Okay this is not library related per se but I felt the need to share this idea I had the other day. The library connection is that it is a way to connect books with cutting edge technology. It is quite simply put – Kafka’s The Trial : The Videogame!
Brilliant, isn’t it? I think so. What could be more fun than navigating the myriad of complicated bureaucracy in order to clear yourself (or your avatar or whatever the kids are calling them these days) of charges which you don’t fully understand. The game would start like the novel with your character informed of a need to appear in court. Then you would have to solve puzzles like “what are you charged with?” “where is the court?” “who is your lawyer?” "what is the meaning of all this?" You’d have to talk to other characters and try to figure out what is going on, of course, no one would be helpful. And for each character you talk to, you would have to wait up to 30 minutes for them to talk to you. I should explain, there is no way to win this game. The software would be accompanied with a deluxe instruction manual, in 47 volumes, all containing complicated jargon which means absolutely nothing. Also, answer keys or whatever they are called (you can tell I play a lot of video games!) would be readily available on the web, they would of course be equally as dense as the manual and probably less helpful, they would perhaps even give you the wrong directions.
I think this would work very well! It would be the anti-video game! A post-modern game to frustrate the notion of video-gameness. I think the main audience would be bored and over-educated grad students. What better way to procrastinate while writing your paper “… Taste Awful, But they Work!: The semiotics of Medicinal Candy Advertising in a Post-Trauma World of Late Capitalism” than deconstruction the notion of entertainment and simulation through a video game designed to frustrate you!
Clearly I’m an idea person, I have no computer skills so let me know if you like my idea and are technically savy! I’m in need of a partner (to do all the work basically) Millions of dollars from disaffected academics no doubt await the release of this great concept!
Don’t think this will fly? Well there is always my Animal Crossing expansion pack “Animal Double-Crossing: Orwell’s Animal Farm Plug-in For Animal Crossing” idea!
p.s. Clearly I am in need of the above mentioned software as I now spend my procrastination time writing nonsensical blogs!
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And you know, people would play it because it would be better than doing whatever they are supposed to be doing (re: studying, working, etc.) Then again, this is coming from the person that is quite willing to play a videogame where all you do is plant and farm crops for hours and hours....
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