American Writers Museum Spotlights Intersection of Writing and Gaming with "Level Up: Writers & Gamers" Exhibit
Celebratory Event at American Writers Museum Honors Authors and Gaming Enthusiasts
In the heart of downtown Chicago, the American Writers Museum presents a captivating display focusing on the relationship between writing and gaming in the exhibit, "Level Up: Writers & Gamers," which opened in honor of the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons. Produced by Indie City Games, this exhibit is a bimonthly feature in the monthly publication, Back Alley Games, which emphasizes Midwest games, art, and writing.
This exhibit represents the collaboration between writers and gamers, showcasing their collective impact on storytelling and culture. The exhibit’s humble space, composed of a single hallway and a small back room, manages to encapsulate a breathtaking amount of history, spanning 50 years of tabletop roleplaying, video game development, and various sub-genres such as interactive fiction and "Choose Your Own Adventure" style gamebooks.
The exhibit starts with a simple question, "What is game writing?" The answer lies in a nearby display of resource materials, including D&D and Nintendo Power magazines, gaming cookbooks, bestselling novels, and television series scripts catering to various gaming mediums. The exhibit is more than just the words crafting stories; it examines the ramifications of these mediums on culture at large.
A notable part of the exhibit covers the parallel histories of video games and tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs), tracing their roots to the 1970s from university mainframe games to iconic games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate III. The exhibit also highlights significant personalities from both industries, including Mabel Addis, Roberta Williams, Mike Pondsmith, and Tanya DePass.
Visitors will find interactive activity stations throughout the exhibit. One station invites participants to create and share a roleplaying character, while another offers a cozy chair and a selection of "Choose Your Own Adventure" books to enjoy. A third station allows guests to dress up in LARPing outfits for a unique photo opportunity.
The exhibit delves into LARP (Live-Action Roleplaying), a niche pastime within the broader gaming community, offering insightful explanations about various LARP styles, such as "boffer LARPs," "parlor LARPs," and "Nordic LARPs." A short video showcases typical LARP gameplay, demonstrating the significance of character immersion in these gaming experiences.
The rest of the exhibit is housed in a vintage 1970s-style room, featuring classic Dungeons & Dragons box sets, artwork from the game's publication history, and a variety of games to play at a nearby table. A quaint red telephone offers recorded voice clips from notable RPG designers sharing their thoughts and memories associated with the game. A series of projections on the far wall showcases diverse gaming experiences, emphasizing the sense of community fostered by tabletop roleplaying games.
Ultimately, "Level Up: Writers & Gamers" is not merely a modest exhibit; it’s a labor of love for the creators, demonstrating their passion for games and their significance in both American culture and artistic expression. The exhibit underlines games as not just pastimes but a unique blend of storytelling and play that continues to evolve.
Jonah White, the exhibit's columnist, is a Chicago-based freelance writer and narrative designer, passionate about the synergy of storytelling and play in both analog and digital contexts. Read more of his work at jonahwhite.carrd.co.
Back Alley Games, issue 013, is now available for purchase in both physical and digital editions. By purchasing this issue, you contribute to the celebration of the gaming community. More information about Back Alley Games and Indie City Games can be found at https://www.indiecitygames.org/backalleygames.
- Jonah White, the exhibit's columnist, expresses his passion for the intersection of storytelling and play, not only in analog games but also in digital contexts, as reflected in his writing for the monthly publication, Back Alley Games.
- The exhibit, "Level Up: Writers & Gamers," not only showcases the stories crafted by writers and gamers but also explores how technology, especially in video games and tabletop roleplaying games, has greatly impacted and evolved our lifestyle and culture, from entertainment to sports.
