The Creators Project

Mark Essen's 8-Bit Lo-fi Video Games

Deceptively lo-fi in appearance, Mark Essen’s Jetpack Basketball is a classically addictive 8-bit two-player game. The premise is simple: two players in jetpacks scrabble over a ball, before rocketing towards the basket and trying to score. Scoring results in a psychedelic explosion of colour and noise. We grabbed some intelligent-looking punters to talk about 8-bit.

First up is Sarathi

The Creators Project: What did you think of Jetpack Basketball? You were playing it for ages.
Sarathi: It is stunning, just stunning.

Do you know a lot about these things – computer programming and so on?
Well, that would be a nice skill to have, wouldn’t it? But I think I need to programme myself first, before I get round to all of that.

How many baskets did you score? You seemed to be doing well.
I scored three at first. I think it was the luck of the Irish, which, since I am an Arab was miraculous. I think the computer was working in my favour.

How do you mean?
I think it gives you luck at first; that’s the way I think it is programmed.

So it gets harder the longer you play?
Well, it might have luck or success programmed into it, I suppose. Maybe it is activated when you pick it up, and say the first four or six seconds, it gives you some luck and a higher likelihood of success. That is possible. Are you involved in the programming?

No.
There are two types, aren’t there? The programmers and the programmed. They will have to meet somewhere and at some time, hopefully not head-on.

What do you think of the show overall?
Well, I live locally. It’s interesting for me. You had the terrible bombings nearby, and around that time there was, in this very place, a far more low key, more traditional art exhibition going on. It was traditional – painting and so on. This is another historic event. That terrible thing with the bombings almost initiated the area to work well for the future – for one world and one love.

Next up Alex and Joel talk old school gaming and tears in the afternoon

The Creators Project: So guys, what other installations have you looked at so far?
Alex: This is our first actually, we only just got here.
Joel: We have been over the other side of the basement looking at the UVA installation – the one you stand in front of with the lights. It was amazing.

If you stand too close it makes you feel a bit like you might fall over. What did you think of Jetpack Basketball?
Joel: It was great.
Alex: Once you get the hang of it, it was really fun. It took a little while to work out how to hold onto the ball, but after that it was amazing.

What do you think of the look of it?
Joel: I really like the 8-bit graphics look. It reminds me a lot of the old Commodore games I used to play a lot when I was younger. I don’t think the graphics being so basic really affects the game much. There is a real charm to the look of it.

What else are you guys looking forward to seeing here today?
Joel: We’ve already seen I am Here by Spike Jonze.
Alex: We loved it, but I will have to leave before I get too emotional.
Joel: It’s a bit early in the day for tears. I only vaguely knew what was going to be here today, but I didn’t expect it to be this big.