Festivals and Jams: Building the Post-Capitalist Gaming Community
We organize game jams and festivals focused on cooperation, not competition. These events prototype new mechanics and forge bonds between like-minded creators.
The Environmental Impact of Gaming: Towards Sustainable Digital Play
From e-waste to server farms, gaming has a carbon footprint. We investigate sustainable practices for developers, players, and hardware manufacturers.
Accessibility as a Core Tenet, Not an Afterthought
True post-capitalist gaming must be for everyone. We research and advocate for comprehensive accessibility features as a fundamental design pillar.
Modding as a Political Act: Reclaiming Games from Corporate Control
Mods aren't just add-ons; they can fundamentally alter a game's politics. We support modders who subvert, critique, and rebuild commercial titles.
The Legacy of MUDs and MOOs: Text-Based Prefigurations of Digital Commons
Early text-based virtual worlds were often run as collaborative, player-built commons. We study their history for lessons applicable to modern game design.
Education Through Play: Teaching Post-Capitalist Economics in Games
Games can be powerful educational tools. We design experiences that teach concepts like mutual aid, cooperative ownership, and ecological economics.
Governance in Game Communities: From Mods to Democratic Servers
Who makes the rules? We experiment with democratic tools, rotating councils, and transparent arbitration for player-run servers and modding communities.
The Aesthetics of Post-Capitalism: Visual and Sonic Design Beyond Hyper-Realism
AAA's obsession with graphical fidelity consumes resources and narrows expression. We champion art styles that prioritize meaning, accessibility, and sustainable production.
Play as Resistance: Using Games to Critique and Subvert Capitalism
Games can be powerful tools for ideological critique. We examine titles that expose the absurdities and violence of capitalist systems through mechanics.
Labor and Crunch: Envisioning a Sustainable Game Studio Model
The industry's crunch culture is toxic and extractive. We research cooperative studios, fair profit-sharing, and sustainable creative workflows.
Narrative Design Without Heroes: Telling Collective Stories
The 'chosen one' narrative reinforces individualism. We develop story structures where plot emerges from community action and systemic world dynamics.
Open Source Tools: Democratizing Game Development for All
Proprietary engines create walled gardens. We advocate for and contribute to open-source game tech, making creation a communal, accessible practice.
The Post-Capitalist Game Economy: Moving Beyond Gold and Grind
Virtual economies often mirror our worst capitalist instincts. We prototype systems based on mutual aid, reputation, and the circulation of unique, player-created value.
Cooperative World-Building: Games as Digital Commons
Imagine a game world where every player can leave a lasting, constructive mark. We explore the tools and governance needed for truly collaborative digital spaces.
Deconstructing the Loot Box: A Symbol of Capitalist Desire
Loot boxes are not random; they are meticulously engineered machines of psychological exploitation. We analyze their design to build better, ethical reward systems.