Nordic Larp

Category: Documentation

  • Larp Census 2014

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    Larp Census 2014

    By

    Johannes Axner

    The international larp census of 2014 has been launched, this is what the authors have to say about why you should answer it:

    Although some countries have rough estimates of their larp population, there has not been a comprehensive global census taken of self-identifying larpers on this scale. We really want to count everyone who larps, has larped, and wants to larp.

    The information we acquire will be publicly shared so scholars can analyze the data and make conclusions that will, hopefully, increase both the quantity and quality of larps around the globe.

    Check out and take the census here:
    http://www.larpcensus.org/

  • Life Under Occupation: The Halat Hisar Book

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    Life Under Occupation: The Halat Hisar Book

    By

    Johannes Axner

    Documentation of larp is an important form to share knowledge and experience about the games being run. Life Under Occupation is a book documenting the larp Halat Hisar (2013) and it was just released in digital format. We caught up the books editor Juhana Pettersson, who also was one of the larps main organizers, to ask some questions.

    Juhana Pettersson, photo by Mika Kettunen. Juhana Pettersson, photo by Mika Kettunen.

    Can you tell us about Halat Hisar?

    Halat hisar was a Palestinian-Finnish larp played in Finland in 2013. Its aim was to bring together Palestinian and Nordic larpers, increase awareness of issues in Palestine and create a game where the situation in occupied Palestine was recreated in an alternate reality context as occupied Finland.

    How did the book project come about?

    Halat hisar was always a twofold project: we wanted to make a larp, but we didn’t want to limit it to the people who participated. For us, it was important to talk about the larp and the issues it dealt with to a wider audience. We did media outreach to achieve this, but also wanted to document the game for people who wanted to learn more.

    Have you worked with any other kind of documentation besides the book?

    All of the documentation builds on the work done during the game by our two great photographers, Tuomas Puikkonen and Katri Lassila. Our aim was to document as much as we could, and then work that material into two publications: the book, and a forthcoming short documentary film.

    Halat hisar, photo by Tuomas Puikkonen.What is the structure of the book and documentary, what did you decide to document?

    The documentary is still in the works, but will focus on player experiences and issues raised by the game. The book largely follows the structure of the game, starting with the core background and ideas it followed and then going into the actual events. Like many larp documentation efforts, some of the material came to be because of active editorial effort, and some was more about collecting existing stuff.

    Anything else we should know?

    A personal reason for making this book was all the great stuff that different people had made for the game. I wanted to see these things collected and maybe appreciated by new audiences. For example, the wonderful world material by Kaisa Kangas, the game design by Mohamad Rabah, Fatima AbdulKarim and Riad Mustafa or the photos by Tuomas Puikkonen. Some of the articles have been reworked by the authors from things originally written to debrief the game on social media.

    The book is available for download over at its website:
    http://www.nordicrpg.fi/julkaisut/life-under-occupation/

    Halat hisar was run in 2013 and you can read more about it at the Nordic Larp Wiki:
    http://nordiclarp.org/wiki/Halat_hisar

    All photos in the article including the cover photo are taken by Tuomas Puikkonen unless otherwise noted.

  • All the Mistakes I’ve Done Episode IV

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    All the Mistakes I’ve Done Episode IV

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    A classic program item at Knutepunkt is the “All the mistakes I’ve done” session. At Knutpunkt 2014 we once more got larp designer and producers to tell some of their dark secrets.

    Sharing mistakes this round was Juhana Pettersson, Anna-Karin Linder, Troels Barkholt-Spangsbo & Hanne Grasmo.

    The session was hosted by Rasmus Høgdall.

    Once again four wonderful guest speakers will present, all the mistakes they have done in the name of making great or not so great larps. The premise is; that by sharing our mistakes we all learn a little bit, but most importantly we learn that failing is not the same as being a faliure, it’s part of doing, learning and bettering yourself.

  • New Tastes in Brazilian Larp – From Dark Coca Cola to Caipirinha with Nordic Ice

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    New Tastes in Brazilian Larp – From Dark Coca Cola to Caipirinha with Nordic Ice

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    What’s up in the Brazilian larp scene? In this session from Knutpunkt 2014, Wagner Luiz Schmit talks about how Nordic Larp has influenced parts of Brazilian larps.

    The video is unfortunately cut short in the end.

    Debate about the recent influence of the Nordic larp and transformations in larp community on Brazil, focusing in the city of Sao Paulo.

    30 minute presentation of a representative selection of Brazilian larps from the perspective of the hosts, followed by an hour of open debate through videoconferencing.

    The main host will translate questions on the debate with the co-host and organizer of the larps in Brazil. The co-host will be present through videoconferencing. The long time for debate is due to translation time.

  • Larp Design: Theory and Practice

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    Larp Design: Theory and Practice

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    In this great talk at Knutpunkt 2014, larpwright Eirik Fatland give a very good breadown of larp design.

    Why do people do the stuff they do at larps, and how can you make them do other, more interesting, things? Characters! Relationships! Dramaturgy! A primer on what we think we know about larp design.

    The lecturer will lecture. The audience will listen. Some will be bored and leave early. Others will stick around and discuss larp design until their brains explode.

