Hackrobatics!

Typically game developers are focused on creating the best end-product possible while avoiding unnecessary obstacles and wasted effort. However, some developers enjoy placing extreme obstacles in the way, just to see if they can be overcome. Examples of this are extreme Game Jams and retro "demakes" of AAA games. This practice of overcoming unnecessary adversity can be seen as a form of play, and can be observed in other disciplines, for example creative writing. This research project is exploring the different ways in which the process of game development can itself be "playful", with a view to examining how this compares to other media, and how game development might offer a unique perspective on what appears to be a long-practised and masochistic pastime.