Arcade

Freeplay

With projects by: Louie Roots, Simon Burgin, Mel Huang, Ian MacLarty, Andrew Brophy, Andrew Gleeson, Cecile Richard, Sofie Mather and Colton Onderwater for Potluck Collective

Will you make time for play?

Sit down and press start. Science Gallery Melbourne has partnered with Freeplay - the world’s longest running independent games organisation based right here in Melbourne - to celebrate artistic and experimental game-making from Australia. The Arcade features five joyful games for you to play on custom arcade machines developed by Louie Roots.

Catacombs of Solaris

Ian MacLarty

 Wander the labyrinth in a colourful perspective maze that plays with your sense of perception. Find your favourite room and take a picture to remember.

Perfect Star

Andrew Brophy

Traverse an unusual planet and meet the locals. Will you kick off the next industrial revolution? Or gently plant some trees? The choice is up to you!

Touch Melbourne

Andrew Gleeson and Cecile Richard

Explore the city of Melbourne and all its tiny everyday interactions. Walk around, catch a tram and meet up with a friend.

Magpie Kid on Mulberry St

Sofie Mather and Colton Underwater for Potluck Collective

Grab a friend and jump into a hand-drawn world. One of you is a kid biking to the corner store, and the other is a swooping magpie, what could go wrong?

Hot Diggity Dog

Mel Huang

Who will win this hot dog eating showdown? Use your mouth to bite as many sauced dogs as you can, and out-gobble a friend.

Where do you find games in your life?

BIOGRAPHIES

Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games organisation, located in Melbourne, Australia. Freeplay draws Australia’s independent games community together at its conference, public events program, exhibitions, workshops, and awards. They join players, makers, critics, academics, students, and families for a critical celebration of the artistry of independent games and playful culture.

Louie Roots is Co-Director Freeplay and has over a decade’s experience creating and curating playful media. Louie’s interest lies in the social aspect of games, and he is known for quickly creating bespoke controllers that add tactility and accessibility to the games he exhibits. Originally based in Perth, his studio SK Games created unique game installations for public display across Australia and the world.

Mads Mackenzie is Co-Director Freeplay and a gamemaker and researcher active in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia’s game scenes for the last decade. Mads is passionate about games as a storytelling and experiential medium, and both academically and creatively seek to put games in conversation with other art forms – finding connections in the present and hidden heritage from the past.

Check out the game-makers online to see more of their work:

Ian MacLarty - ianmaclarty.com/

Andrew Brophy - brophy.website/andy/

Cecile Richard - cecilerichard.design/ 

Potluck Collective - potluck-collective.itch.io/

Mel Huang - www.melaniehuang.com/

Simon Burgin - www.sensorypixel.com/