[Music] [Applause]
connection without words how a videogame
connection without words how a videogame can be an art experience the medium of
can be an art experience the medium of
can be an art experience the medium of video games is very wide it ranges from
video games is very wide it ranges from
video games is very wide it ranges from experiences of epic escapist fantasy to
experiences of epic escapist fantasy to
experiences of epic escapist fantasy to these mind-numbing addictive diversions
these mind-numbing addictive diversions
these mind-numbing addictive diversions on your phone but the video game medium
on your phone but the video game medium
on your phone but the video game medium can offer another kind of experience an
can offer another kind of experience an
can offer another kind of experience an art experience and you might not know
art experience and you might not know
art experience and you might not know about this kind of game you might know
about this kind of game you might know
about this kind of game you might know about these kinds of games but there’s
about these kinds of games but there’s
about these kinds of games but there’s another type and they’ve been there all
another type and they’ve been there all
another type and they’ve been there all along from the very beginning there are
along from the very beginning there are
along from the very beginning there are these games that give you a very
these games that give you a very
these games that give you a very different kind of experience and I’ve
different kind of experience and I’ve
different kind of experience and I’ve worked on three games as a art director
worked on three games as a art director
worked on three games as a art director and a creative director flower journey
and a creative director flower journey
and a creative director flower journey and Abzu and these games have been
and Abzu and these games have been
and Abzu and these games have been called art games but what is the art
called art games but what is the art
called art games but what is the art experience what does art do for us and
experience what does art do for us and
experience what does art do for us and can a video game be art can it give you
can a video game be art can it give you
can a video game be art can it give you an art experience today I’m going to
an art experience today I’m going to
an art experience today I’m going to tell you about the game that I worked on
tell you about the game that I worked on
tell you about the game that I worked on called journey this is a game that takes
called journey this is a game that takes
called journey this is a game that takes place in the desert you are a wanderer
place in the desert you are a wanderer
place in the desert you are a wanderer who is journeying towards a mountain in
who is journeying towards a mountain in
who is journeying towards a mountain in the distance and I was the art director
the distance and I was the art director
the distance and I was the art director on this game and I’m gonna show you a
on this game and I’m gonna show you a
on this game and I’m gonna show you a little bit about what it’s like
[Music]
[Music] thank you thank you
journey is a a game that is multiplayer
journey is a a game that is multiplayer you might on your journey to the
you might on your journey to the
you might on your journey to the mountain meet another player and go
mountain meet another player and go
mountain meet another player and go together but the game started from one
together but the game started from one
together but the game started from one simple question can we make a
simple question can we make a
simple question can we make a multiplayer game where players form a
multiplayer game where players form a
multiplayer game where players form a positive connection a bond of friendship
positive connection a bond of friendship
positive connection a bond of friendship rather than fight each other and
rather than fight each other and
rather than fight each other and everything in this game was built to
everything in this game was built to
everything in this game was built to allow players to form a connection
allow players to form a connection
allow players to form a connection despite their cultural identity we
despite their cultural identity we
despite their cultural identity we wanted to make it so that no matter what
wanted to make it so that no matter what
wanted to make it so that no matter what the players ethnicity age gender or race
the players ethnicity age gender or race
the players ethnicity age gender or race they could befriend each other in this
they could befriend each other in this
they could befriend each other in this game the desert is a symbol of
game the desert is a symbol of
game the desert is a symbol of desolation and isolation loneliness and
desolation and isolation loneliness and
desolation and isolation loneliness and we chose the desert as a location for
we chose the desert as a location for
we chose the desert as a location for this journey because of that the
this journey because of that the
this journey because of that the relationship of players is highlighted
relationship of players is highlighted
relationship of players is highlighted when you find another player in the
when you find another player in the
when you find another player in the desert it becomes more meaningful and
desert it becomes more meaningful and
desert it becomes more meaningful and one of the most important things to
one of the most important things to
one of the most important things to create a bond between these players was
create a bond between these players was
create a bond between these players was to create the right character design and
to create the right character design and
to create the right character design and the character design was something that
the character design was something that
the character design was something that I worked on a long time it went through
I worked on a long time it went through
I worked on a long time it went through a bunch of different iterations and the
