1. INTRODUCTION

My first encounter with a computer was at the age of ten. This early computer (Amstrad CPC 6128) was relatively powerful for the time but not supported by many programmes or games. Thus I soon started programming my own little games and drawing programs. I was overwhelmed by the possibilities it gave me on the one hand but was often frustrated by the strict rules and difficulties writing code that would run as expected. Luckily however I grew up in the 2D era, where I was satisfied programming circles which had to shoot at boxes. The kids growing up now can choose from a myriad of games incorporating complex stories and puzzles coupled with realistic graphical representation of the real world. These kids grow up with these advanced media forms, frequently consuming them in an uncritical way. I see my role as an artist to work with the gaming media, analyze, deconstruct and reconstruct it [6]. In the next section I will write about my project (t)Error, which was my attempt to use the medium computer game to transport a protest message [7]. (t)Error is exhibited at the COSIGN 2004 Art Show. After that I will shortly review the projects Orgasmatron, StencilU and City Obscura and on the basis of these works I will try to formulate my ideas and thoughts about media culture.

2. (T)ERROR – A MIXED REALITY SATIRE ABOUT WORLD POLITICS AND THE GAMING INDUSTRY

First published at COSIGN-2004,
14 – 16 September 2004, University of Split (Croatia)

Whom would you like to play to get the world back into shape? George W. Bush, Osama Bin Laden, or rather Tony Blair? Starting the computer game (t)Error, the player is spoilt for choice. A camera tracks the player’s movements and a projector throws the players outlines in original size on a white wall in front of him, all in realtime (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Schematic of the installation

When the player kicks, his shadow will kick. When the player ducks or jumps to avoid bumping into an enemy jet, his shadowy avatar will do exactly the same in real time. The empty silhouette of the player gets filled out - and this is the players choice – with the face of George W. Bush, the flag of a state which supported the Iraq war, or the body of Osama Bin Laden (see Figure 2,3). For gaining a good game score, you will have to fight evilly. Being slipped into this stereotype role, you have to avoid tanks, submarines and fighter planes, you have to collect oil pumps and dollar notes, and you have to kick civilians begging for help. If you succeed in all these matters, you are the lucky winner and rise to the next game level.

Figure 2. Screenshot of (t)Error