A live crowd is transforming video games into performance art. At the forefront of this phenomenon is Asses.Masses, a Canadian-made game that combines elements of collective gameplay and performance art with its latest outing in Glasgow theatre.
Asses.Masses invites players to participate as part of a larger group, navigating a surreal world filled with donkeys on a quest for their lost jobs. This collaborative format brings out the audience's diverse perspectives and opinions, often resulting in surprising outcomes. For instance, someone might provide an answer in Spanish, while another contributes engineering knowledge.
This interactive experience transforms the viewer into a player, as everyone plays together to guide a group of donkeys on their journey, using a controller in front of a giant projected screen. The game includes thought-provoking themes like collective action, industrialisation and labour politics, with references to violence, strong language and simulated sex.
The Asses.Masses performance can be described as an immersive experience that blurs the line between video games and live theatre. This new format not only brings people together but also allows them to engage more deeply with the game's narrative and emotional resonance.
Asses.Masses invites players to participate as part of a larger group, navigating a surreal world filled with donkeys on a quest for their lost jobs. This collaborative format brings out the audience's diverse perspectives and opinions, often resulting in surprising outcomes. For instance, someone might provide an answer in Spanish, while another contributes engineering knowledge.
This interactive experience transforms the viewer into a player, as everyone plays together to guide a group of donkeys on their journey, using a controller in front of a giant projected screen. The game includes thought-provoking themes like collective action, industrialisation and labour politics, with references to violence, strong language and simulated sex.
The Asses.Masses performance can be described as an immersive experience that blurs the line between video games and live theatre. This new format not only brings people together but also allows them to engage more deeply with the game's narrative and emotional resonance.
so I think this is a pretty cool idea, right? like, who wouldn't want to be part of a giant game where everyone plays together and stuff gets real interesting. 
I mean, it's not just about collecting points or whatever, it's about the community and how people interact with each other. And the themes they're tackling are pretty thought-provoking, especially when you think about how it relates to our everyday lives and society. 
And I wonder, will people start to expect this level of interactivity in live events and performances? It's definitely something that'll keep you engaged from start to finish.
I mean, who says gamers and theatre-goers are two different people? This seems like a perfect way to bring them together and create something new and exciting! 
this is so cool! I mean, think about it - video games are becoming a thing in real life too? It's like they're taking the whole gaming experience and bringing it to the stage... or in this case, the theatre! The idea of people coming together to play a game as a group is just genius 
, and I love how it brings out all these different perspectives and opinions. It's like a big ol' brainstorming session, but with donkeys! And the fact that they're tackling some heavy themes like industrialisation and labour politics? Mind blown 
. And the themes they're tackling? So deep. I'm all for collective action & challenging the status quo 
. Can't wait to check out an Asses.Masses show in person! 
and its all about collective action, you know? like, we can learn a lot from that. i also think its awesome that it's not just some corporate game, but something with real thought-provoking themes 
and i love how the controllers become these giant props on stage, it's like, performance art meets gaming 
. The fact that people are contributing their skills and perspectives to the gameplay is mind-blowing, I love how it breaks down these boundaries between gamer and spectator. And the themes they're tackling? Super relevant for our times 