Gaming the Real World, 2016, Sweden
Can game design transform real public spaces and entire cities? At a time when cities around the world are struggling with population growth caused by urbanization, this documentary shows how video games can be used to help residents, especially young people, take part in planning and improving their urban environments. Cities have become laboratories for digital innovation, and the debate about how they evolve has suddenly gone viral.
The film follows three game studios where urbanism meets gaming: Lydia Winters from Mojang, the creators of Minecraft; Paradox Interactive, known for Cities: Skylines; and José Sanchez with his independent game Block’hood. Gaming the Real World offers a glimpse into what our cities might look like 20 to 100 years from now.
The screening is part of the public program for the exhibition Alice Bucknell: Persistent Worlds.
Genre: Documentary
Length: 52 minutes + an introductory lecture by Jaromír Mövald, host of the gaming show Quest on Radio Wave
Director: Anders Eklund
Language: English (subtitles: English)