a bunch of different iterations and the
a bunch of different iterations and the first thing that we knew we had to do to
first thing that we knew we had to do to
first thing that we knew we had to do to create this connection was to remove
create this connection was to remove
create this connection was to remove cultural barriers and the largest
cultural barriers and the largest
cultural barriers and the largest cultural barrier is language so the
cultural barrier is language so the
cultural barrier is language so the first character design I did covered the
first character design I did covered the
first character design I did covered the mouth so that he couldn’t speak journey
mouth so that he couldn’t speak journey
mouth so that he couldn’t speak journey has no words no language but the
has no words no language but the
has no words no language but the character needed a mask we needed to
character needed a mask we needed to
character needed a mask we needed to take away more detail to hide the
take away more detail to hide the
take away more detail to hide the ethnicity of the character so I started
ethnicity of the character so I started
ethnicity of the character so I started to do designs like this and I thought
to do designs like this and I thought
to do designs like this and I thought that it might be better if the design
that it might be better if the design
that it might be better if the design was more complex
was more complex
was more complex had more detail so I created characters
had more detail so I created characters
had more detail so I created characters with ribbons and all sorts of things and
with ribbons and all sorts of things and
with ribbons and all sorts of things and we had a very small team only eight
we had a very small team only eight
we had a very small team only eight people at the beginning and the
people at the beginning and the
people at the beginning and the programmers saw this design and they
programmers saw this design and they
programmers saw this design and they said this is too complex we can’t
said this is too complex we can’t
said this is too complex we can’t animate this with our team it’s too hard
animate this with our team it’s too hard
animate this with our team it’s too hard this character was in the game for one
this character was in the game for one
this character was in the game for one day and we took him out but my response
day and we took him out but my response
day and we took him out but my response was what if I try something even more
was what if I try something even more
was what if I try something even more complex and they did they weren’t so
complex and they did they weren’t so
complex and they did they weren’t so happy about this I tried to add more
happy about this I tried to add more
happy about this I tried to add more arms and more ribbons and it was insane
arms and more ribbons and it was insane
arms and more ribbons and it was insane we could not create this character and
we could not create this character and
we could not create this character and what we found was that when we played
what we found was that when we played
what we found was that when we played the game with people when they saw all
the game with people when they saw all
the game with people when they saw all these arms they wanted to use them to
these arms they wanted to use them to
these arms they wanted to use them to punch each other which is exactly the
punch each other which is exactly the
punch each other which is exactly the opposite of what we wanted the players
opposite of what we wanted the players
opposite of what we wanted the players to do form a connection so that what I
to do form a connection so that what I
to do form a connection so that what I did was I took the arms off that’s why
did was I took the arms off that’s why
did was I took the arms off that’s why the character has no arms and this
the character has no arms and this
the character has no arms and this worked so well that I thought maybe I
worked so well that I thought maybe I
worked so well that I thought maybe I need to take more away so I tried taking
need to take more away so I tried taking
need to take more away so I tried taking away the legs
away the legs
away the legs I even tried taking away the head all we
I even tried taking away the head all we
I even tried taking away the head all we had was a kite and that was too much so
had was a kite and that was too much so
had was a kite and that was too much so we ended up with this and this character
we ended up with this and this character
we ended up with this and this character becomes a vessel for the player it’s a
becomes a vessel for the player it’s a
becomes a vessel for the player it’s a character that’s very easy to project
character that’s very easy to project
character that’s very easy to project yourself into because it lacks ethnicity
yourself into because it lacks ethnicity
yourself into because it lacks ethnicity or gender and it made it so that players
or gender and it made it so that players
or gender and it made it so that players could really become a part of the game
could really become a part of the game
could really become a part of the game and the desert was also very important
and the desert was also very important
and the desert was also very important in this regard it’s so blank and so pure
in this regard it’s so blank and so pure
in this regard it’s so blank and so pure that it B can become an analogy for many
that it B can become an analogy for many
that it B can become an analogy for many kinds of adventures many kinds of
kinds of adventures many kinds of
kinds of adventures many kinds of personal journeys so we had this setting
personal journeys so we had this setting
personal journeys so we had this setting and we had this character but we needed
and we had this character but we needed
and we had this character but we needed to tell a story for these characters and
to tell a story for these characters and
to tell a story for these characters and these players to experience together so
