Scrape Scraperteeth: Artgames Recognised as Gameification Seizes Our Souls

Scrape Scraperteeth is a new artgame by my friend Jason Nelson, who, with it, has received some much-deserved recognition (at long last!).

In his words:

The game was commissioned by the San Francisco Gallery of Modern Art for a series on interactive works. Hopefully this is a sign that, as the recent Supreme Court ruling stated, that games (even simple/odd ones like mine) should be seen/created as artworks first and galleries are recognizing the artistic potential of the game engine and playscapes.

What I love about Jason's games is that the rules aren't obvious. You have to learn and relearn them in the landscape provided -- a landscape so loaded with cultural cues that they're an exercise in themselves. Let me know what you think. (Jeff Kwiatek has already responded to me with, "Oh my god what is this? It's overwhelming ... the stress.")

Here are other games of Jason's that I've covered, over the years. I have always found that with him I don't just play, I linger.

Culture Shock

The scene: back in SF, driving away from SFO.

Dad: Miss San Francisco? Nothing like the Bay, eh? I think you should move back. Wanna move back?

Me: No.

Dad: That's how I felt when I moved to America. Your grandfather asked if I'd like to spend more time with him in Manila, and I was like, 'No, dad. America is my home now.' I'd made up my mind to live there, so my heart was there; it had been there for years.

[Long pause.]

Dad: But knowing that -- knowing how much time I'd spend in the States afterward -- if I could go back, I would take my dad up on his offer to stay in Manila a few weeks more.

Me: Let me see if I understand. Knowing now what your life would be like, and that you'd spend most of it in America anyway, you would have stayed longer in Manila to be with your dad?

Dad: ...Actually, no.

Me: So why are you asking me to move back?

Dad: Worth a try.

Me: Propagandist.

I'm Chilling Chilling Back Back in Cali Cali

I'm at ad:tech all week, trying to stay awake at the sessions and partying well in the evenings. Met the guy who "invented" Gevalia, courtesy of John Engler. He lavishes free drinks on the downtrodden and kisses on both cheeks. It's all very Benevolent King of the World.

Follow the goings on at the ad:tech Blog. This year is kind of exceptional because our writers include some seriously young, opinionated and media-savvy people. They scald everything they touch -- and the victims deserve it, I'd say.