About this project
Babycastles (http://babycastles.com), in conjunction with Showpaper (http://showpaper.org), is opening a pop-up video game, art, and music venue next to Grand Central in Manhattan, at 217 East 42nd Street, from October 8th through December 29th this year.
......................................................
IGN Entertainment has offered to match 100% of all funds raised from September 27th until the end of the fundraiser on October 4th.
More information about this program on Gamasutra - http://bit.ly/bRAy1S
You can support Babycastles twice as much now when you donate!
Thank you!
......................................................
LA Times
"In a Queens neighborhood, the birth of indie video games"
http://lat.ms/d6CiBa
Rhizome
"A Visit to Babycastles:New York DIY Arcade"
http://rhizome.org/editorial/3661
Bushwick BK
"At Babycastles, God Mode for Indie Gamers"
http://bit.ly/cvusnR
Motherboard
"Babycastles: Where Punk Rock & Homemade Videogames Live In Sweet Harmony"
http://bit.ly/91BYLF
Vice
"BABYCASTLES' CYBORG VIDEOGAME NERDTOPIA"
http://bit.ly/9sQldT
Attract Mode
"The CBGB’s of Video Games"
http://attractmo.de/blog/the-cbgbs-of-video-games/
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
The primary goal of Babycastles is to establish independently developed video games as a viable form of social culture for New York City and its youth.
We have existed since 2005 as a student work exhibition in Columbia University's Collision Art Party, to an arcade installation at a Brooklyn record release party in 2007, to a NYC game developer exhibition in the back of the music venue Death By Audio in 2008, and finally into our permanent home in the basement of DIY art and music space Silent Barn in Queens, NY, where we have hosted nearly a year of monthly arcade exhibitions since November 2009 (including "Games That Will Make You Cry", curated by NYU-Poly student Arthur Ward Jr, and "God Bless Babycastles - Christian Games" curated by game designer Ivan Safrin).
At a Manhattan location, we're aiming to strongly influence the public perception of video games and the culture surrounding this art form. There are diverse explorations of play, statement, format, enjoyment, and development of games, often unpublished and barely acknowledged even by most game enthusiasts. By presenting six consecutive 2-week exhibitions of independent video games at the center of New York, Babycastles is looking forward to showcasing international game development to a wide audience of game enthusiasts, students, press, curators, children, and especially to an audience that may never otherwise encounter the variety of activity in video game culture.
It will be an incredible arcade in Times Square!
These are the exhibitions that Babycastles has lined up for the year:
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
▒ Grand Opening: Best of Babycastles!
October 8th - October 17th
- NIDDHOG by MESSHOF (CA)
- CANABALT by ADAM ATOMIC (TX)
- BIT.TRIP RUNNER by GAIJIN GAMES (CA)
- DECEPTIVE PLATFORMER by NOCTURNAL MINDS (NY)
- KILLJET by TRISTAN PERICH (NY)
- ULTRA QUEST by MARC ARENAS (NY)
▒ Neverending Games by Experimental Gameplay Project!
October 22nd - October 31st
(Hurry! September Competition!)
EXPERIMENTAL GAMEPLAY PROJECT
▒ Zines & Video Game Culture by Attract Mode & Raina Lee!
November 5th - November 14th
▒ Statement Games
December 3rd - December 12th
Featuring an original non-digital game by ERIC ZIMMERMAN & NATHALIE POZZI!
Hopefully scheduling in DARKGAME by Eddo Stern,
and a new game by Zach Gage, Nicholas Fortugno, Kurt Bieg. Update soon!
http://eddostern.com/
http://stfj.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Fortugno
▒ IndieCade! (tentative)
December 16th - 29th
More information soon!
http://indiecade.com/
▒ To be announced!
There will be more 2-week exhibitions that we can't announce yet!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
▒ Single Night Exhibitions
In addition to 2-week freely playable arcade exhibitions, Babycastles is also hosting single night exhibitions, lectures, benefit parties, workshops...
October 2nd - Copenhagen Games Collective: Brutally Unfair Games Bash
B.U.T.T.O.N.