these players to experience together so
these players to experience together so that they could have his bond and we
that they could have his bond and we
that they could have his bond and we wanted to tell a universal story one
wanted to tell a universal story one
wanted to tell a universal story one that anyone could understand and relate
that anyone could understand and relate
that anyone could understand and relate to but we had no words we had no
to but we had no words we had no
to but we had no words we had no language so instead we had to use color
language so instead we had to use color
language so instead we had to use color to tell her
to tell her
to tell her story and this is the first version of
story and this is the first version of
story and this is the first version of journeys script it was just a sequence
journeys script it was just a sequence
journeys script it was just a sequence of colors representing moods and I
of colors representing moods and I
of colors representing moods and I expanded on that to create these
expanded on that to create these
expanded on that to create these sensations of light in the environment
sensations of light in the environment
sensations of light in the environment this idea of the atmosphere is that you
this idea of the atmosphere is that you
this idea of the atmosphere is that you would go through and this becomes a
would go through and this becomes a
would go through and this becomes a narrative just by having the sequence of
narrative just by having the sequence of
narrative just by having the sequence of color you have emotional lows and highs
color you have emotional lows and highs
color you have emotional lows and highs and it becomes an adventure some
and it becomes an adventure some
and it becomes an adventure some examples from the game you have a scene
examples from the game you have a scene
examples from the game you have a scene here where we use warm color to make you
here where we use warm color to make you
here where we use warm color to make you feel happy you can see very far into the
feel happy you can see very far into the
feel happy you can see very far into the distance that makes you feel secure
distance that makes you feel secure
distance that makes you feel secure there’s also scenes where we do the
there’s also scenes where we do the
there’s also scenes where we do the opposite it’s very scary and dark and
opposite it’s very scary and dark and
opposite it’s very scary and dark and you can’t see far at all that makes the
you can’t see far at all that makes the
you can’t see far at all that makes the player physically scared and as you the
player physically scared and as you the
player physically scared and as you the players go towards this mountain in the
players go towards this mountain in the
players go towards this mountain in the distance they encounter dangers there’s
distance they encounter dangers there’s
distance they encounter dangers there’s powerful enemies they have to avoid and
powerful enemies they have to avoid and
powerful enemies they have to avoid and environmental dangers winds and snow
environmental dangers winds and snow
environmental dangers winds and snow that they have to overcome together and
that they have to overcome together and
that they have to overcome together and there they have a bond of friendship
there they have a bond of friendship
there they have a bond of friendship that’s tested but at the end once you
that’s tested but at the end once you
that’s tested but at the end once you get past those trials we reach this
get past those trials we reach this
get past those trials we reach this clear mountain sky and I use blue as the
clear mountain sky and I use blue as the
clear mountain sky and I use blue as the sky color here as a reward for the
sky color here as a reward for the
sky color here as a reward for the player
player
player I saved this color to the end just to
I saved this color to the end just to
I saved this color to the end just to reward the player with this bright
reward the player with this bright
reward the player with this bright breath of fresh air there were scenes
breath of fresh air there were scenes
breath of fresh air there were scenes before in the earlier parts of the game
before in the earlier parts of the game
before in the earlier parts of the game where I could have used a blue sky but I
where I could have used a blue sky but I
where I could have used a blue sky but I use green instead to save that color for
use green instead to save that color for
use green instead to save that color for the end that blue and at the end of the
the end that blue and at the end of the
the end that blue and at the end of the game there’s a moment where you know
game there’s a moment where you know
game there’s a moment where you know that once you walk past this light it
that once you walk past this light it
that once you walk past this light it will be over the journey will end and
will be over the journey will end and
will be over the journey will end and one of the most powerful things we chose
one of the most powerful things we chose
one of the most powerful things we chose to do was to let players choose to walk
to do was to let players choose to walk
to do was to let players choose to walk past that point together and we they
past that point together and we they
past that point together and we they don’t have to they have to they can wait
don’t have to they have to they can wait
don’t have to they have to they can wait and they can play with each other before
and they can play with each other before
and they can play with each other before they go into the
they go into the
they go into the as long as they want so by choosing to
as long as they want so by choosing to
as long as they want so by choosing to end their journey they accept that the
end their journey they accept that the
end their journey they accept that the journey is over they accept this journey
journey is over they accept this journey
journey is over they accept this journey for what it is and it becomes a very
