Interesting game concept: Sleep is Death

[J T]

Jason Rohrer, who is known for his artistic concept games like Passage, Between, and Gravitation is releasing a new game called Sleep is Death.

I don't often like his games (though many others do) because I think they are more concept than game, and the concept hasn't really been intriguing enough to really capture my interest. This one might change my opinion though. It's kind of hard to explain the game, but it is a two player storytelling game unlike anything I've ever seen before. Watch the flash slideshow here for an explanation: http://sleepisdeath.net/


Apparently, there is a manifesto that Rohrer wrote that relates to why this game is designed the way it is:

1. Games do not have spoilers
2. Games cannot be finished
3. Games do not have characters, except for the characters who play them.
4. Games do not have stories, except for the stories that players tell through them.
5. Playing a new game is less like reading a new story, hearing a new song, or seeing a new film.
6. Playing a new game is more like learning a new language
7. Games are interfaces, not between minds and content, but between minds.




Anyway, it should be worth checking out. It might be fun for some of the racketboy members to play together. I'd also like to know your thoughts on his manifesto. I think it's extreme, but extreme manifestos have been known to generate interesting art (such as the dogma 95 mainfesto in cinema). Your thoughts?

[lisalover1]

I've always thought that the concept of a game where one person plays and the other edits in real-time was an interesting idea. I can't wait to try out this one.

[slowslow325]

I still don't get it?

[Cronson]

I just preordered it. I'm really excited to see what it is exactly. If people do want to play together from Racketboy, I'd be down.

I guess I'm not even sure how it works yet.

[J T]

There's a great article on this game by Leigh Alexander, the woman behind sexyvideogameland.

http://kotaku.com/5507753/a-video-game- ... ade-for-me