The game Line Runner was inspired by my daily play activity in which I try not to step on the lines between tiles as I am walking. This individual self-challenge became a game for an unlimited amount of participants. In my short video example below, there are two players who compete against each other. The participants begin the race at point A and have to get to point B as fast as they can without stepping on the lines between the tiles. Whoever reaches the destination first without touching the lines wins.
Video documentation: here.
The original play activity did not have a penalty, however, in the games, a participant cannot continue the race after stepping on the line. Also, participants are not allowed to “skip” a tile and jump over them. Both play and game are driven by a human desire to compete. The game is challenging and teasing. Its context includes a short set of easy rules, a simple goal and the presence of contestants. It also requires a certain environment, specifically, a location that is appropriate for the game’s main rule. In my example, I have accommodated the location by choosing the plaza in front of the Arts Center and D2, which has a concrete floor made of triangular tiles. Their relatively small size shortens the lengths of a participant’s step and, therefore, increases the step repetition and the walking speed of players as they try to get to point B as fast as they can. The triangular shape also makes it more difficult to fit in one’s foot at a normal angle and, as we can notice in the video, forces the players to walk on their tiptoes.
The first ‘test game’ was unsuccessful because of the environment. The first location we have chosen (Arts Center hallways) had huge tiles which made the race too easy. Another couple of races outside made me add a few rules (no jumping, cannot continue after overstepping) after having observed the behavior of players. Having a contestant made my play activity much more competitive and dynamic. I have initially envisioned it to be more slow-paced, with players walking carefully not to step over the lines. In reality, the race was fast and chaotic, driven by the desire to win and better than the person walling/running beside you, which makes me think of the Line Runner as an exhibit of destruction rather than creation. It is also expressive, because the race brings out a certain aggression in a player, driving him/her to win.
Potential improvements(complications) to the game:
The path from start to finish of the race could be more complicated, not a straight line.
Tiles could be numbered randomly, so that the participants have to jump around from tile to tile in an order.
Final thoughts: the rules of the Line Runner are quite simple. It is both a “player vs player” and “players vs game” kind of a game, where the participants compete against each other and also struggle with the nature of the environment where the game is played. Having multiple participants in the race was the major difference if comparing the dynamics of the game and the initial play activity. In my own opinion, I find my individual play challenge more entertaining because it allows me to concentrate on a simple task and feel distracted.