G4C Talk and Play: LOCALLY PLAYED Book Launch with Benjamin Stokes
4In 2016, city officials were surprised when Pokémon GO brought millions of players out into the public space, blending digital participation with the physical. Yet for local control and empowerment, a new framework is needed to guide the power of mixed reality and pervasive play.
This new book is the first to show cities how they can be strategic with games in a hybrid world. In Locally Played, Benjamin Stokes describes the rise of games that can connect strangers across zip codes, support the “buy local” economy, and build cohesion in the fight for equity. With a mix of high- and low-tech games, Stokes shows, cities can tap into the power of play for the good of the group, including healthier neighborhoods and stronger communities.
The discussant is noted game designer and academic, Katie Salen Tekinbaş. Katie's own pioneering games for cities -- including the Big Urban Game for the Twin Cities in the U.S. -- established some of the foundation for modern research on games. This event will be introduced by Games for Changes President, Susanna Pollack.
http://www.gamesforchange.org/