Something really interesting is happening in Minneapolis beginning this Wednesday. B.U.G. (the Big Urban Game), a project of the University of Minnesota Design Institute, turns the metro area into a giant board game. Three 26ft high game pieces will race from different starting locations to the Lake Street Bridge. People will be able to call an 800 number or go online and vote for which of two routes each piece should take in each of the 5 days of the race. A knowledge of the city will help players decide which route to take to avoid obstacles and complete the day’s checkpoint in the shortest amount of time.
“It’s a way to raise awareness of the city and what it offers,” said Jan Abrams, the game’s mastermind and director of the design center.
“There’s something extremely valuable about something that’s playful but also has a serious purpose,” said Salen (one of the game’s designers, from NYC), “visiting a part of the city that they’ve never been to, talking to someone they’ve never talked to before.”
What do you guys think about this event? What will people think of the giant game pieces? Will it fulfill it’s goal of raising awareness and bringing people out? Do you want it to happen in your city?
Read more about the event here and participate (if you know the layout of minneapolis) at here.
check this out if this game intrigues-http://www.boylefamily.co.uk/boyle/texts/index.html
On Sep.02.2003 at 09:32 AM