GAMMA 3D FEATURED GAMES ANNOUNCED! gamma3d

On August 15th, 2008, Montreal’s Kokoromi collective challenged independent game makers to use red-blue stereoscopy to create innovative, experimental new games. On November 1st, Kokoromi picked six games to showcase at this year’s GAMMA event.

These games are:

AltiToad - Tim Winsky and Johanna Arcand
BlottoBrace - Antony Blackett, Corie Geerders, and James Everett
The Depths To Which I Sink - Jim McGinley
Fireflies - Lee Byron and Joannie Wu
Paper Moon - Infinite Ammo (Alec Holowka, Christopher Lobay, Ian Holowka, Katie De Sousa) with Adam Saltsman
super HYPERCUBE - Kokoromi/Polytron

This year’s GAMMA submissions sought innovative means of using stereoscopic display in digital games, beyond the mere visual effect. Games explored alternative depth and location cues, the ability to hide information in separate viewing channels, and even the use of immersive input devices. The selected teams are being awarded two passes each for the Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS) for their outstanding effort.  After the event, all of the submitted games will be made accessible from Kokoromi’s web site.

GAMMA 3D will take place in a spectacular public play environment hosted by the Society for Arts and Technology (the SAT), and will again serve as the closing party for the Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS).  The curated games will be featured as large screen projections, accompanied by the music of local and international DJs, including Gemini Radio (L.A.) and Hoof+Beek (Pittsburgh/Baltimore).  GAMMA is part of Kokoromi’s mandate to inspire and present diverse, experimental game content to a wide public audience. In doing so, they are part of a larger international movement that recognizes games as a unique artistic form.

GAMMA 3D takes place beginning at 9pm on November 19th at the Society for Arts and Technology (the SAT) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  Admission is $5 at the door or online.

GAMMA 3D is sponsored by :: Montreal International Game Summit, and Society for Arts and Technology.  Additional sponsorship provided by: International Game Developers Association, Champlain College of Vermont, Space and Dream, and Vernon Technology Solutions.

[THE ORIGINAL CALL FOR GAMES]

KOKOROMI’S GAMMA 3D :: STEREOSCOPIC GAMES

3d crowd

50s sci-fi, 80s disaster movies, IMAX 3D— is there any gimmick more classic than “stereo vision”?  Stereoscopic displays, big-budget 3D films, and major game titles are on their way …but for what?  Most players will have 2D televisions for a long time to come, so games that “pop” out of the screen seem no more than a flashy marketing afterthought.  But what if we envision games that aren’t flat windows onto a world “over there” - games which use stereoscopy and/or the third dimension in a way that changes the way we experience the game?  What if stereo 3D actually inspired us to explore the creative and expressive potential of games?
On November 19th, GAMMA 3D brings you this exciting world of the future, today! Kokoromi challenges you to create a game that uses red/blue stereoscopy in an innovative, experimental, and/or integral manner.  Why red/blue?  It’s free, it’s simple, it’s fantastically retro, it puts the focus on your gameplay rather than complicated technology, and a room full of people wearing 3D glasses is just so damn awesome.
GAMMA 3D is a curated show: only a select number of the best entries will be showcased at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) in Montreal, QC. The submission deadline is October 15th, 2008.   Final selections will be announced on November 1st. As an added incentive this year, game creators who are accepted for presentation will be awarded free MIGS passes.

So, creators of tomorrow - here’s what you need to know:

GOLDEN RULE:
Your game must use stereoscopy in a way that is integral to the gameplay.
A game that simply uses stereoscopy as a visual effect will not make the cut.

OTHER CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

  • Game length must be 5 minutes or less per play session, including tutorial and credits (if any).
  • After 5 minutes, the game should return to the opening screen.
  • Games should be pick up and play … while drunk.
  • Keep in mind that the games will be played in a large venue, on projection screens.
  • Your game’s audio will not be audible at all during the (loud) event.
  • Entries will be accepted in both English and French.
  • All submissions retain all rights.
  • 3D Glasses will be provided (free) to all event attendees.

TECH REQUIREMENTS

  • Your game must support the Xbox 360 controller and be compatible with Windows XP
  • Your game must be able to toggle fullscreen mode, bound to the hotkey command Ctrl-F.  Fill any empty screen space with black.
  • Full resolution (due to the projectors) can be no more than 1024×768 XGA
  • GAMMA 3D will use Red/Cyan glasses.   For your original submission, set your anaglyphic colors to pure Red and Cyan.   Games that are selected for display may asked to include a color tuning debug feature prior to the event date, to accommodate variations in projectors.  (You may add this feature after your game is selected.)
  • To be shown at the event, your game must include controls for decreasing and increasing the interpupilar distance (the distance of the red and blue images from the center point).  The controls should be bound to the angle bracket keys: < for decrease and > for increase. (You may add this feature after your game is selected.)

EXCEPTIONS
Do you have an overwhelming compulsion to hack a Virtual Boy?
You’re in luck.  Exceptions to the tech requirements may be made for artists who use and bring their own display and control hardware, such as last year’s Killjet (Tristan Perich). We’ll consider these entries, outside of the main competition, as long as you can provide adequate documentation or provide the technology for us to review in advance. You still have to follow the Golden Rule, of course.  And not suck.

SUBMITTING

Here’s how to get your game to us.

  1. Create a readme with all the game info: title, credits, controls, synopsis (short).
  2. Upload your game and the readme to an FTP server or file sharing site of your choosing.
  3. Password it if you want to.
  4. Send us the download info at the submission address:  gamma3d <at> kokoromi <dot> org

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