Best Before, a PuSh Festival event
Last night we went to check out the PuSh Festival event Best Before at Vancouver’s The Culch, which offers programming in theatre, dance and music by local and international artists.
Each audience member controls an anonymous avatar making decisions and interacting with other players in a simulated city called BestLand. Part theatrical performance, part interactive game testing, the experience was totally enchanting. Everyone was clearly entertained by the consequences of the various decisions made within BestLand.
Over 200 players were active participants in BestLand, and could make decisions starting with gender (head to the left side of the screen if you want to be male!), occupation, political views, etc.
Took heroine and smoked pot earlier in the game? Reap the consequences as you must later on spend 5 turns in the hospital, as your actions will affect your future health. Voted for guns? Your avatar now carries a gun at all times. Partnered up and divorced? That will cost you a few BestLand coins.
The evening was extremely enjoyable and entertaining, and there was no way to hold in the laughter as they tested the various glitches and watched how the audience reacted to certain decisions they had to make.
“Taking its inspiration from Vancouver’s gaming industry, BestLand evolves and devolves as the audience clashes and collaborates while making personal, social and political decisions.”
Push International Performing Arts Festival
Presented with Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, The Cultch and the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
If you are in Vancouver, check it out!
