Spontaneity and the Supernatural

About Spontaneity and the Supernatural

When it comes to video games, playing can often feel safe and freeing because games allow us to explore new experiences and practices in an interactive way and without fear of embarrassment upon failure. Improv, on the other hand, consistently disrupts our sense of comfort while still providing possibilities through play. Players understand improv’s value comes from building a playful mindset for approaching uncomfortable situations. Improv provides tools for players to enter a playful mindset when encountering uncertainty. The discomfort never goes away, but much like an action-based video game, the uncertainty of the situation becomes fun with practice as it allows players to explore new perspectives to a multitude of problems.

Despite the endless possibilities of and applications for improv, it is not the most accessible form of play for everyone. To perform improv, those playing must feel comfortable with allowing themselves to play in front of and with others. Individuals who would benefit the most from learning improv are often too fearful to start learning its practices. Physical barriers also prevent some people from participating in improv and other theatrical practices. Due to this potential for inaccessibility, many are left without the benefits of improvised play. In contrast, personal computing devices and mobile technologies are highly accessible platforms which provide a variety of play formats, and as such, they are well-suited to serve as sources for learning and practicing improv.

Overall, my goal is to make improv more accessible by creating an improv-based digital roleplaying game (RPG) called Spontaneity and the Supernatural. There are few, if any, digital games that offer immersive theatre with a clear emphasis on improv strategies. Spontaneity and the Supernatural fills this niche by offering players improv theater games in a digital format.