If you have attended any of this summer's rock festivals in Europe you would know that from Donnington to Glastonbury everyone is gaming. Gaming tents have been prominent everywhere and have become one of the favorite attractions during such open air music events. It's not only gaming that has made its impact however, mobile phones and their various applications have also featured heavily. It was during this year's Donnington, when Metallica made a rare unannounced appearance in one of the stage/tents, that the extent of mobile phone use really hit home. Within seconds thousands of ringing phones could be heard as music fans begun informing their friends of the secret gig.
That's where Lollapalooza organizer, Perry Farrell, frontman for Jane's Addiction comes in and his concept of interactive reality-based gaming.
People have gone to festivals since the beginning of time, and they've listened to music, Farrell said. When the computer came in, it sure did change the world. My dream has been to take that beautiful technology and make it an outdoor interactive experience. Because I think this has got entertainment potential that hasn't been tapped into yet.
Lollapalooza, which opened July 5 in Indianapolis, aims to put that concept to the test. Farell has taken the successful European example a step further. With Microsoft XBox funding to back him up he has introduced gaming in a variety of areas of the festival, including Gameriot, a 300-person capacity, pavilion featuring a collection of the most anticipated Xbox and PC games, including Soul Calibur II, Tony Hawk's Underground, XIII, and True Crime: Streets of LA. An XBox tent will also be prominent offering a living room feel to those willing to try out an exclusive game.
Another gaming concept widely utilized in Lollapalooza is the mission format. Dozens of actors, spread around the concert area, constantly recruit people by handing them missions. Those missions may be anything from a prank to some strange backstage experience. Farell, See how fun that could be? That's why I liken it to a reality-based video game, where you're walking the grounds, the characters appear, not only are the characters our clients themselves, but they're also the actors and actresses we call Agents.
Lollapalooza features artists such as Jane's Addiction, Audioslave, Incubus, and Queens of the Stone Age and will conclude on August 26th, having completed 30 dates all over the U.S.
