Cart-Load-O-Fun

Full description

Cart-Load-O-Fun is a project that explores the intersection between play and commuting on public transport. Commutes on public transport are often an unengaging process, in response, Cart-Load-O-Fun explores the design opportunities in fostering a more playful public transport experience.

As such, Cart-Load-O-Fun helps to explore the question how do we design games for public transport, keeping in mind the affordances of the space, whether it be physical affordances (like the movement of the space) or social affordances (like spectatorship and performance). The new knowledge lies in the realization that passengers within the space enjoy engaging not only with the game, but also in social play, as Cart-Load-O-Fun is a two player game that not only caters for the players, but also the spectators or other passengers within the space by providing an engaging and often entertaining spectacle on public transport.

The significance of this research is attested by Cart-Load-O-Fun being featured as part of CUSP, called "Designing into the Next Decade", organized by OBJECT, the Australian Design Centre, assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council. The work was exhibited on the train in Sydney as part of CUSP, which is showcased at the Casula Powerhouse (approved venue). Cart-Load-O-Fun was also run on Yarra Trams in August, 2012. The work was also featured in a peer-reviewed publication at the Foundations of Digital Games conference presented in Greece. The renowned international New Scientist magazine featured Cart-Load-O-Fun in their magazine issue 2918