Indeed, what is letterclub?
A briefer history to fill in the gaps: droqen and I started talking about haiku games when, in my feedback notes after play-testing Yrrkey’s Paradise, I mentioned that the game was close to realizing my idea of ‘haiku games’, an idea I was having trouble truly interrogating on my own. droqen wanted to know more, and I gave him a long rundown of where I was at with the idea. Talking it through was invigorating and illuminating.
I think we successfully turned the discussion public, with letterclub. Though I think I am ready to move on from it, too. The discussion has helped me find a home embracing play, and helped me reconnect with the plodding, grid-based, puzzley play I had loved before becoming disillusioned, and turned to dreams of ludic poetry as a hopeful salve. After seeking an understanding of poetry, and then an understanding of a creative process that might lead to art that sustains that same impact I had looked for in poetry, and a study of play – after all that great discussion we had, I went back to my puzzles, and made an experimental sokoban client, and continued the journey I hadn’t realized I was already on: to find a way to create the magical, dynamic, kinetic, grid-based play that I am apparently so infatuated with.
And so, to me, letterclub is a place where we are encouraged to go out on a limb that has struck our curiosity, and describe what we find there, and what questions we still have about it. And to be inspired by our differing perspectives and knowledge, and our communal zest for understanding this weird part of ‘games’ that we seem to have a similar perspective on, though we approach from different places. It’s an open invitation, by nature of its existence, to wonder and seek.
I think it does work best when we are focused on similar center. A big question, with a confident signpost of a direction to explore it. I almost think anything of this character will do. I would be glad to continue exploring Christopher Alexander’s ideas. But I’m not sure that is enough on its own. I leave it to you, droqen, to explain what about it has trapped your mind so securely, and which way you want to go to try to find freedom. Then, in response, we can each explain where our minds are trapped, and how what we’ve learned from our own traps might help you with your trap. And this will bring our traps closer together, and if a trap is big enough, we will see they are all the same trap after all.
For myself, I have been wanting to synthesize some thoughts I’ve built up over my now five(!) years of interrogating the nature of puzzles and games. But that is not really a letterclub quest. But I have also been thinking about worlds, and what makes a space something we connect with, something inviting, and rewarding, and staying. Something more than the gimmicks of game design. And this seems very much a letterclub quest. Even a continuation of haiku games in a way! But I don’t think I’ve found my signpost. Or I haven’t made it yet. Either way, I don’t have it. But maybe soon…
Happy new year.
Jack
also it is an excuse to write with some dramatic flair. over-extend metaphors and use words in fun ways.
i expect that my signpost (when complete) will have considerable overlap with “what makes a space something we connect with,” no surprise since i’ve been reading the life’s work of an actual architect! excited for us to “see they are all the same trap after all”.