DARK ROOM SEX GAME
RUCKBLENDE
FUCK YOU IT'S ART
COPENHAGEN GAMES COLLECTIVE
@ Babycastles Queens
October 31st - Spooky Games Party
GRETEL & HANSEL by MAKO PUDDING
AMNESIA by FRICTIONAL GAMES
EVERSION by ZARATRUSTA
Kill Screen #1: Opening Party
KILL SCREEN
Pixeljam's Glorkian Warrior: Opening Party
GLORKIAN WARRIOR
Reformat The Planet
2 PLAYER PRODUCTIONS
Student Semester projects from NYU, Columbia, New School University (Tentative!)
NYU GAME CENTER
Playpower (Tentative!)
PLAYPOWER
Gaijin Games - Bit.Trip … (Tentative!)
GAIJIN GAMES
Lectures & Workshops
The Babycastles team has been working really hard on putting together a series of lectures and workshops at the arcade,
we'll post more information about them soon!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Thank you
for helping us make our Manhattan indie games arcade a fully functioning reality. Our bare costs include:
- $3300 rent (facilitated by the Chashama organization) for the entire three months.
- 6 x Arcade Computer Equipment ($250 x 6)
- 12 x Controller Equipment ($35 * 12)
- 3 x Backup Computer Equipment ($250 x 3)
- 6 x Cabinet Equipment ($100 * 6)
- Wood Workshop Rental ($45 / day x 7)
This $6000 kickstarter doesn't meet our costs, but we have the support of some amazing (you won't believe it!) benefit shows throughout the rest of the year, as well as an active retail space at our Manhattan location, and we will be looking for donated computer equipment to reduce those costs.
Realistically, we are also following additional expenses, so we can really use your help in any amount.
- Artist Reimbursement for material costs Non-Digital Games
- All Sound Equipment
- All Video Projection Equipment
- All Promo Materials & Printing
- Staff
- Etc.
THANK YOU!
The following is a description of all the generous gifts indie game makers in the city and around the world have offered in return for your assistance. Thank you again!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Babycastles Cow
Babycastles has it's very own Cow Clicker cow for your Facebook pastures! It's quite possibly the cutest video game cow ever. Included in every package $15 and up. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Guru Meditation
SIGNED BY IAN BOGOST
This is 1 cartridge of a signed, numbered limited edition set of 10 in the world. Part of a gift package for a contribution of $650 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
We ♥ Katamari
SIGNED BY KEITA TAKAHASHI
A gift package for a contribution of $300 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Glorkian Warrior
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $225 and more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Noise Toy
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $200 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
1-UP MegaZine
SIGNED BY RAINA LEE
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $200 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Kill Screen Magazine
SIGNED BY JAMIN BROPHY-WARREN
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $200 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Fort90 ZIne
SIGNED BY MATTHEW HAWKINS
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $200 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Gravity Hook HD
SIGNED BY ADAM ATOMIC & DANNY B
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $150 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Canabalt
SIGNED BY ADAM ATOMIC & DANNY B
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $150 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
You Found The Grappling Hook : Pro Edition
SIGNED BY MARK ESSEN
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $125 and more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Drop7
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $75 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Lilt Line
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $75 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
PongVaders
SIGNED BY ANNA ANTHROPY
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $75 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
8bp050
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $55 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Helicoid
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $50 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Osmos
SIGNED BY EDDY BOXERMAN
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $35 or more. Signed with a contribution of $125 or more! Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Temporary Tattoo
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $5 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
Item of Unknown Origin from Babycastles Pawn Shop
Included in a gift package for a contribution of $5 or more. Thank you!
_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,_,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-.,__,.-'~'-
We are also always looking for help in many other ways, as well. If you live in the NYC area and have some curational ideas, game jam ideas, technical know-how, financial know-how, or just want to drop by and see what happens, please write us at meow@babycastles.com! We feast together every other Sunday on the Babycastles rooftop and get a lot of things done.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
224
Backers
$9,008
pledged of $6,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on October 4, 2010.