for what it is and it becomes a very
for what it is and it becomes a very powerful narrative told without words so
powerful narrative told without words so
powerful narrative told without words so we had this story but was what we made
we had this story but was what we made
we had this story but was what we made an art experience what is an art
an art experience what is an art
an art experience what is an art experience what is art do for us this is
experience what is art do for us this is
experience what is art do for us this is me when I was 11 years old drawing in a
me when I was 11 years old drawing in a
me when I was 11 years old drawing in a museum and you can see the notebook that
museum and you can see the notebook that
museum and you can see the notebook that I had then I wrote down the names of all
I had then I wrote down the names of all
I had then I wrote down the names of all the painters that I loved and I was
the painters that I loved and I was
the painters that I loved and I was drawing this amazing ancient tablet and
drawing this amazing ancient tablet and
drawing this amazing ancient tablet and this is a drawing I did just a couple
this is a drawing I did just a couple
this is a drawing I did just a couple years ago at the British Museum you can
years ago at the British Museum you can
years ago at the British Museum you can see I still do the same stuff this art
see I still do the same stuff this art
see I still do the same stuff this art has a huge impact on my life and it was
has a huge impact on my life and it was
has a huge impact on my life and it was a big inspiration for journey and other
a big inspiration for journey and other
a big inspiration for journey and other games that I’ve worked on to me the
games that I’ve worked on to me the
games that I’ve worked on to me the greatest thing that art can do is give
greatest thing that art can do is give
greatest thing that art can do is give us a new perspective it can help us see
us a new perspective it can help us see
us a new perspective it can help us see the world in a new way it can literally
the world in a new way it can literally
the world in a new way it can literally let us see through the eyes of another
let us see through the eyes of another
let us see through the eyes of another person and what that does is it allows
person and what that does is it allows
person and what that does is it allows us to draw new connections to understand
us to draw new connections to understand
us to draw new connections to understand our lives our relationships in new ways
our lives our relationships in new ways
our lives our relationships in new ways we can learn from art and it can nourish
we can learn from art and it can nourish
we can learn from art and it can nourish us with its experience and when the at a
us with its experience and when the at a
us with its experience and when the at a time right right like right now when the
time right right like right now when the
time right right like right now when the desert is more a symbol of atrocities of
desert is more a symbol of atrocities of
desert is more a symbol of atrocities of war and when you think of the desert
war and when you think of the desert
war and when you think of the desert it’s scary and sad this is when we need
it’s scary and sad this is when we need
it’s scary and sad this is when we need the art experience more than ever we
the art experience more than ever we
the art experience more than ever we look to art for this nourishment to
look to art for this nourishment to
look to art for this nourishment to rejuvenate us and to let us remember our
rejuvenate us and to let us remember our
rejuvenate us and to let us remember our connection to each other to let us see
connection to each other to let us see
connection to each other to let us see the big picture again
the impact of journey when journeys
the impact of journey when journeys shipped it was met with critical acclaim
shipped it was met with critical acclaim
shipped it was met with critical acclaim we won a lot of awards with this game
we won a lot of awards with this game
we won a lot of awards with this game and it was an amazing experience to see
and it was an amazing experience to see
and it was an amazing experience to see that they won five BAFTA Awards it swept
that they won five BAFTA Awards it swept
that they won five BAFTA Awards it swept the game developers Choice Awards
the game developers Choice Awards
the game developers Choice Awards including 30 Game of the Year awards
including 30 Game of the Year awards
including 30 Game of the Year awards from different websites and publications
from different websites and publications
from different websites and publications but the most powerful response to the
but the most powerful response to the
but the most powerful response to the game for us as a developers was the
game for us as a developers was the
game for us as a developers was the response of the fans this is fan created
response of the fans this is fan created
response of the fans this is fan created art people were inspired to create
art people were inspired to create
art people were inspired to create pictures paintings based on this game
pictures paintings based on this game
pictures paintings based on this game that and how it affected them there’s
that and how it affected them there’s
that and how it affected them there’s entire websites dedicated to sharing
entire websites dedicated to sharing
entire websites dedicated to sharing this art created completely by fans that
this art created completely by fans that
this art created completely by fans that still are being contributed today and it
still are being contributed today and it
still are being contributed today and it shows you the power of video games as a
shows you the power of video games as a
shows you the power of video games as a medium to tell a powerful powerful story
medium to tell a powerful powerful story
medium to tell a powerful powerful story games have this unique property of
