GAMES AND INTERACTION

IN MUSEUMS

Georgina Goodlander

November, 2014

ALL ABOUT ME countedshadows.com | @bathlander

2000: Worked for a summer in Yellowstone National Park.

2001: Graduated w/BA in Visual Communication, Glasgow School of Art.

2002-03: Taught English in Songjiang, China.

2003-04: Internship at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

2004-13: Worked at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

2008: “Ghosts of a Chance” ARG.

2009-12: Developed and opened The Art of Video Games exhibition.

2010: “Pheon” ARG.

2014: Moved to Idaho! Visual Arts Director, Idaho Falls Arts Council.

Opened ARTitorium on Broadway

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUMwww.americanart.si.edu | facebook.com/americanart | twitter.com/americanart

flickr.com/americanartmuseum | youtube.com/americanartmuseum

GHOSTS OF A CHANCE (2008)www.ghostsofachance.com

www.museumsandtheweb.com/mw2009/papers/goodlander/

An ARG is “an interactive narrative that uses the real world as a platform to tell a story that may be affected by participants’ ideas or

actions.” – Wikipedia

1. Necklace of the Subaltern Betrayer

2. Predictor of Imminent Doom

3. Con Artists’ Replica

4. Diorama of a Travesty

5. Memory Vessel

6. Escape Quilt

PHEON (2010)www.ghostsofachance.com

www.museumsandtheweb.com/mw2009/papers/goodlander/

The game that failed

The Online Game

68 people played

Cost per player = $500+

:(

Evaluation Reports w/UXR Consulting

Facebook Game: Alternate-Reality Games in Casual Gaming Environments

tinyurl.com/pheonfacebook

In-Museum Game: 21st Century Skills, Museum Literacy, and Enjoyment in Museums

tinyurl.com/pheonmuseum

Fail #1: Narrative

“[The missions] could have been tied more tightly into the narrative; as it stands, it

didn't feel much different from ordinary Facebook postings.”

“I didn't understand how or if [the missions] related to the gameplay and the storyline

of Terra Tectus.”

Fail #2: Facebook

“Facebook games tend to have a lot of busywork with little enjoyment or reward, so

there needs to be enough information about the game […] to get me into it.”

“…I do not like the idea of games/contests/etc. relying on Facebook as it results in

exclusion of those of us who don't like Facebook.”

“…playing an ARG via Facebook seems rather lame. Kind of takes the punch out of it.”

“Facebook sucks.”

Fail #3: Marketing

“Never heard of or played the game so far. The idea is intriguing…”

“I haven't ever heard or played PHEON, but I think it would be interesting to play a

game like this…”

“I did not know of it, and this type of game seems inaccessible to me. Descriptions of

this type of game are often vague, and I don't know how to get involved.”

“I'd want to know more about it. I'm still a little fuzzy on what it all means.”

The In-Museum Game

Success!

21st Century Skills:

Technology literacy

Trial and Error

Re-reading and re-considering

Talking to strangers

Inter-generational learning

Museum Literacy:

Engaging with staff

Connecting with art

Label reading and terminology

Spatial navigation and orientation

IDAHO FALLS ARTS COUNCILwww.idahofallsarts.org | www.facebook.com/idahofallsarts

ARTitorium on Broadway (2014)An interactive art and technology center for kids

www.artitoriumonbroadway.org

QUESTIONSDo museums (especially art museums) need to include interactive elements in order to remain

interesting/relevant?

How can games alter our perception of a museum or an artwork?

What is the role of social media in museums?

Are we pandering to younger audiences by using technology to interpret/engage, or is this necessary

for the future of museums?

Are bricks-and-mortar museums necessary?

THANK YOU!

Georgina Goodlander

Visual Arts Director, Idaho Falls Arts Council

www.countedshadows.com

bathlander@gmail.com

@bathlander