No half-assed performance: how playing with a live crowd turns video games into performance art

A video game about donkeys, reincarnation and organized labor has been transformed into a collective performance art by playing it in front of a live audience. This is what happens when 70 people gather in a theatre to play Asses.Masses, a game created by Canadian artists Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim with a small team of collaborators.

The game's setting - in a theatre surrounded by others - changes its nature from a solo video game experience to a collaborative performance art. The controller is placed on a plinth in front of a giant projected screen, while the audience sits in the seats. Anyone who wants to take control can get up and do so, becoming the avatar of the crowd.

Asses.Masses starts with a series of questions about donkeys in different languages, requiring players to work together to answer them correctly. The game is designed as a collective experience, where usually only one person has hands on the controller but everyone participates by guiding a group of donkeys through a surreal quest to reclaim their jobs from farm machines.

The game's creators wanted to incorporate crowd dynamics into the gameplay and asked its audience if they would be interested in participating in such an event. The Glasgow performance prompted a moral panic from some groups, with critics expressing concern about the game's content warnings and potential impact on young audiences.

However, Asses.Masses has been described as a thought-provoking experience that prioritizes humour over realism. Players must work together to navigate various challenges, leading to moments of laughter and camaraderie among participants.

Staging games like this can lead to new ways of playing and experiencing video games. Its success could inspire the development of similar experiences, such as live Twitch streams or board game events, where players can participate in a more communal setting.

In conclusion, Asses.Masses has shown that video games can be transformed into performance art by incorporating crowd dynamics and collective gameplay. This format offers new opportunities for engaging with video games, fostering social interaction among participants, and creating memorable experiences for all involved.

omg I just watched this live stream of Asses.Masses and I'm still reeling from the energy it's like a whole different vibe when you're part of a collective gaming experience! I love how they got people to work together as one entity, the crowd becomes an avatar in itself the surreal quest is so mind-blowing and hilarious at the same time and can you believe it started with a bunch of random questions about donkeys in different languages? I'm all for pushing boundaries and trying new things, and this game does just that

I just watched this performance art thingy with Asses.Masses and I gotta say it was super weird but in a good way . I mean who doesn't love donkeys, right? But seriously, I liked how everyone worked together to control the game, it felt like we were all part of something bigger than ourselves. The fact that anyone could get up and take control of the controller added an extra layer of excitement to it. I think it's cool how they transformed a video game into a performance art, it just goes to show you can play games in so many different ways .

I just saw this crazy thing go down where people got together to play a game about donkeys and it got me thinking... what's the point of working individually in life when we can come together as a collective and make something beautiful? It's like, we're always being told to be independent and self-sufficient, but what if that's just a way for us to isolate ourselves from each other? I mean, think about it, when we work together towards a common goal, we become stronger as individuals. And that's exactly what Asses.Masses is all about - breaking down those barriers and embracing our humanity . It's like, the donkeys in the game aren't just representing themselves, they're representing us too, reminding us of the importance of community and connection .

I'm loving this concept of gaming being performed live in front of an audience it's like a whole new level of engagement . It's cool to see how the game Asses.Masses can bring people together through laughter and collaboration, making it more than just a solo experience on a screen. I think this could be the start of something amazing, we might see more games being adapted for live performances and community events in the future .

I gotta say, this whole Asses.Masses thing sounds like a total wild card... I mean, who wouldn't want to play a game about donkeys in front of a crowd? But seriously, what's with the moral panic from some groups? It seems kinda weird that people are getting worked up over it. Like, is it really that deep? The creators just wanted to try something new and have fun, but now they're getting this intense backlash... guess you could say it's a bit of a "he said she said" situation . And I don't know about me, but I'm a little skeptical about the whole collective gameplay thing... is it just gonna be a bunch of people arguing over who's in charge of which donkey? Still, I guess it's kinda cool that they're experimenting with new ways of playing games and bringing people together like that.

I'm so confused about this game thingy ... So like, there's these 70 people playing a video game in front of each other, right? And it's not just one person controlling the whole experience? It's like, they're all sharing control and working together as one big team, but with donkeys! How does that even work? Are there some special controllers or something?

And I'm wondering, what kind of challenges do these players have to face in this game? Is it just fun and games, or is there like some deeper meaning to it all? And why did they add those questions about donkeys at the start? Are we supposed to learn something about donkeys?

It sounds like a really unique experience, but also kinda weird. I'm not sure if I'd want to join in on that or watch someone else play it. But hey, maybe it's one of those things that you gotta see for yourself to understand what all the fuss is about...

I think its kinda cool how the game creators incorporated audience participation and turned it into a live thing ...I mean, who wouldn't want to play a donkey-themed game where you're literally part of the crowd, guiding the donkeys through a surreal quest? And I get why some people might be worried about the content warnings and young audiences, but at the same time, it sounds like its meant to be more humorous than anything else . Its interesting to think that games can be reimagined as live experiences, almost like interactive theater or something...it raises questions about what we expect from video games and how they can be adapted for different formats

I gotta say, this Asses.Masses game is pretty wild ! I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of a group of donkeys trying to reclaim their jobs from farm machines? It's like the creators took an old video game idea and turned it into something entirely new and social. The fact that anyone can get up and take control of the controller at any time is just genius, it's all about collaboration and having fun with your fellow humans .

