Play Me
Question:
If I gave a group of people radical control over my life and actions, would they connect with me more? Would they empathize? Or would they treat both me and everyone around me like mere playthings?
Answer:
Play Me - Alpha.
WHAT
An experimental interactive story where I live streamed my point of view to an internet audience who decided my every action.
WHY
This project combined improvisational theatre, performance art, and computer gaming to test what would happen if a group of people were given radical control over my life and actions. My hypothesis was that they would they connect and empathize with me more, because they would share both my perspective and responsibility for my actions. However, each player experienced deindividuation within the group (Johnson, 1979) because decisions were collective. My hypothesis was disproved, and they treated both me and everyone around like NPCs, or non-player characters — to humorous effect.
HOW
The tech stack was built around Twitch, including a helmet-mounted rig with multiple iPhones live-streaming and receiving moderator voice commands. A Twitch Bot solicited audience suggestions for my actions and compiled votes, which the moderator used to direct me every 60 seconds.
RULES
Here’s how it works:
You are going to play me, as a character, as a game, as a story -- but it’s actually me
You will see what I see
I will do whatever you say, as long as it doesn’t cause harm. “Harm” is up to my discretion
The half-hour episode will only be as good as you collectively make it, so make good offers, and make your partner look good
Details
You will suggest things for me to do by typing it into the chat in Twitch
My friend coded a chatbot to help keep everything organized
He will be the moderator. He will be the only voice I can hear during the episode.
First you’ll have a chance to suggest things for me to do. Then, you’ll have a chance to vote for which action I actually do. Finally, he will tell me the winning action, and I’ll do it. Repeat.
To keep things simple, we will only ask you to vote between three options -- the first one submitted, the last one submitted, and a random option from the middle.
I cannot go outside, I will lose wifi
The episode will run for half an hour, after which we’ll stop and have a quick debrief.
Lara (my partner) is another character in this story, and I can interact with her, but you cannot control her. She will react to anything I do as she normally would.
Story
I am moving away soon, and need to go on one final grocery run to my local corner store.
I am not sure what I need to get, but I know we’re running low on some things.
There’s a man who sometimes works behind the counter there who I’ve become friends with over the years, but I’ve forgotten his name.
I want to figure out a way to let him know I’m moving away and say bye, but I don’t know if he’ll be there.
Help me prepare for this outing.
Watch the recording on Twitch
CREATIVE TEAM
Creative Director
Wyatt Roy
Actor-Player
Wyatt Roy
Lead Developer
Gordon Lanza
Moderator
Gordon Lanza