Pledge $5 or more
THE PAWN SHOP OF VIDEO GAMES! /////// 1 Osmos Sticker ///////// 1 Indie Game Fan Art Temporary Tattoo by Kunal Gupta, Syed Salahuddin, or Ivan Safrin //// 1 Pixeljam Glorkian Warrior Sticker /////// 1 Item of Unknown Origin from the Babycastles Pawn Shop
Pledge $15 or more
[[THE MAX'S KANSAS CITY OF VIDEO GAMES!]] ❏ 1 Exclusive Babycastles Neon Rainbow Cow Clicker Cow designed by Ian Bogost! NOTE: This pledge requires a facebook account, and some special instructions. write to: meow@babycastles.com to claim your prize --> instantly! <-- (include your username from kickstarter) ❏ Included in all packages $15 and up - If you claim a larger reward, you are also welcome to take home a Cow Clicker Cow!
Pledge $25 or more
THE T-SHIRT OF VIDEO GAMES! ////////// 1 Babycastles t-shirt (Signed by Oscar Castle! http://epictheatre.blogspot.com/2009/06/oscar-castles-lei.html)
Pledge $35 or more
THE ARLENE'S GROCERY OF VIDEO GAMES ///////////////////////////// 1 Osmos (PC) Download Code //////////// 1 Indie Game Fan Art Temporary Tattoo by Kunal Gupta, Syed Salahuddin, and Ivan Safrin ///////// 1 Item of Unknown Origin from the Babycastles Pawn Shop ////////
Pledge $50 or more
THE LE POISSON ROUGE OF VIDEO GAMES (OSMOS FOR IPHONE EDITION!) ////////////// 1 Osmos (iPhone) Download Code (signed by Eddy Boxerman!) ////////// 1 Different Cloth - Helicoid (iPhone) Download Code //////////// 1 Copy of 8bp050 by 8bitpeoples /////////////// 1 Mushpot Records Collection Gift Pack ///////// 1 Item of Unknown Origin from the Babycastles Pawn Shop ////////
Pledge $55 or more
[[THE CAKE SHOP OF VIDEO GAMES]] ❏ OSMOS FOR IPAD EDITION! ❏ 1 Osmos (iPad) Download Code (signed by Eddy Boxerman!) ❏ 1 Different Cloth - Helicoid (iPhone) Download Code ❏ 1 Copy of 8bp050 by 8bitpeoples ❏ 1 Mushpot Records Collection Gift Pack ❏ 1 Item of Unknown Origin from the Babycastles Pawn Shop ❏
Pledge $75 or more
THE LIT LOUNGE OF VIDEO GAMES! ///////////////////////////// 1 Hemisphere Games - Osmos (PC) Download Code //////////////////// 1 Area/Code - Drop7 (iPhone) Download Code ///////// 1 Different Cloth - Lilt Line (iPhone) Download Code ////////////// 1 Indie Game Fan Art Temporary Tattoo by Kunal Gupta, Syed Salahuddin, and Ivan Safrin ///////// 1 Item of Unknown Origin from the Babycastles Pawn Shop //////// 1 Babycastles t-shirt (Signed by Oscar Castle!) ////////
Pledge $100 or more
[[THE LUCKY CHENG'S OF VIDEO GAMES]] ❏ 1 Pongvaders (PC) download code (signed by Anna Anthropy!) ❏ 1 Jonathan Beilin t-shirt (you don't want to know!) ❏ 1 Mushpot Records Collection Gift Pack ❏ 1 Item of Unknown Origin from the Babycastles Pawn Shop ❏
Pledge $100 or more
THE IRVING PLAZA OF VIDEO GAMES! /////////// 1 You Found the Grappling Hook : Pro Edition CD (signed by Mark Essen!) ////////// 1 Osmos (PC) download code (signed by Eddy Boxerman!) ///////// 1 Babycastles t-shirt (Signed by Oscar Castle!) ////// 1 GDFX Button
Pledge $150 or more
[[THE ADAM ATOMIC & DANNY B OF VIDEO GAMES]] ❏ Pixelblock Canabalt, A signed download code of Gravity Hook, signed download code of Canabalt, and Flixel T-Shirt ❏ 1 Admission to your choice of any ticketed event at Babycastles ❏
Pledge $200 or more
