Three HES Events for the Weekend and Beyond

Spring is finally here! Why not celebrate with some videogames in social, light-filled spaces? This is a little reminder about three Hand Eye Society events coming up this weekend (and one on Tues) that you or someone you know may be interested in attending. Whether it’s a free workshop for first-time game-makers, a videogame knitting circle, or a dialogue with local devs about programming animal behaviour in Unity, there’s something for everyone. Stay tuned for May news coming up soon!
gcfinal
Saturday April 23, 1-3 PM
Launch Zone at Ryerson University, 341 Yonge Street

This Saturday is Game Curious’ very last PLAY session at the Launch Zone! We will be playing tons of multiplayer games, as well as featuring some alternative controllers. (Makey Makeys may be present?)

While this is our last of our public themed arcades, we will still be at Ryerson University for our MAKE sessions – a free game-making program with mentorship – at the Transmedia Zone, starting on April 30. If you are interested in being a participant, you can sign up here: GAME CURIOUS MAKE APPLICATION FORM

Registration is open until May 1, 2016.

About the MAKE program:
The Game Curious MAKE program will take place on the following Saturday’s for 6 weeks at the the Ryerson Transmedia Zone (350 Victoria St., RCC230): April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, and June 4th. Sessions are typically 2-3 hours long, from 1-3pm. Approximately 6-10 participants will be selected from those who register.

There are no restrictions to apply, though priority will be given to those who have attended one or more Game Curious PLAY sessions (see this page for more details). Selected participants under the age of 10 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. The First MAKE Session will be about Game Making Tools and is open to everyone. If you’re just curious about what tools / game engines are out there or just want to get started on your own, then please join us.

Please send additional questions to:
ken@handeyesociety.com

unraveled

Videogames Unraveled!
Sunday April 24, 1-4 PM
Lab T.O., 231 Wallace Ave

Do you like videogames? Do you like knitting? At long last, here’s an event where you can combine both activities and/or learn more about them! VIDEOGAMES UNRAVELED is a unique one-time celebration of yarn and textile-based videogames that’s part knitting circle, part interdisciplinary exploration of two art forms which are connected by more than just a thread. NO EXPERIENCE IN EITHER KNITTING OR VIDEOGAMES NECESSARY! We’re all here to learn from each other, and everyone is welcome. This event is presented by the Hand Eye Society, Yarns Untangled, and Lab T.O.

*** COST AND REGISTRATION ***
-FREE for Hand Eye Society, Lab T.O. and Yarns Untangled members
-$10 for non-members
-Add $6 for a ball of yarn made from chemical-free locally farmed and milled 100% wool (optional; included in non-member fee)

Space at this event may be limited to 40 people, so please RSVP on the Facebook event page if possible.

Cash at the door is preferred, but we should also have a credit card reader on-site to process payments. Please RSVP in the Facebook event so we know how many people to expect! Also, there will be a cameraperson and interviewer on-site to unobtrusively record and document the event for episode #3 of YYZ Gameshow (a collaboration between HES and Bell Fibe), so please let them know if you are uncomfortable with being filmed!

quench
Tuesday April 26, 7:30 PM
Lab T.O., 231 Wallace Ave
Another Game Dialogues is upon us! This time we are pleased to present Axon Interactive’s Quench, a story-driven puzzle game set in a colourful, lo-fi world. You play as Shepherd, an avatar of nature, and you have the power to control the weather to guide herds of animals on a perilous journey. Summon rain, create gusts, quake the earth or create a lightning strike to clear the way for various animal pilgrimages, each with their own behavioural systems and personalities.
The team has just launched a Kickstarter that’s well on its way with 29 days to go, so we thought now would be a great time to give the community an opportunity to see the project in action as well as get a glimpse behind the scenes with the game’s creators. Axon’s Tabby and Jeff Rose will be coming in to demo their game, as well as talk more in-depth about the production process such as designing puzzles based around animal AI and their unique Hexels to Unity grid creation technique.
As usual, a $5 donation would be much appreciated to cover snacks, and time permitting we’ll throw on an episode of Game Maker’s Toolkit or someother relevant design tutorial for a collective learning experience!