Gentrification: The Game (2010)
Gentrification: The Game! is an award-winning transmedia game, which uses mobile technology to facilitate and augment offline gameplay.
It has been presented at game and culture festivals around the world to critical acclaim. Small teams compete to collect real-world properties, “convert” them, and transform the neighbourhood. As developers, they’ll build swanky lofts, erect coffee shops, and raise property values. Or, as locals, they’ll form BIAs, make community centres, and try to thwart the developers. The neighbourhood’s changing face is tracked on a mobile web app, which updates along with players’ offline actions, and allows them to strategize while moving around. The same data is replicated on a giant sidewalk chalk map, which serves as a central meeting point, and looks fabulous.
Photos
Awards
- Best of Fest, Come Out & Play 2010 (Brooklyn)
- Best Use of Technology, Come Out & Play 2010 (Brooklyn)
- Invited Selection, Hide and Seek Weekender 2010 (London)
- Invited Selection, You Are Go 2011 (Berlin)
- Winning Selection, TIFF Sprockets Future Games 2011 (Toronto)
Featured At
- Hide and Seek Weekender 2010 (London)
- Come Out & Play 2010 (Brooklyn)
- Kensington Pedestrian Sunday 2010 (Toronto)
- You Are Go 2011 (Berlin)
- TIFF Sprockets Future Games 2011 (Toronto)
Press
- Taking Back the Streets. Otiena Ellwand, Spacing Magazine: Winter Issue 2011
- “Summer Shorts 015: Gentrification: The Game!” Andrew Walsh, Spacing Radio. July 29, 2010
- “Gentrification: The Game! To hit Kensington Market.” Robyn Urback, blogTO. July 23, 2010
- “Best Bets Eye Weekly.” Eye Weekly. July 22, 2010
- “Gentrification: The Game! Comes to Toronto Next Week.” Jane Doh, ARGN. July 16, 2010
- “Welcome to Gentrification, the Game.” Ryan Bigge, Toronto Star. July 11, 2010
- “Transforming space with play: an interview with David Fono of Atmosphere Industries.” Jeff Watson, The Interactive Media Division Blog (University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts). October 6, 2010
What People Said
“Gentrification is a fantastic combination of real world action and online strategy; a bit like SimCity mixed with a scavenger hunt. What’s surprising about the game is how it uses technology so effectively – normally any kind of mobile technology is a pain to use and doesn’t provide much benefit, but I saw plenty of smartphones being used to plan tactics and outwit opponents. Certainly my favourite game out of the entire Hide and Seek festival in London.”
Adrian Hon, Six to Start
“Gentrification at Come Out and Play 2010 was so much fun! Really tight monopoly-like game design around buying and improving local properties was tied effortlessly with RIDICULOUS antics like fake petitions and flower- distributing, culminating with a completely wonderfully bombastic parade. Technology was DIY but seamlessly integrated — I’d love to see it built out into an always-on version. I loved the tone of the game too; a really fun sense of humor tied the whole thing together. I can’t wait to see what Atmosphere Industries does next!”
Gabe Smedresman, MeetGatsby
“I noticed players debriefing after the game, talking about what worked, what didn’t, and how things were in “real life.” With all due respect to the brilliant artists of the museum hall, I would be hard-pressed to configure a means by which a painting or sculpture could accommodate such reflexivity.”
Sarah Brin, Brintendo
“At each level of the game, Gentrification presented a new community dilemma regarding property (zoning, sprawl, public art, etc.). By integrating real-life interaction with local residents, a mini-community was fostered during the game itself.”
Meghan Warby, Community Manager, Cabinet Office, Communications Branch, Province of Ontario
Credits
Created with Atmosphere Industries
- Kate Raynes-Goldie
- David Fono
- Alex Raynes-Goldie
- Luke Walker