I've seen some live gaming events before, but this one takes the cake. I'm not sure if I'd want to play a game like this in real life, but I can definitely see how it could be a really unique experience for gamers who are looking for something new and different. And hey, if it sparks some conversation and laughter among players, then that's all good in my book .

omg this is sooo cool!!! i love how they turned a game into a collective experience it's like, you're not just playing alone in your room anymore, you're part of a whole community working together to solve puzzles and have fun the way they incorporated crowd dynamics is genius - it's like the energy of the audience becomes a character in itself and i'm totally here for the surreal quest to reclaim donkeys' jobs from farm machines

OMG I'm so confused by this thing, but in a good way? Like, who would've thought playing a game about donkeys and reincarnation with 70 other people could be hilarious? The fact that you just stand up to play the controller is wild, it's like an improv session. And those crowd dynamics? Genius! I'm all for something that makes me laugh and feel like part of something weirdly awesome.

I mean, I can see how some people would freak out about it (moral panic, yadda), but honestly, if you're going to make a game about donkeys, might as well have fun with it! It's not like it's hurting anyone. And the creators are just trying something new, which is awesome. Who knows, maybe this is the start of something amazing?

OMG I just heard about this and it sounds SO cool!! I'm a total gaming noob but the idea of playing a game like that with a live audience is like, whoa! I love how it's all about collaboration and laughter - I can already imagine the vibes in the theatre being super chill and fun . The fact that anyone can take control of the controller just adds to the excitement - I'd wanna be part of that energy . And yeah, I've heard some groups were worried about the content warnings but like, isn't that what makes it thought-provoking? Can't wait to see more events like this in the future!

I think this is a game changer () for the gaming industry. I mean, who wouldn't want to play a game that's more about collaboration than competition? It's like they're saying, "Hey, we can have fun playing together, and that's what matters." And it's not just about the gameplay, but also about the experience as a whole – the theatre setting, the giant screen, everyone participating... it's like one big social experiment! I'm all for it! It's great to see people pushing boundaries and trying new things. Who knows, maybe this is the start of something amazing?

Umm... so I think this is kinda cool, yeah? But then again, maybe it's just a bunch of people standing around in a theatre, waiting to be confused by some weird game about donkeys and reincarnation... I mean, what's the point of even having a controller when you can just get up and do whatever you want? And is it really thought-provoking or are people just pretending to be deep because they're having a good time? It all depends on how you look at it, I guess...

OMG, this Asses.Masses thing is so trippy! I mean, who wouldn't want to play a game about donkeys and reincarnation with their friends in front of everyone? It's like the lines between reality and gaming just got blurred. I'm both curious and a bit skeptical at the same time - is it really thought-provoking or just a bunch of people being silly? And honestly, I can see why some groups would be worried about its content warnings... I mean, who knows what's going on in that game?! But hey, if it brings people together and creates laughter and camaraderie, then more power to the creators!

"Change is the law of the universe."

I think this Asses.Masses thingy is kinda cool, but also a bit weird, you know? Like, playing a game where everyone's working together to control donkeys? It's like, what even is that? But I guess it's all about trying new things and seeing how they turn out. And who knows, maybe this will be the start of something big – like, live gaming events and stuff. Wouldn't that be awesome?

omg I just played this game on twitch with my friends last week it was so much fun, but then we got to the part where you have to answer these questions in like 5 different languages and I was like "wait what" and I realized how hard it is for non-native speakers to learn new languages, maybe they should just do that as a normal game instead of making it super complicated? and btw, why are donkeys reincarnated in the first place

OMG , I'm like totally blown away by this Asses.Masses thingy! It's soooo cool that they turned a video game into a live performance art thing... like who wouldn't wanna be part of a group trying to answer questions about donkeys in different languages? It's like, super interactive and hilarious at the same time. I love how it's all about teamwork and having fun with friends. And yeah, I can see how it could get some weird looks from people who are into more serious stuff... but like, more power to them for being all open-minded and stuff! The idea of staging games like this is just genius, btw - it's like, who needs screens when you can have real-life friends and laughter?

I just saw this and it got me thinking . What happens when we give ourselves permission to take a step back and let others shine? In Asses.Masses, the crowd gets to be the hero instead of just sitting in front of a screen, watching someone else play. It's like, what if our collective energy was enough to move mountains? We're talking about a world where everyone has a say, not just one person controlling the controller .

It's like when you're stuck on a level and your friend helps you out, or when you work together with colleagues to get that project done. It's not about being the hero, it's about lifting each other up . This game is reminding us that we don't have to be alone in our experiences, and that together, we can create something truly amazing .

It also made me think about how our reactions to new things often say more about ourselves than the thing itself . Some people got upset because they didn't understand it, while others saw its potential. It's like, what would happen if we took a chance on something and saw where it would take us?

It's not the game itself that's weird, it's how people react to it... some folks get all worked up over nothing . But you know what? I think Asses.Masses is actually a pretty cool way to experience a game . Playing with friends and strangers in a live setting can be super fun, like a big team-building exercise . The surreal quest and laughter are definitely a plus . And who knows, maybe this kind of interactive gaming will become more popular? We might just see more "live" gaming events in the future .