Blast Theory’s award-winning game, Can You See Me Now?, is making its UK premiere at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on Tuesday 19 – Thursday 21 November. The game, which first gained international acclaim over a decade ago, is a thrilling mix of reality and virtuality, challenging players to navigate a 3D world while evading “runners” who are actually out on the streets.
Originally created in 2001 in collaboration with the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham, Can You See Me Now? was ahead of its time in utilizing GPS technology and connecting virtual and physical spaces in real time. The game quickly gained a cult following, touring 22 cities across four continents and winning the prestigious Prix Ars Electronica.
Now, with advancements in technology and the rise of the metaverse, Blast Theory has redeveloped the game for a new generation of players. The new mobile app offers an immersive mixed reality experience, exploring themes of presence, absence, and our interconnected lives online.
According to Blast Theory artist Matt Adams, Can You See Me Now? was a mobile game before mobile games were even a genre. He recalls the challenges they faced in setting up the game in 2001, before smartphones and mobile internet were widely available. “GPS devices were separate and expensive, so we had to buy our own WiFi equipment and climb church spires and even a ship’s mast to get the coverage we needed,” Adams says.
With the current hype surrounding the metaverse and the impact of social media on our lives, Blast Theory believes there is a new generation of players who will love the game. “In a world where we are constantly connected but also increasingly disconnected, we question what community online really looks like and how we are connected to friends and strangers,” Adams adds.
For further information, including interview requests, please contact Jonathan Goode, Communications Manager for Blast Theory, at +44 (0)7850 677 401 or jonny@blasttheory.co.uk. Assets can be downloaded from the media pack available at https://pressat.co.uk/.
About Blast Theory:Blast Theory is an internationally acclaimed artists’ group known for their adventurous use of interactive media. Their work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as Tate Britain, the Venice Biennale, and the Royal Opera House, and has won awards such as the Golden Nica for Interactive Art at Prix Ars Electronica and the Maverick Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards in the USA.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.
