Where and When to Experience Asses.Masses
Visit the asses.masses website to find out about upcoming performances. The next shows are:
- 2025.03.29 | PAMCUT + Risk/Reward, Portland, USA (EN)
- 2025.04.05 | Bradford UK City of Culture, Bradford, UK (EN)
- 2025.04.12-13 | Battersea Arts Centre + London Games Festival, London, UK (EN)
- 2025.05.18 | auawirleben, Bern, CH (EN)
- 2025.05.24 | The Theatre Centre, CA (EN)
- 2025.05.25 | The Theatre Centre, CA (ES)
About Asses.Masses
Asses.Masses is a collectively played video game designed by Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim. It begins with the audience being handed popcorn, which is the first sign this isn’t a typical type of theatre. Then, a spotlight comes up on a single game controller.
According to Patrick, it’s entirely up to the audience to decide what happens next. “When the audience self-elects – somehow, at some point – a person to step out of that crowd and pick up the controller, the game starts. And what ensues is an eight-ish hour adventure of a herd of donkeys trying to get their jobs back from a world that is more interested in machines.”
The Game’s Narrative
The game’s narrative covers various different angles. “We have many different perspectives on being pro-technology, anti-technology, being for the herd, for the individual. And we wanted to do that because it’s not one player playing this video game: we wanted to encourage the fact that there’s going to be multiple perspectives in the room.”
The game evolves through various different genres, like RPGs, racing games, and platformers, with the material world being represented in 2D, while segments set in the astral plane are in 3D. Each episode focuses on a different topic and a different donkey protagonist.
The Creative Process
Patrick and Milton come from an arts and theatre background, and they previously collaborated on the collectible trading card game and live art performance project culturecapital. However, they had no programming experience, so creating asses.masses in Unity involved a steep learning curve.
“We learned how to make video games in the process,” says Milton. “I will say first and foremost, kudos to Patrick, who became the programmer of the whole show and learned from scratch how to code.”
Conclusion
Asses.Masses is a unique and thought-provoking experience that combines gaming and theatre. The game’s narrative and design encourage audience participation and collaboration, making it a truly immersive experience. If you’re interested in experiencing asses.Masses for yourself, be sure to check the website for upcoming performances.
FAQs
Q: What is Asses.Masses?
A: Asses.Masses is a collectively played video game designed by Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim.
Q: How does the game work?
A: The game begins with the audience being handed popcorn, and then a spotlight comes up on a single game controller. The audience decides what happens next by self-electing a person to pick up the controller.
Q: What is the game’s narrative about?
A: The game’s narrative covers various different angles, including being pro-technology, anti-technology, and perspectives on individual and collective identity.
Q: Will Asses.Masses be released on Steam?
A: No, Patrick and Milton have no plans to release Asses.Masses on Steam. They want to uphold the integrity of the artistic gesture by keeping the game in a social setting.
