes up to you and says they are really interested in setting up a two day festival with talks and games. I would advise you to run. Run away as far as you can. I would also say perhaps de-friend them from facebook :-)

Julian Sykes's picture

Below is the 2011 playARK games schedule, hope to see you all there:

As well as the games there are also four areas which offer a slightly different look at gaming. Which you can see directly below:

CHAPTER Challenge - 10:00am - 4:00pm
DIGITAL Games Testing - 10:00am - 4:00pm
RETRO Games Lounge - 10:00am - 4:00pm
Board Games - 12:45pm - 5:00pm

Unparking the parcel

#UK
Deer
Hunt

Funnies

Phone
Box Frenzy

Julian Sykes's picture

The Arctic Circle; The Amazon Rainforest; The Sahara Desert. All pretty
harsh places... but none of them are as dangerous, unforgiving or
inhospitable as The Urban Concrete Jungle!

Join Mr Steve on an interactive game bonanza as he leads teams through
Cardiff City Centre, solving puzzles and completing tasks to see who the
real city survivalist are!

No. of participants - 15 (three teams of 5)
Expect problem solving, tasks, and lots of fun. Starting point TBA

Game designers
ShellShock Theatre from Swansea.

Game Type
Ark Lark, 18+

Game times
12:00pm - 1:00pm and then also 3:00pm - 4:00pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

A selection of old school games for you to relive your youth and create new experiences. Whether it was the old handheld games consoles of the cartridge games. There will be examples of games from all our childhoods. We will also be collecting peoples stories of their first gaming experiences.

Game designers
Curated by thinkARK, with amazing help from otakuzoku

Game Type
Use Your Noggin, Fun for all

Game times
Drop in All Day (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

playARK-game-images

We will be playing games all day. we will be looking at how games are developed and designed and we will be designing games to understand Canton more. So if you fancy creating a game that brings people together bring your ideas and enthusiasm to CHAPTER challenge. We want to create games that can be used for good within the local community.

Game designers
thinkARK

Game Type
Ark Lark, Fun for all

Game times
Drop in All Day (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

We have teamed up with University of Wales, Newport to bring you the very latest in digital games from recent graduates of the acclaimed, Computer Games Design course.

Game designers
Graduates from University of Wales, Newport and more...

Game Type
Use Your Noggin, Ark Lark, Fun for all, digital.

Game times
Drop in All Day (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

Your chance to try the best board games around. A dedicated area for you to chat and play. We have teamed up with the guys from Rules of Play to create a space where you will be able to drop in and learn new games that either take a few minutes or a few hours. A great opportunity to see just how complex and immersive Board Games have become.

Game designers
Curated by Rules of Play

Game Type
Use Your Noggin, Fun for all

Game times
Drop in between 12:45pm-5:00pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

Circle Rules Football is a mashup of Football, Basketball and Volleyball and is played with a Yoga ball. It is probably the most fun you can have with 10 training cones, two goal posts a big bouncy ball and a group of evenly numbered people.

Game designers
Circle Rules Federation

Game Type
Run Rabbit Run, 18+

Game times
11:00am-12:15pm and then at 3:00pm-4:15pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Wear trainers

Julian Sykes's picture

playARK-game-images

This was last years favourite event at ARK in the PARK, back again in 2011. Alison John brings us her selection of theatre based games. Games will include everything from un-tangling each other from a human knot, chasing rabbits, shoot each other through zip, zap and bong. The games are fun for all the family.

Game designers
Curated by Alison John

Game Type
Ark Lark, Fun for all

Game times
10:30am-11:00am and then at 12:00pm-12:30pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

playARK-game-images

Run, chase and shoot human numbers. In this fun game of Human Bingo. You will use your camera to take photo’s of other players numbers as soon as you get a full set. BINGO!!!

Game designers
playARK

Game Type
Run Rabbit Run, 18+

Game times
11:00am-11:45am and then at 1:00pm-1:45pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
You will need something to take a digital picture (a phone or digital camera for example) We will supply the rest

Julian Sykes's picture

A re work of Surpass the Parcel. Your chance to socialise and unwrap some new prizes.

Game designers
Kevan Davis and Holly Gramazio tweaked by thinkARK

Game Type
Ark Lark, Fun for All

Game times
Drop in event (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

playARK-game-images

A great game of storytelling and creativity. Grab a set of lettered tiles and head out into the city. Twist shop signs, roadsigns and headlines to your will. When you return bring back your story and relive it with the rest of the players.

Game designers
Kevan Davis

Game Type
Use Your Noggin, Fun for All

Game times
11:45am - 12:45pm and then also 1:30pm - 2:30pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
You will need something to write with and something to take a a digital picture (i.e. a mobile phone or digital camera)

Julian Sykes's picture

playARK-game-images

The aim of the game is to capture as many Deer that have started to take over the city. You do this by capturing them with your camera and sending the picture to @ukdeerhunt on twitter. We at UK Deer hunt will then view the pic calculate it's score

Game designers
Brent Morgan

Game Type
Use Your Noggin, Fun for All

Game times
Drop in event (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
You will need something to take a photo with and also a twitter account (we can help you set one up if you wish) But don't worry if you don't have a twitter account you can still play!

Julian Sykes's picture

TEAMHATHI-RES

Relay your hat, sabotage the competition, win the day. It's not as easy as it looks.

Game designers
Team Hat

Game Type
Ark Lark, 18+

Game times
1:15pm - 2:00pm and then also 2:30pm - 3:15pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

playARK-game-images

Are you the best eavesdropper in town? Use high tech spy gear to listen in on secret conversations. Trade information, piece together the plot and be the first to deliver the correct message without being caught. Careful though, there’s some tricksy characters.

Game designers
Victoria Tillotson and Anna Searle

Game Type
Use you noggin, 18+

Game times
12:45am - 1:45pm and then also 3:45pm - 4:45pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Julian Sykes's picture

OK it is very simple 2 teams compete to capture the other teams flag. Simple except both teams are armed with water bombs and if you are hit you have to go to the nursing box. For 4 to 8 players bring your rain mac.

Game designers
From long time collaborator Brent Morgan

Game Type
Ark Lark, 18+

Game times
11:00am - 12:15pm and then also 2:15pm - 3:30pm (see full schedule)

Do I need to bring anything?
Just bring yourself

Wednesday Club

Why not come along to our meeting on Wednesday evenings and see how you can get involved! Click here to view our calendar.

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