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SOCD 293 / FILM 233

Elizabeth Swensen Interview!

UCSC Assistant Professor of Art and Design: Games and Playable Media
(she makes games)

by Alicia Rice

I first reached out to Elizabeth after discovering she taught a Foundations of Play course in the Games and Playable media program, which encourages students to think about play in the physical world. At the time, I was thinking about ways to incorporate in-person playful interaction into my thesis documentary screening and hitting a bit of a brick wall in the process. She agreed to meet and our discussion sparked my quest to think deeper about what a medium like documentary film might learn from the game design process.

In taking a game design course myself, I have discovered a new way to look at my creative process. I often struggle with the idea of story as something with a beginning, middle, and end. For me, story exists everywhere. It exists in single moments, where I can see branches of story simultaneously spreading out into the world in different directions. The process of trying to guide and contain that can leave me feeling alienated creatively. The constraints and struggles my practice contends with in documentary might just be avenues of possibility within game design. Reframing this from problem to potential is liberating.

With this in mind, I took this interview as an opportunity to ask Elizabeth, who has valuable experience in the independent game movement, more foundational questions about a field that feels very new to me.

What Makes a Good Game?

Immersion vs. Self-Analysis

The Game is Listening, part 1
(this character will remember that)

The Game is Listening, part 2
(health vs. sanity)

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Collaboration

Are You Working on Anything?

The Witch

Recommendations?

thatgamecompany

More Recommendations?

Photopia

IndieCade

This page has replies:

Great presentation of audio from your interview with Elizabeth. I would love to see an introduction of your motivation of selecting Elizabeth as an interviewee. Other than that, I'm completely intrigued by her work. Thank you!
Contents of this reply:
1. Elizabeth Swensen Interview!
  
  UCSC Assistant Professor of Art and Design: Games and Playable Media
  (she makes games)
  by Alicia Rice
  I first reached out to Elizabeth after discovering she taught a Foundations of Play course in the Games and Playable media program, which encourages students to think about play in the physical world. At the time, I was thinking about ways to incorporate in-person playful interaction into my thesis documentary screening and hitting a bit of a brick wall in the process. She agreed to meet and our discussion sparked my quest to think deeper about what a medium like documentary film might learn from the game design process.
  
  In taking a game design course myself, I have discovered a new way to look at my creative process. I often struggle with the idea of story as something with a beginning, middle, and end. For me, story exists everywhere. It exists in single moments, where I can see branches of story simultaneously spreading out into the world in different directions. The process of trying to guide and contain that can leave me feeling alienated creatively. The constraints and struggles my practice contends with in documentary might just be avenues of possibility within game design. Reframing this from problem to potential is liberating.
  
  With this in mind, I took this interview as an opportunity to ask Elizabeth, who has valuable experience in the independent game movement, more foundational questions about a field that feels very new to me.
  
  What Makes a Good Game?
  Immersion vs. Self-Analysis
  The Game is Listening, part 1
  (this character will remember that)
  
  The Game is Listening, part 2
  (health vs. sanity)
  Amnesia: The Dark Descent
  
  Collaboration
  
  Are You Working on Anything?
  
  The Witch
  Recommendations?
  thatgamecompany
  
  More Recommendations?
  
  Photopia
  IndieCade
Love the format you chose (breaking up the interview into sound bites). I like being able to pick and choose what I want to listen to. It would be great if the photos you took could be associated with some of the audio though. I'd like to roll over an image or click on an image and curated piece of the interview starts playing.
Contents of this reply:
1. Elizabeth Swensen Interview!
  
  UCSC Assistant Professor of Art and Design: Games and Playable Media
  (she makes games)
  by Alicia Rice
  I first reached out to Elizabeth after discovering she taught a Foundations of Play course in the Games and Playable media program, which encourages students to think about play in the physical world. At the time, I was thinking about ways to incorporate in-person playful interaction into my thesis documentary screening and hitting a bit of a brick wall in the process. She agreed to meet and our discussion sparked my quest to think deeper about what a medium like documentary film might learn from the game design process.
  
  In taking a game design course myself, I have discovered a new way to look at my creative process. I often struggle with the idea of story as something with a beginning, middle, and end. For me, story exists everywhere. It exists in single moments, where I can see branches of story simultaneously spreading out into the world in different directions. The process of trying to guide and contain that can leave me feeling alienated creatively. The constraints and struggles my practice contends with in documentary might just be avenues of possibility within game design. Reframing this from problem to potential is liberating.
  
  With this in mind, I took this interview as an opportunity to ask Elizabeth, who has valuable experience in the independent game movement, more foundational questions about a field that feels very new to me.
  
  What Makes a Good Game?
  Immersion vs. Self-Analysis
  The Game is Listening, part 1
  (this character will remember that)
  
  The Game is Listening, part 2
  (health vs. sanity)
  Amnesia: The Dark Descent
  
  Collaboration
  
  Are You Working on Anything?
  
  The Witch
  Recommendations?
  thatgamecompany
  
  More Recommendations?
  
  Photopia
  IndieCade
Love the format you chose (breaking up the interview into sound bites). I like being able to pick and choose what I want to listen to. It would be great if the photos you took could be associated with some of the audio though. I'd like to roll over an image or click on an image and curated piece of the interview starts playing.
Contents of this reply:
1. Elizabeth Swensen Interview!
  
