The recent theatrical experience of Asses.Masses, a video game designed by Canadian artists Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim, has transformed it into a performance art piece. In this immersive experience, participants gather in a theatre to play the game together, guided by an avatar on a plinth while interacting with each other through suggestions and opinions. The collective dynamic of the audience and player blurs the lines between individual participation and communal engagement.
Asses.Masses features elements of politics, industrialisation, labour rights, and collective action within its 10 chapters, presented in an engaging yet occasionally confusing manner. With gameplay opening up multiple languages and questions, collaboration becomes essential to solving puzzles and progress. The game navigates topics like violence, strong language, and drug use while maintaining a balance between realism and humor.
For some players, Asses.Masses presents both a challenge – requiring sustained engagement over several hours without breaks – as well as a unique opportunity for shared experiences and interactions with fellow participants. It highlights how video games can be adapted into interactive art pieces that leverage collective participation to amplify their emotional impact.
Asses.Masses features elements of politics, industrialisation, labour rights, and collective action within its 10 chapters, presented in an engaging yet occasionally confusing manner. With gameplay opening up multiple languages and questions, collaboration becomes essential to solving puzzles and progress. The game navigates topics like violence, strong language, and drug use while maintaining a balance between realism and humor.
For some players, Asses.Masses presents both a challenge – requiring sustained engagement over several hours without breaks – as well as a unique opportunity for shared experiences and interactions with fellow participants. It highlights how video games can be adapted into interactive art pieces that leverage collective participation to amplify their emotional impact.
, it's wild! I mean, you gotta try it, but like, be prepared for a wild ride 
. The way they blended politics and industrialization with gameplay is super interesting...and sometimes confusing as hell 
. But that's kinda the point, right? It's not just about winning or losing, it's about having a conversation 
. I loved how it made me think about collective action and labour rights, but at the same time, there were moments where I was like "what is happening?" 
. Overall, it's a game that'll make you think, feel emotions, and maybe even inspire you to take action 
. If you're looking for something new and different, Asses.Masses is definitely worth checking out...but don't say I didn't warn you 
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. And don't even get me started on the whole "collective dynamic" thing - just means everyone's going to be talking over each other and getting confused 
. I'd rather have a quiet night in playing a game that doesn't try to teach me about labour rights or whatever 
. And what's with all the language options? Can't they just stick to one thing for once? It sounds like a total mess trying to navigate through multiple languages and questions 
The way the whole theatre came together as a team, solving puzzles and sharing thoughts... it's like we were all in this together! 
I loved how they wove in all these different themes and topics - it kept me on my toes! 
But honestly, some parts felt kinda confusing and slow-paced. Maybe if you're new to interactive art pieces, it might take a bit to get the hang of it? Still, 10/10 would recommend if you're up for something unique and immersive 
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. I'm not really sure what the creators were goin for but it's def got some thoughts provokin' stuff in there. It felt more like a social experiment than a video game tbh. The fact that you gotta work with people to progress is actually kinda cool 
. Overall its a weird but interesting ride 
. but at the same time, i feel like its bringing ppl together in this weird way? we need more interactive art pieces like this, i guess 
it's so trippy!! they've taken this vid game and turned it into a real life performance art thingy 
where ur all gathered around the screen together playing as 1 team lol its like, u gotta communicate with each other to solve puzzles and stuff but also navigate some heavy topics like violence & language 
and honestly i was on the edge of my seat the whole time - it's not just a game anymore its an experience 
can't wait to see what they do next 
. I mean, I get that it's meant to spark discussions and stuff, but can't we just stick to something more light-hearted? 
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Still, for me, that's part of the charm... it's like a big puzzle to solve together with strangers 
. It shows us how games can be more than just solo fun – they can bring people together