I went to a really cool games exhibition tonight at the NYU Game Center (No Quarter) and it's been such a long time since I've been surrounded by games that exist in the physical space, or utilize the medium of being an installation, that like it pumped me up!!
Everest Pipkin had a browser-based solo journaling game but it was displayed all over the room on vintage monitors on office desks like it was incredibly Kentucky Route Zero in vibes IN PERSON. There was a funky Warioware-esque alt-controller game, a 2 player game projected on both sides of a massive screen dividing the two players, and a funky tower with bells i couldn't actually get to. Just amazing, bespoke stuff!
Among a lot of things, I forgot that the pandemic took from me a real love and expertise in the physicality and space of games. I just I missed it so much, I've solely made for the digital the past 4 years I really need to make for the physical again or else I might explode. I have a miniatures tactics game I want to make and the core idea is Light and Shadow, something very difficult to emulate easily (and cheaply) digitally, but uhhhh fuck it?? Maybe I need to make a thing that's true experience is only achievable IRL again