games have this unique property of
games have this unique property of interaction that really brings people
interaction that really brings people
interaction that really brings people into the experience in a unique way we
into the experience in a unique way we
into the experience in a unique way we heard from a teacher who incorporated
heard from a teacher who incorporated
heard from a teacher who incorporated journey into their classroom as a prompt
journey into their classroom as a prompt
journey into their classroom as a prompt for a narrative writing class with 11
for a narrative writing class with 11
for a narrative writing class with 11 and ten-year-old students and they wrote
and ten-year-old students and they wrote
and ten-year-old students and they wrote little poems based on the game as they
little poems based on the game as they
little poems based on the game as they watched one of the students play and
watched one of the students play and
watched one of the students play and what we found was that a lot of the
what we found was that a lot of the
what we found was that a lot of the students wrote about the game in the
students wrote about the game in the
students wrote about the game in the first person even though the game is a
first person even though the game is a
first person even though the game is a third-person perspective this is one of
third-person perspective this is one of
third-person perspective this is one of them I opened my eyes and instantly fell
them I opened my eyes and instantly fell
them I opened my eyes and instantly fell back because the light was so bright
back because the light was so bright
back because the light was so bright encircled me making the world a haze it
encircled me making the world a haze it
encircled me making the world a haze it was like I was in a fountain of light
was like I was in a fountain of light
was like I was in a fountain of light this was written by a 10 year old
this was written by a 10 year old
this was written by a 10 year old playing the game you can see that the
playing the game you can see that the
playing the game you can see that the character that these children were in so
character that these children were in so
character that these children were in so immersed in the game
immersed in the game
immersed in the game that they felt the story and the
that they felt the story and the
that they felt the story and the environments as if they were there but
environments as if they were there but
environments as if they were there but the most powerful reactions were those
the most powerful reactions were those
the most powerful reactions were those that we heard about in fan mail that was
that we heard about in fan mail that was
that we heard about in fan mail that was sent to the team this is a excerpt from
sent to the team this is a excerpt from
sent to the team this is a excerpt from a mail that we received I’m a disabled
a mail that we received I’m a disabled
a mail that we received I’m a disabled combat veteran living living with PTSD
combat veteran living living with PTSD
combat veteran living living with PTSD this game is therapy I feel better about
this game is therapy I feel better about
this game is therapy I feel better about my life about the choices I’ve made this
my life about the choices I’ve made this
my life about the choices I’ve made this is a from another letter this game has
is a from another letter this game has
is a from another letter this game has pulled me out of a deep depression I’ve
pulled me out of a deep depression I’ve
pulled me out of a deep depression I’ve been suffering from for almost five
been suffering from for almost five
been suffering from for almost five years another person sent us this my
years another person sent us this my
years another person sent us this my father was diagnosed with cancer journey
father was diagnosed with cancer journey
father was diagnosed with cancer journey was the most fun I had with him since he
was the most fun I had with him since he
was the most fun I had with him since he passed only a few months after I believe
passed only a few months after I believe
passed only a few months after I believe we encountered your game at the most
we encountered your game at the most
we encountered your game at the most perfect time
perfect time
perfect time I am Sophia I am 15 and your game has
I am Sophia I am 15 and your game has
I am Sophia I am 15 and your game has changed changed my life for the better
receiving messages like this was so
receiving messages like this was so impactful to us this is actually not a
impactful to us this is actually not a
impactful to us this is actually not a screenshot of the game this is a person
screenshot of the game this is a person
screenshot of the game this is a person who has actually created the costume
who has actually created the costume
who has actually created the costume from journey wore it and took a trip to
from journey wore it and took a trip to
from journey wore it and took a trip to the Sahara Desert to create this moment
the Sahara Desert to create this moment
the Sahara Desert to create this moment that affected her in the game these
that affected her in the game these
that affected her in the game these people found a new perspective playing
people found a new perspective playing
people found a new perspective playing journey they were able to see the world
journey they were able to see the world
journey they were able to see the world in a new way and form a new connection
in a new way and form a new connection
in a new way and form a new connection they were able to have an art experience
they were able to have an art experience
they were able to have an art experience by playing this game and in that way
by playing this game and in that way
by playing this game and in that way this videogame created an art experience
this videogame created an art experience
this videogame created an art experience so thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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