Homo Ludens
As a computer systems engineer, I spend my days designing and maintaining complex IT infrastructure. But my true passion lies in the world of games – from Video Games and Chess to Tennis and Role-Playing.
I have always been fascinated by the sense of flow that comes from being fully engaged in a *good* game, time stops, only the now matters.
Over the years, besides playing, I’ve channeled this passion into organizing a variety of events at the forefront of new gaming experiences.
In 2001 I was leading a team in the then nascent French eSports scene. We organized tournaments (up to 300 players) and won a couple, for I had recruited one of the 2 French Starcraft professional players.
I also have been involved in the making of several live-action role-playing events, Airsoft competitive days, and Murder Mistery to name a few. Fun fact, after my friends pushed me for years I finally “Dungeon Mastered”. They never asked again…That is definitely, and by far, the hardest thing I’ve ever done as a game facilitator.
First Contact
In the fall of 2021 friends in my Airsoft community organized a PvE horror game. We had the perfect location: a 30 acres playing field including a small forest, a 3 floors/400 rooms abandoned hospital with its morgue and an authentic 19th century Gothic looking castle. We were a group of 4 civilians accompanied by a military unit of 4 trying to survive the night hunted by zombies.
While there were elements from games I had played before, like LARP, Escape Rooms or Video Games, this particular mix was something special, clearly the whole was greater than the sum of the parts.
In 2022, we played 2 more follow up scenarios and experimented with a different location. After that most of us went back to “regular” LARPs, Airsoft, Cosplay and so forth, but I was hooked so I pressed on. I’ve kept looking around to be able to play more of this new genre, I’m also working on my own iteration.
Arcade Live Action
As with most things new and unconventional, communicating about this new game genre is difficult at best. There is no name for it, and description is often about the elements from other games.
As any gamer presented with a challenge would do, I accepted it. I concluded a dedicated name and a website were needed and so ArcadeLiveAction.com was born.
I hope it serves as a rally beacon to the people interested in making and playing Arcade Live-Action Games, time will tell!