    Eirik Fatland – The Larpwright

  • Spatial Design – Experiences

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    Spatial Design – Experiences

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    How can we create a spatial experience with which we design the player experience? Jonas Trier-Knudsen & Troels Barkholt-Spangsbo hosted this session at Knutpunkt 2014 where several organizer shared their best practices and experiences in short talks.

    The video is unfortunately cut short in the end.

    How do we change scenography from backdrop to active tool for shaping players’ experience? A series of talks explore Spatial Design as a tool for creating better games.

    Firehose-talks on spatial design: Through a series of short talks, organizers will share examples and experiences from this fledgling field within larp design.

  • Short Presentations of Larps and Projects for 2014 and 2015

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    Short Presentations of Larps and Projects for 2014 and 2015

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    At Knutpunkt 2014, a bunch of larps, festivals and events was presented. It was hosted by Magnar Grønvik Müller

    The video is unfortunately cut short in the end.

    Short and sweet presentations of upcoming larps, larp festivals, larp conventions and other interesting events.

    (more…)

  • Social Media in Larps

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    Social Media in Larps

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    The presentation and panel about social media in larps was filmed at Knutepunkt 2014. It was hosted by Petter Karlsson & Rasmus Høgdall and the panel included Eleanor Saitta, Stefan Deutsch, Johanna Macdonald, Magnar Grønvik Müller & Eirik Fatland.

    Petter and Rasmus will walk the audience through the different social medias, talk about how they can be used and what limitations they have. A panel of guest speakers will talk about the pros and cons of using social media in larps ranging from player safety to controling online content.

    Download slides: Social media in larps

  • Knutpunkt 2014 – Summary

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    Knutpunkt 2014 – Summary

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    The larp conference Knutpunkt 2014 is now over and in this post we will gather as much material as possible. This post has been updated with all the filmed presentations, many of the slides, blogposts etc.

    Last updated 2014-05-08

    Blog posts

    The Event

    The Knutpunkt Books

    Presentations

    Video & Slides

    Video

    Slides

    Social

    Other

    Social media collection

    (more…)
  • Voices from Knutpunkt

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    Voices from Knutpunkt

    By

    Petter Karlsson

    Voices from Knutpunkt is a crowd-sourced initiative to document and share the experience and the people  at the Nordic larp conference Knutpunkt 2014.

    You are welcome to take part in the collaboration. If you want to discuss it, please join the facebook group.

    At Knutpunkt there will also be a program item in the beginning of the conference, introducing the initiative.

     

    Hashtags
    #knutpunkt2014 – used for all posts in social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

    Photo policy
    We encourage you to ask first before taking a photo of someone and follow the Knutpunkt photo policy.

    Formats
    We have put together a smörgåsbord with formats for sharing Knutpunkt. Pick and choose what you like or make up your own thing.

     

    Interview

    A post at your own blog with an interview, either as text, video or just a youtube video. Interview a participant, program host, volunteer or organizer. Examples of questions can be what the person has done during Knutpunkt, experiences, reflextions, something the person wants to share from their larp community, etc. Try to ask open questions that can not be answered with only a yes or no reply. If you want to publish text but don’t have your own blog we can help you out in the facebook group.

     

    Program item summary

    A blog post that summarizes a program item that you have attended. It could include media such as images and video. Try to use these topics as your main headlines.

    • Format – describe what you did.
    • Content – what was the program item about and what was the purpose?
    • Take away – what did you find most interesting and do you have any reflections after the program items.

     

    Participant portrait

    A photo of a participant posted on Instagram, Facebook or any other service. Ask three questions and write the answers in the description: name, country and why they visit Knutpunkt. Example: Petter, Sweden, is at Knutpunkt to meet new and old friends, and learn new stuff. #knutpunkt2014

    A 15 second video with a participant statement on Instagram. Before you start the recording you have asked What is the best thing about Knutpunkt? In the description, write name and “best of Knutpunkt.” Example: [Video starts] “I love the creative atmosphere here!” Description: Petter’s best of #knutpunkt2014.

     

    Experience report

    A twitter post. This is your typical KP tweet, stating what’s up. Remember that tweets have a 140 sign limit. Example: Ending ceremony at #knutpunkt2014 in 10 min. Gahwd I will miss these people!

    A photo illustrating an activity or an event, posted on Instagram, Facebook or any other service. Write a short or long description of the event and your experience. Example: [image of a panel] Discussion about collaboration between polish and German larp communities. Amazed by the dedication of the polish organizers. I want to get involved! #knutpunkt2014

    Example: [image of people playing board games] At #knutpunkt2014, a Finnish and Danish stand off in Settlers of Catan. Just wait until the winner meets the norwegian champion!

    A youtube video where you can combine elements such as statements by you or interviews of others, about a topic of interest. Examples of topics are program items, reflections about the community etc.

     

    Your own format

    Of course we welcome your creative efforts, so don’t feel limited to these suggestions.

     

    Questions
    If you have any questions about the initiative, feel free to ask them in the facebook group or directly to Petter Karlsson who is responsible for the project, at petter.karlsson@gmail.com

    Introduction held at Knutpunkt 2014

    Download slides: Voices of Knutpunkt
    Updated with slides 2014-04-03