  UCSC Assistant Professor of Art and Design: Games and Playable Media
  (she makes games)
  by Alicia Rice
  I first reached out to Elizabeth after discovering she taught a Foundations of Play course in the Games and Playable media program, which encourages students to think about play in the physical world. At the time, I was thinking about ways to incorporate in-person playful interaction into my thesis documentary screening and hitting a bit of a brick wall in the process. She agreed to meet and our discussion sparked my quest to think deeper about what a medium like documentary film might learn from the game design process.
  
  In taking a game design course myself, I have discovered a new way to look at my creative process. I often struggle with the idea of story as something with a beginning, middle, and end. For me, story exists everywhere. It exists in single moments, where I can see branches of story simultaneously spreading out into the world in different directions. The process of trying to guide and contain that can leave me feeling alienated creatively. The constraints and struggles my practice contends with in documentary might just be avenues of possibility within game design. Reframing this from problem to potential is liberating.
  
  With this in mind, I took this interview as an opportunity to ask Elizabeth, who has valuable experience in the independent game movement, more foundational questions about a field that feels very new to me.
  
  What Makes a Good Game?
  Immersion vs. Self-Analysis
  The Game is Listening, part 1
  (this character will remember that)
  
  The Game is Listening, part 2
  (health vs. sanity)
  Amnesia: The Dark Descent
  
  Collaboration
  
  Are You Working on Anything?
  
  The Witch
  Recommendations?
  thatgamecompany
  
  More Recommendations?
  
  Photopia
  IndieCade
I really loved this layout! It worked very well. I agree with Cebe on the pictures. I would like to see more like the last picture on the bottom of the page... Also, maybe adding a description as to what we are seeing would be great! Other than that, great job!
Contents of this reply:
1. Elizabeth Swensen Interview!
  
  UCSC Assistant Professor of Art and Design: Games and Playable Media
  (she makes games)
  by Alicia Rice
  I first reached out to Elizabeth after discovering she taught a Foundations of Play course in the Games and Playable media program, which encourages students to think about play in the physical world. At the time, I was thinking about ways to incorporate in-person playful interaction into my thesis documentary screening and hitting a bit of a brick wall in the process. She agreed to meet and our discussion sparked my quest to think deeper about what a medium like documentary film might learn from the game design process.
  
  In taking a game design course myself, I have discovered a new way to look at my creative process. I often struggle with the idea of story as something with a beginning, middle, and end. For me, story exists everywhere. It exists in single moments, where I can see branches of story simultaneously spreading out into the world in different directions. The process of trying to guide and contain that can leave me feeling alienated creatively. The constraints and struggles my practice contends with in documentary might just be avenues of possibility within game design. Reframing this from problem to potential is liberating.
  
  With this in mind, I took this interview as an opportunity to ask Elizabeth, who has valuable experience in the independent game movement, more foundational questions about a field that feels very new to me.
  
  What Makes a Good Game?
  Immersion vs. Self-Analysis
  The Game is Listening, part 1
  (this character will remember that)
  
  The Game is Listening, part 2
  (health vs. sanity)
  Amnesia: The Dark Descent
  
  Collaboration
  
  Are You Working on Anything?
  
  The Witch
  Recommendations?
  thatgamecompany
  
  More Recommendations?
  
  Photopia
  IndieCade
I really loved this layout! It worked very well. I agree with Cebe on the pictures. I would like to see more like the last picture on the bottom of the page... Also, maybe adding a description as to what we are seeing would be great! Other than that, great job!
Contents of this reply:
1. Elizabeth Swensen Interview!
  
  UCSC Assistant Professor of Art and Design: Games and Playable Media
  (she makes games)
  by Alicia Rice
  I first reached out to Elizabeth after discovering she taught a Foundations of Play course in the Games and Playable media program, which encourages students to think about play in the physical world. At the time, I was thinking about ways to incorporate in-person playful interaction into my thesis documentary screening and hitting a bit of a brick wall in the process. She agreed to meet and our discussion sparked my quest to think deeper about what a medium like documentary film might learn from the game design process.
  
  In taking a game design course myself, I have discovered a new way to look at my creative process. I often struggle with the idea of story as something with a beginning, middle, and end. For me, story exists everywhere. It exists in single moments, where I can see branches of story simultaneously spreading out into the world in different directions. The process of trying to guide and contain that can leave me feeling alienated creatively. The constraints and struggles my practice contends with in documentary might just be avenues of possibility within game design. Reframing this from problem to potential is liberating.
  
  With this in mind, I took this interview as an opportunity to ask Elizabeth, who has valuable experience in the independent game movement, more foundational questions about a field that feels very new to me.
  
  What Makes a Good Game?
  Immersion vs. Self-Analysis
  The Game is Listening, part 1
  (this character will remember that)
  
  The Game is Listening, part 2
  (health vs. sanity)
  Amnesia: The Dark Descent
  
  Collaboration
  
  Are You Working on Anything?
  
  The Witch
  Recommendations?
  thatgamecompany
  
  More Recommendations?
  
  Photopia
  IndieCade

UCSC Assistant Professor of Art and Design: Games and Playable Media (she makes games)