THE ABC NO RIO OF VIDEO GAMES! //////////////////////////// 1 Loud Object Noise Toy /////////// 1 issue of 1UP MegaZine (signed by Raina Lee!) //////// 1 issue of Kill Screen magazine (signed by Jamin-Brophy Warren) /////// 1 issue of Fort90 Zine (signed by Matthew Hawkins!) ////// 1 framed and self-lit Pixelblock rendering of Jizzmakun from Jizzmoppa (a game by Matthew Hawkins / Fort90) /////////// 1 Babycastles t-shirt (Signed by Oscar Castle!) /////// 1 Admission to your choice of any ticketed event at Babycastles /////////////
Pledge $225 or more
THE TANK OF VIDEO GAMES! /////////////////////// 1 Copy of Glorkian Warrior (PC) by Pixeljam ///////////////////// 1 You Found the Grappling Hook : Pro Edition CD (signed by Mark Essen!) //////// 1 Osmos (PC) download code (signed by Eddy Boxerman!) ///////// 1 Gaijin Games Surprise TBA ///////// 1 framed and self-lit Pixelblock rendering of Cream Wolf from Cream Wolf (pixeljam & messhof) ////////// 1 Babycastles t-shirt (Signed by Oscar Castle!) ////// 1 GDFX Pin ///////// 1 Admission to your choice of any ticketed event at Babycastles /////////////
Pledge $235 or more
[[SIGNED KATAMARI OMG]] ❏ 1 Copy of We Love Katamari (PS2) US Edition signed by Keita Takahashi ❏
Pledge $235 or more
[[SIGNED KATAMARI OMG UK EDITION]] ❏ 1 Copy of We Love Katamari (PS2) UK Edition signed by Keita Takahashi ❏
Pledge $450 or more
[[THE CROBAR (R.I.P.) OF VIDEO GAMES]] ❏ 1 Signed, Sexy pose of Kunal Gupta or Syed Salahuddin (you gotta pick) ❏ 1 date with Mark Denardo of Graffiti Monsters + Pixeljam ❏ 1 Pixelblock Rendering of Leigh Alexander of Sexy Video Game Land + Gamasutra ❏
Pledge $500 or more
[[THE ISSUE PROJECT ROOM OF VIDEO GAMES]] ❏ Ian Bogost's Guru Meditation cartridge, for use on the Atari VCS (2600) ( limited edition - 1 of 10 in the world!) ❏
Pledge $1,200 or more
[[BABYCASTLES!]] ❏ The Original Babycastles Neon (No wait, Argon!) Sign ❏ Babycastles ❏❏Dance Arcade Party❏❏ at a location you choose ❏ 1 Copy of We Love Katamari (PS2) US Edition signed by Keita Takahashi ❏ 1 signed copy each of Osmos (PC), You Found The Grappling Hook: Pro Edition (PC), Osmos (iPhone), Gravity Hook HD (iPhone), & Canabalt (iPhone) ❏ 1 Full 2 Player Production Prize Pack (Blip '06, Blip '07, Blip '08, PAX 2009, Reformat the Planet) ❏ 6 Loud Objects Noise Toys (1 of each kind) ❏ 3 Babycastles t-shirts (Signed by Oscar Castle!) ❏ 1 issue each of Fort90 (signed by Matthew Hawkins), Kill Screen Magazine (signed by Jamin Brophy-Warren), 1UP Megazine (signed by Raina Lee) ❏ 1 regal portrait of yourself mounted forever at the Babycastles permanent location (Artist TBA) ❏ Everything from the Babycastles Pawn Shop ❏ Admission to all ticketed events at Babycastles ❏❏ please write us at meow@babycastles.com! ❏❏
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
Babycastles has primarily been an arcade installed inside of a music venue in Queens since November 2009, managed by Kunal Gupta (Loud Objects, Silent Barn) & Syed Salahuddin.
But its grown quite a bit! Here are some of the amazing people who are actively curating, managing, and representing the new Babycastles arcade:
Matthew Hawkins - http://attractmo.de
Leigh Alexander - http://gamasutra.com
Ben Johnson - http://kaosstudios.com
Mark Denardo - http://pixeljam.com
Zach Gage - http://www.stfj.net/art/2009/loselose
Jesse Fuchs - http://www.tic-tac-totality.net
Arthur Ward Jr. - http://quantum-box.com
Ramiro Corbetta
Joe Salina
Kurt Bieg
Sarah Schoemann
and well, so many more!
